Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1859-08-11
speech Of john A. x.,..n. -

Speech u john A. Kasson, L.. [.
In copplianee with the earnest r.oa.s
cf very large number Of our citi,..
irsespectiveo OF party-.hs above gentIeu&aIy
delivered sn address, on the political icy
sues Of thi; csmpaign--iu Cassady's Hall,
On Saturday evening last. The large and
attentive audience present was compli.
mentary to the speaker-while his good
taste and seeming candor were in turn
complimentary to the intelligence Of his
AUDITORS. ~~-,
We cannot, however, refrain from ex>
pressing emphatic dissent from much Of
the speech. Mr.. KAssoS commended that
the spirit Of the Republican movement
6rst took open ground against Demo cratic
doctrine on slavery, in the question Of
Texas annexation, and that iLAsWRIonr
assumed the championship Of that senti-
mept ct the Baltimore Convention in 1874
and turned away from bis Democratic
friends. This every student Of New York
politics viii declare erroneous. Mr.. Van
buren, was greatly disappointed in not
receiving the nomination ct the hands Of
that Convention, ard Mr. WRrcHr, the
warm, personal and political friend Of
Van Buren,, was also sadly disappointed,
and that disappointment may have had
something 70 do with his refusal to accept
the nomination for Vice President, At tina.
tne.< Bot he entertained no difFsruuc~
of opinion with the Democracy 10 that
campaign. Both Van Buren, and Wright
before-at and after that Convention were
the avowed friends of annexation. The
Democracy Of New York. felt that S;las
Wright was the only man who could Sc.
cure that State, and yielding to their ear
nest solicitations he resigned his seat in
the United States Senate, accepted the
nomination for Governor of New York
was the fearless advocate of annexation
and revenue tariff throug hout that memoir.
able struggle, and by bis influence only,
carried New York for Polk, and thereby
defeated Mr.. Clay.
Mr.. Kasso. further contended that the
sentiments Of the Republican party, which
he facetiously remarks. have no faint Of
abolitionism about them--are moving
steadily on to victory-and tina. the Dem
ocratic vote is decreasing with every Pre-.
sldential election. Now if Greeley il good
authority, quite the reverse is the fact
He gives US the following vote for Demo.
cratic Presidents:
Cass, in ls4s, received l,223,,95;
Pierce, in 1852, received ,596 1896 and
in 1856, Buchanan received 1888, 232
votes.
1t the Democracy continue to decrease
in the above ratio for few more cam.
paigns there will not be corporal's guard
left Of the Opposition. The speaker paid
his respects in no ver- complimentary
terms to the U. S. Supreme Court. He
felt Indignant to thiHk that FIVE of the nine
Judges are from Southern States. What
pity that the birth place Of men should
so annoy the Republicans. In connection
with the bred Scott decision Mr.. Kasson
took ground which certainly cannot com
mend itseF to his sober, candid judgment.
He held that TIE, Snprsme Court has no
right or poscer to Declare lac of Con-
gress unconstieutionsl !; that Congress in
asmuch as its Ine@bers are sworn to sup
port the Constitution ere the sole Judges
a. to the Consti,utionality of law, and
that the Supreme Cont was created simp
Iy 10 decide between litigants. This is
certainly new and strange doctrine. Is
not Mr.. Kasson's theory q little weak in
the knees? If the Court cannot deter
mine the constitutioualty of law, how
can it in all cases settle the dispute of Ii
tIgants-because that dispute may and
oftentimes does rest wholly upon the ques
ton whether particular law is eonstitu.
tional or not. Would Mr.. kasson have
the Court accept every law as constitu-
tional simply because Congress enac,s it.
1t 30, the Constitution would be one thing
under one Congress and another thing
under another Congress- and an abso
Lutte nullity at every step of our progress.
The Constitution must have uniform ope
ration and be kept free from periodical
storms that prevail in the public mind. Mr.. |
kasson would combine the judicial and
legislative power. Attach to these the
executive and the despotism is complete.
Suppose Congress should pass law that in
some particular impairs The obligation Of
contracts and two litigan.s call upon the
Court to adjudicate some question arising
under such law. The Law in such case
says 1.-THE obligation Of contracts NAV be
impaired-the Constitution says IT shall
not. Should not the Court observe the
Constitution Is the supreme law, and yet
il unfolding the Constitution must they
not OF necessity obrogSte the law7
: The greater portion Of Kr. Kasson's
speech related to National affairs. Upon
State matters he was exceedingly reluctant
to testify. He informed US, however, that
the State tax this year il $40, 900 less than
IN 1858, but he forgot to mention that We
have had no Leeislatura this xea.-nn