Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-09-21
AnImpOrtant Campaign Document
THE USURPA7IONS on CONGRESS-.
, . 'a PAPER UPON THE a I,
STATE OF THE COUNTRY
, BY HON. JOHN II. JAMES. f
Rooms DEM. STATE CENTRAL CoM,l
ITnHn COLUMBUS, June 80, 1866.

OF the country, OF upon OHe UT ulOIe JOplCo
connected thsrewith, thaty might see fit
to discuss. II was not the intention Of the
committee to prescribe any particular sub
ject, much less any particular views; but,
on the contrary, to leave you perfectly
untrammeled, and free to express your
own opinions, whether they should In all
respects accord with those of the committee
or not. In compliance with the instruc-
tions given me, have the honor to request
you to prepare such paper, and trust that
1t may suit your convenience and feelings
to do so.
am, dear sir, very respectfully your
ob't servant, JOHN G. THOMPSON,
Chairman Democratic State Cen. Com.
URBANA, o., Sept. IL, 1866.
To John G.. Thompson, Esq Chairman Dem
ocrdtic State Central Committee Of Ohio:
SIR-When your letter of June 30th came
to hand, asking me to prepare a paper on
the condition of the country, for use in the
approaching elections, ] took time to con
slider the request; and the decision of your
committee soon afterwards, to ask the
Democratic party of Ohio to send delegates
to the National Union Convention to be
held at Philadelphia on the l4th OF August,
gave further cause of delay for it seemed
result of that Convention. Several reasons
conduced to this First, iJ was said by
those who wished its failure, that the prOpOS-
ed Convention could not meet for want Ofre-
sponsive cooperation among those appeal
ed to: next. tnat if it did meet, it must
prove abOrtive, on account of the discor-
dant elements that would be brought to-
gether for concert; and third, that il it did
meet, an was likely to prove etiicacious in
the way of promoting harmony among the
different sections of the Union, there would
be an influence of another kind brought to
bear against it, in the form of riotOus at
tacks and disturbances from without. The
indictments to the last result were frustrat-
ed by the good sense of the people of Phil
adelphia, and the provideIt arrangements
of the Mayor. The first predictions of
failure from other causes have failed of re-
aliZ ton, and the people for whom you act
may now turn their attention to the para
mount object of that Convention. and the
paramount question of the day-the due
representation of all the States in Con-
gress.
You have also asked the. in letter of a
laterdate, to take part in the canvass pre-
ceding the election, by attending some of
the mass meetings in the Stateand address
ing the people. Being admOnished by my
unfitness to speak before large masses in
the open air, l avail myself OF another
mode of complying with both requests, by
addressing to you this letter, and perhaps
anOther-if not deemed TOO late. s. ...r
The election of Representatives in Con-
gress-a thing of Importance always-is of
more importance now than ever, because
on this depends the future form and action
of our Union Government. 1t is no longer
question Of mere eXpediency-a question
of what shall be done under admitted
powers-it is question OF what the pow
ers shall be. Under the present Congress
and the one which preceded it, there has
been a continued exercise of powers by
them, utterly without precedent in the
previous history of the country, unauthop-
lied by the Constitution, and inconsistent
with the Union of the States and the pre-
servation of the States. If the exercise of
these unauthorized powers be persisted in
by Congress, and tolerated by the people,
through their failure to correct the abuse
by new elections, the usurpation must end
in suppression of the States, and in their
consolidation into one Government, with
Central Legislature exercising control
over all matters of police and of crime,
and over all private rights, both of person
and of property. ... .........,. ...,.,
This exercise Of unlawful powers has not
been confined to the Congress only, but has
also been initiated, if not commenced by
the Executive, and on the part OF both was
coeval with the insurrectiOn. At first these
assumptions were sought to be paliated
and justified by the pretense that we were
In the midst of war to suppress rebellion,
and that the proper and well defined powers
of the Government must be rejected as i'm
sufficient, or as inconvenient; aud thus the
Government became a Government of
"Orders" instead OF a Government of
Laws. la.H '..
And while this domination of military
necessity was claimed and practiced by EX-
ecutive authority, the Congress hastened
with its aid to shield the doers of wrong by
enactments in the same spirit of assump-
tion. Now, when the rebellion is ended,
and the insurrection declared to be sup
pressed, these assumptions are more flag
rant and persistent than before, and the
members seek to justify their later acts by
their own former acts as precPdents.T If
these same men shall be continued in pow
er, their future acts will of course be the
same; and it is vain to hope for any change
Y in the laws, or for any reform in the adj
q ministration of them, except by the choice
! OF new men who will represent the public
will and conform to it. ~
is therefore proper and more than justified
to specify in detail some of the acts and
assumptions which regard as unwarrant-
able.
First, among them alI when measured
. by its disturbing influences for the present
and the future, is the Legal Tender act by
, which, Congress have attempted to declare
that their own promissory notes, given for
money borrowed, shall be tender in pay
ment of other peoples debts; thus, in eft
feet forbidding amy debts but their own, to
be paid in gold and silver money. That
clause of the Constitution which forbtds
theStates from making anything but gold
and silver coin legal tender in the paw
nent of debts, itself plainly shows that the
passing of laws on the subject of tender
belongs, to the Statesalone. Congress have
no such power, and this infraction must be
so dealt with as never to be repeated.I sl.G1
Coupled with this in kind. is the law for
the creation,of National Banks, $50 called,".
which binds the nation to make good to the
creditors of these banks, in ali cases, by
tax on the nation, the money promises Of
10 Aaa al.... Al.