The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-02-20
The Admission Of Nebraska
SPEECH OF NON. E. ulsg, OF sKENrucKY

the most melancholy exhibitions of til
triumph Of despotic principles over tn
Constitution and republican traditions q
America, which has yet been Witnessed
The majority in Congress have given til
coup de grace to the recognition of constitr
tlonal' obligationsaad of the rights of loca
self-governmcnt, They have declared i
effect that the passions of the ruler is th
peoples law, and that the rights of loca
sef-soverhment are only to be reorganize,
when maintained by adequate power. Il
this debate Hon Elijah Hise attempted t
participate and begun with his usual pow
er to expose the. atrocious purposes Of tn
despotlc majority, but having had a tast
of his quality before, they fastened to ga
him. Before he had even stated the basi
OF his argument the hammer fell. We fin,
the following report of his remarks in tn
Globe:
Mr.. Hise-Mr. Speaker, in arguing an,
great question, it is always necessary tina
certain automatic truths, certain manifest
iy first principles, should be conceded b,
all reasonable men. One principle of trutl
OF that description, permit mo here to stat
briefly, is that the Constitution of .th
4 United States is q compact by which TIL
/ States, as members of the Federal Union
agreed with one another to institute
Government, with certain definite power
and for certain specific, purposes, that tn
| Constitution Of the United States is tn,
supreme fundamental, irrepealable law
and there is no functionary of Government
that exists by virtue of it that has an,
authority to disregard it's provisions. TIL
Congress of the United States, tho Execu
tive, and all the officers of the Government
are all bound to obey the Constitution
and whenever any Of the departments, o.
of tho high public functionaries of tn
Government are guilty of an act of usurpa
ton not authorized by the Constitution
OF OF an assumption of powers not granted
by 1T, Or violate it in any particular, they
are guilty Of perjury-corrupt and damna
| BILE perjury. The Constitution is above al
the powers of government created by it
and it is In vain to mako an argument
upon any great constitutional question Il
body who assume to set aside or disre
gard its provisions and limitations.
But, sir, upon the supposition that thu
Constitution is to be respected and obeyed
and that its, violation entails. upon til.
party violating it the crime Of pe,jnfy,,
appeal to this House upon the Question
whether it is g. Government of limited
powers and of State creation, or wEethe
it is Governmental mere majority, will
its powers unlimited, except by the force
of numbers to- carry any measure; tba
they may thiuk proper. If it is limited
Government then you are to find the pow
er that you attempt to exercise in some o
the grants contained in that instrument
But where is the grant of the power of TIT
Congress of the United States to be found
in the Constitution to control in State o.
Territory or in this District or anywher,
else the right of the inhabitants. who ar
to be governed by municipal or local laws
OF discriminate as a matter of policy as t,
who shall exercise the elective franchise
The object of republican government
and especially the great object Of our sys
tenn OF governments, State and Federal, il
to secure the advancement of civilization
and political liberty, and promote the pro
gress OF arts and sciences. So, then, as I;
mere question ofexpediency the States die
not think proper to abandon to the Fede
raj Government the great Fundamental
power of deciding for them the question O.
the right Of suffrage. We know that thu
object Of government is security Of life
liberty, and property, to promote the hap
piness and civilization of man as mora
and intellectual being, and it is indispen
sable to that end that property, virtue, ant
intelligence, should be considered as alto
gether important in settling the question
in any State of this Union as to who shall
or shall not exercise the right Of suffrage
But the majority of the members CT thi
House assume the authority and power TO
Congress to impose upon all the States
especially those which have lately been il
conflict with the Northern States, and upo1
all the Territories that are to be formed
into States and admitted into this Union
the obligation to allow class of people
within their limits to take the Government
into their control, whereby instead o
promoting and securing property, life, lib
crty, and civilization, they would throw
back into condition of barbarism the.
would Africanize some, If not all, of tn,
Southern States by giving to the prepon
derantnegro population therein the powe
to control their local governments, thu
defeating all the ends that arc intended tt
be secured by the institution of govern
fnents and which alone can Justify the cos
and burden of their maintenance.
Now, sir, upon what ground is this pow
CT claimed for this Congress9l Where d.
they find the authority in the Constitution
of the United States? They can nowher
in the Constitution find any provision that
by any, the most latitudiholIs, construction
could authorize the assumption and exc,
else of this power; none whatever. Th
Constitution provides that The Represents
tives in this House shall be elected by tina
portion of the population of their respect
i've States which is entitled, under th
State Constitution and laws, to vote 70
members Of the most numerous branch o
the State Legislature, thus conceding t
the States the COVE. .lmental power of con
trolling this subject and Of prescribin!
who shall and who shall not vote, wha
classes may and what may not exercise tn
right Of suffrage, and upon what condition
the right shall exist. This Congress nov
propose to force upon the people Of th
Southern States, as q condition preceden
to their recognition as members OF TIL
Union, and upon the people of the Terrific
ries as condition to their admission a
States, voting population which will i'm
pede their march toward civilization ant
to the attainment ofall the great ends AMI
objects of government, the security of life
liberty and property. The power is claim
ed here that the Congress of the United
States have authority to impose upon tn,
Southern States a condition that the col
ored population of those States shall b
placed upon terms of social. and politica
equality with the balance Of the people a
a condition prec edent to admission to thei
right of representation here as States o
this Union They can find no such powe
anywhere in the Constitution; but the.
claim thunder the provision to the effec
that the Federal Governmentshall guarsn
| ty to the States q republican form Of gov
eminent.
Now, sir, it is not astounding that in
Hot,,-, & composed Of 50 many intelligent ant
Learned men as find from the debates tina
this does, IT, party feeling and party 10
naticism should SO jaundice and contro
the minds of men as to induce them to as
srme as authority for what. they seek t
| =, a 4 xs,tns oI