The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1866-01-18

! the States Of the power to define the quail
ifcsticns of elect ,rs-so regulate represen-
tation by the unmber cf voters, and not of
population-to declare what obligations
assumed by the States shall be binding on
them, and what all lie the purposes Of
their taxation. And as il these changes
in the organic law were 30. sufficient. We
have laws proposed 10 define and protect
the status OF the inhabitants of the several
States-to define ana punt a crimes, which
arc exclusively Of State coCn=snce-to
give to railroads. buili wholly within State
limits. powers which their charters have
expressly denied to them, and to deprive
Insurance companies of the rights which
lie States have assured to iilem.
As If legislative aetions were too slow or
too regular, we have relcral oaicers-the
subordinates of the Presideat-sOmc in>
pcding the action Of the State courts. not
only by refusing 10 obey vrts which they
pretended were suspended. bus bv rescung
criminals from their custody ana liheraIing
prisoners under their indictment; others
-freedman's bureau mcn-estabiishing
and nforcing-entirely y without authority
of lawful, for the business Intercourse
OF white men and negroes making. break
ing or establishing contracts for them
and even assuming to declare what persons
the owners shall be compelled to entertain
on their farms. under the penalties Of
conGscltion. Surely If cur fellow citizens
of New England must Convert this Cow
ernment into great eleemosynary insti>
tu.on-if they must deprive f@ur millions
of PEOPLE OF their hvn0rs 70 salty their
craving to make these people the wards
of the nation they OUGHT - he ashamed
Of the niggardlincss which seeks to sup>
port tham at other peoples expense and
to quarter them upon those who have been
deprived of their services.
And far above all these agencies, enter
ing every State, and county. and township
and Notwithstanding every interest
ccmmcrcis!, mcchaucai and Agricultural
seeking every avenue Of trade, cyery
bran,h f industry, every profession and
occupation; holding in their grasp every
man woman and child, whether they
labor fer bread in the factory o. at the
plow. or for amusement at counting Their
income; perncaiing every artery ani
vein. tracing eve~y nerve and sinew and
fibre of ther body polite. and suhjuge-
ting every influence to their domination
are the systems Of Federal finance and
taxation.
| do not speak Of these oicasurcs as a
partisan; do hot at present discuss their
wisdom; do not at present question the
motives which prompted them. ! speak
of them as evidence Of the direction and
The strength Of the tide OF opinion and OF
action.
This new programme is not the system
Of the Government 1t is not the system
of the Constiu;ion 1t is the cen,raliza-
ton of all Governmental forces. Of the
supervisions OF all social interests, at one
point. These thus concentrated can not
be efficiently exercised unless by the irspi-
ration Of one heart under the direction II
one head. with the vigor OF one will. back /
ed by the power Of many men, accustomed
bv The rieorS of the discipline or by the
hopes or reward to obey binl!y one mas
ter. These conditions are incompatible
with republican governmcnt--nay, they
are the very essence and definition OF des-
potism
Gentlemen We have great duty to
perform. This is the time for the assertion
of true principles. Physical force has ac-
its work Legislative and Al .
ministrative action arc at their task Both /
have passed beyond their proper limits
Both have l.surpe1 powers under the pre-
tence of necessity, aud now claim them as
of right. Both arc directed with vig0r. /.
but often without authority or reason
Both should be made to renounce their
preteusons before We yield them comnen
dation. The condition Of war. and the /
results Of our war. both conduoe to aid the /
progress of this consolidation. They have
accustomed the mind to the exhibition of. |
and obedience to, the assumptions Of Fed I
eral power.
Let us see to it that we be, at least, I
blameless let Us by voice aud voic--hy ,
prccept and by practice. each one IN his
sphere, resist this perverscn Of his sys |
tenn of Government. Let Us hold fast to
the Constitution; let us hold fast to the
doctrine Of State Rights. 1t Is the essen
tial life of the Constitution. Ii is derlded
and desnised now. 1t has been the glory |
OF our rolty--it will be its salvation.-
Let us guard it as of old the vestal fires
were guarded. let Us guard it as Of old
the ark of the covenant was guarded,
against whose pollution by proiane touch
the dread penaltie, of tho Almighty were
Numbered.
q. NJ e.,..Inncna Ihn !