Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-05-09
Prom the Salem Mass J Statesman.
UesfrOuing Sfofes.

NoNhinS II ruVIcu III lhclr eyes any
longer, that cbstructs their parlizan
nggrandizement. The very cry of en-
croachment and nsurpation which they
raise against the Executive and Judi
ciary, is to draw off popular suspicion
from practices in themselves which
they appear to condemn. Their con
ception of the Government seems to
be, that it is lodged in the hands of
q Congressional majority. Whatever
that majority may will in secret eau
Gus, that shall the government per-
form. If it demands the deposition of
State Governments, then those gov
ernments are doomed. 1t is more re-
publican in its eyes TO destroy them
than II would be TO let them stand as
the work of the people themselves.
If il sets up the authority to invade
the local sovereignty of n State and
the right to control and regulate its
internal concerns, to dispute the same
is 10 draw down the charge of "disloy-
atty" cit has como TO that point
where loyalty is to bo paid to the ma
jority of O sectional party, instead of
to the Constitution of the country.
That sacred chart of our liberties, in
truth, is not now referred to save with
scoff or sneer, and those who pro-
fess to shape and direct their opinions
by it are denounced as sympathizers
with treason. Now, if there is trea-
son at all, it can only be committed
against the Constitution, which is ac-
cepted by the people still as the law
Of the land and this free bandying
Of so opprobrious charge is but the
terrorism invariably exercised by the
fell spirit of revolution. Unless men
have the fell spirit to defy it, they
pay the fearful penalty of parting very
soon with their freedom.
One Of the latest illustrations of this
spirit of usurpation is presented in the
case of Maryland. The minority of
the Legislature Of that State address
ed memorial to Congress praying
for its interference to guarantee TO
them "a republican form of govern
ment." Why they do not live under
such form already is, in the language
OF the memorialists, because it is not
a government sin keeping with the
standard erected in the Constitutional
Amendment and the Civil Rights bill,
namely, recognition of manhood with
out regard to color, and the sacred
principle Of impartial suffrage" If
all our State governments are to be
held up 10 that standard, which was
supposed only to be set up for the
exceptional cases of the ten Southern
States, then there are few but will
come short of its requirements. Mich
igan refuses. Connecticut year ago
refused by majority of six thousand
to incorporate that "sacred principle"
into its Constitution. New York, H.
linois, Delaware, New Jersey, and 9TH
cr States of the North are in the same
category. If the majority in Con-
gress propose to meddle in the affairs
of Maryland on that score, they must,
to be at all consistent, meddle in Con-
necticut, Michigan, and the other
States also.
Not quite assured of the impression
of this appeal on Congress by the Rad
ical minority of the Legislature, the
Radicals of the State hastily summon
ed convention and preferred through
that channel similar request, so as
to make il appear that the movement
was a popular one, in support of the
position Of the fragment of the legis-
lature. Mr. Thomas presented their
memorial to the House of Representa-
tives, and demanded for it an immedi- |
ate hearing radical paper at Wash
ington insisted that Congress ought
not to adjourn until it had seriously |
taken up the matter and disposed of
it in favor Of .he petitioners. What
started the whole thing was the call |
ing Of State Convention by the leg
islature, TO revise the Constitutions
matter perfectly legitimate, and be-
yond the reach of any outside power
whatever, no more TO be interfered |
with by Congress than the King of
Prussia. The radical party of Mary
land were not willing thus to have af-
fairs managed over their heads, but
asked Congress to step in and take
sides with them. And lest the simple
request Of the legislative minority
should fail TO produce that result, they
called Radical Convention in oppo-
sition to the one legitimately summon
ed by the majority of the legislature,
TO frame q State Constitu-
tion of their own, and then to call in
Congress TO help them establish and
operate it in the State, under the re-
cent Sherman-Stevens law. If such
an illegitimate and revolutionary body
of men meet, the expectation of the
managers is that il will provoke an
which will be magnifed to
the utmost, and induce Congress to
extend the provisions of the Military
Reconstruction bill over the State.
And so fragrant an outrage on the
spirit and form Of our government is
defended, nay demanded, by the Wash
ington Chronicle and the Philadelphia
North american. The former said
owe call on Congress not to adjourn
before settling this grave matter,
which, if not settled, may stdrtie them
in their recess By something l0orse than
the massacre 1t Nao Orleans" The
North american said-"Cause sufi-
cient exists to justify the extension to
Maryland of the provisions of the Mil
itary Reconstruction bill, and zoe trust
Congress iCiH hare no hesitation in do
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