The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-07-14

eeived by sophistfy upon this question.
1t Is vital to tHczexistence of our Govern
ment. The wrong done to the Southern
States-fs not done to them alone-it is q
wrong to all the States--to Ohio as much |
as to South Carolina. If, upon some
pretext or another, majority i'll Con-
gress may disregard aud override the
Constitution, and exclude that State from
representation, majority in another
Congress may in like manner and upon
some other pretext, exclude Ohio And
besides, the right of State to representa-
ton is not her right alone--it is the right
of every State that all the States shall be
represented The Union into which We
entered is Union of all the States. The
laws Of Congress that VIC agreed should
biud us are laws made by Representatives
from all the States Our fathers never
agreed, We have never agreed that States
obedient to the Constitution should be
excluded from Congress, and our laws be
made by the remainder Of the States.
There is not word in the Constitution or
in the history of the Republic that gives
the slightest sanction to such an idea.
On the contrary it is directly subversive
of the Constitutions and carried into prae-
tice, is an overthrow of our Government.
And in view of these facts, do not hesi-
tate to say that the doings of the present
so-called Congress of the United States
are plain usurpations of power. 1t is not
the Congress ordained by the Constitu-
ton, but is an incohate, imperfect. frag-
mentary body, unknown to that instru-
ment We may be bound by its acts as
the acts of a Government De fpcto just as
the acts of usurpers exercising de facto
the powers of Government, have gener-
ally been held binding; but to solemnly
call it a Constitutional Congress, is a
mockery of the Constitution.
Gentlemen of the Convention, cannot
detain you By referring in detail to the
doiues of this so-ealled Congress but
there is one general view Of them that l
wish TO present very briefly before l take
my seat.
No one can have atteptively and i'm
partially observed the events of the last
five years, and especially of the last six
months, without being convinced. that an
#OA SlAiSt~ III liz
objeeta fundamental change of our sys-
tenn that shall make the General Govern
ment supreme, not only in those matters
now confined to it BY the Constitution
butealso in nearly. if not in every matter,
now belonging to the State Governments,
+ There is nothing more striking in our
history than the attachment ofNpur anees-
tors to local self-Goyernment. Itwas this
feeling, more than any other. that led
them to confne the powers Of the Federal
Government tomatters of general concern.
leaving to the State Governments eEclu-
sive jurisdiction over everything of To-
zeal or domestic character. And so fal
did they carry this spirit, that even in the
States an administrative. and, IN some
eases. quasi legislative power, has
always been conferred upon their yariou:
civil divisions. Thus we have boards o.
County Commissioners for counties, O
trustees for townships, of directors fol
school districts, while every municipa
corporation, from the largest city 10 til,
, smallest village, has its council. enactins
laws under the name of Ordinances, t,
/, regulate matters of local concern.
This is the true spirit and idea of GU
Republican institutions, and never wa
!, ,lanything better devised to secure goot
:, lGovernment. to educate the people in tn,
( science and practice of political power
e and to preserve their liberties and FREE
! institutions. Opposed to this idea Q
! local selfgovernment, is that of consol
idated central power, huge, unrestricted
supreme and irresistible National Gov
ernment. This was the favorable idea 0
= certain class of politicians at an earl
t fday !; but was deeisively defeated in tn
# Convention that framed the Federal Con
Y stitution, and was so repugnant to, tn
feelings, sentiments and habits ofF tn
|, American people, that it was not unit
# our late terrible civil war gave rise to tn
Il exercise of G Imperial powers by tn
!, General Government (to use Mr.. Sew
, ards language), and to the creation of a
# immense national debt, that any on
: dared to revive the scheme. But no on
n can now doubt that it has been revived
5, or that the Radical leaders in Congress
le are straining every nerve to carry it int
r effect.
i One of the means employed for thi
L purpose. consists of amendments to til
n Constitution, and one of their chief res
e sons for excluding the Southern State
a from representation in Congress is, ths
D in their absence, propositions to amen
N may be adopted, that, we're they repre-
i sented, would surely fail,
le Gentlemen, / need not say to you, edi
1, Gated as you have been in the Democrat
n faith, that such consolidated govern
/ ment as these men are striving to estal
er lish, would be one of the worst and mo-
II corrupt of despotisms; and that if Il
IS people wish to preserve their liberti'
lc and their substance, TO have good law
&c equal rights and light taxation, they mu
ID never surrender their admirable system
es local self-goyernment.
ofl THE FATE OF Al FoRGFR IN HIGH LIFE