Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-21
spesch Of Hon. Montgomery Blair, Deliv-
cred at Rockbridge Alum Springs, Va.
July 26. 1858. ~ q Il

| July 25. 1868. III IL nT
| From the National Intellieencer.] -
FELLOW CITIZENS: Although the in
terests involved in the political contest
now in progress are incalculably great
and numerous, the principle TO be decided
is simple and plain, and is, indeed, un-
controverted. Those of US who support
the nominees of the Convention which
assembled in New York on Independ-
epee Day, seek only to maintain that
constitutional form of government under
which we have become great and pros
porous people. w Y
Those who support Grant and Colfax
discard that form of government, and set
up a new system, which, as illustrated by
their practice, is to be central govern
ment Of unlimited powers.
From the origin of the Government
there has always been party of this
tendency, bssing such assumptions OF
power by the Federel Government on the
arguments that, as the preamble to the
Constitution declared, among other
things, that the Government was instr
tuted to provide for the general welfare,
its powers must be held to be adequate to
that object, and that the Government
must decide what action the general vel
fare required. The revolution of 1900,
| as it is called, in our political history,
which brought the Democratic party into
power, with Jefferson at its head, over
whelmed the party espousing this doc
triue, and sienced its agitation in that
form. Butthe feeling in favor OF Q mag
nifcent aud expensive Government,
which should enrich and aggrandize the
few at the expense Of the many, was not
extinguisbed. 1t has continued TO renew
the struggle in various forms; at one
| time seeking to make the government the
patron of internal improvements; at
another of manufacturing interests; and
then the founder of great banking insti-
tutions, etc, etc.-the fundamental idea
being to make the government an instru-
ment in the hands of those who held it to
enrich themselves, and those associated
with them, and sustaining them in turR
by the wealth and power acquired by the
association. o
Our political history has been in the
main but a repetition Of the repulse by
the Democratic party of the continuous
struggle to pervert the General Govern
ment from its original purpose as an
agent charged with few interests com
mon to the people of the several States,
and which, by their nature, did not fall
within the purview of their local State
governments to the destruction of those
governments, aud the absorption of their
powers by the Central Government.
Whilst the great mass of power is exer-
cised by the local governments, super
vised by The people, is practicable, and
public affairs will be administered under
a sense of responsibility to the people
which secures fidelity But. with the
consolidation of all power in the General
Government, all such responsibility
ceases. From the first, therefore, the
State governments have been regarded
as the citadels of popular power. and
every true friend of liberty has been
| Jealous of their rights. ~
The circumstance Of cur era having
| been, unfortunately, most favorable to
the renewal of the effort for the destruc-
ton of that system of local government.
| The rebellion was a Godsend to the ira
| ditional opponents of responsible gov
ernment The vast powers exercised
and the vast expenditures made IN the
war have made practical, but, 1 nope,
only temporary transformation OF the
government, and created enormous and
varied mercenary interests to uphold the
power of the party which openly sets at
naught the Constitution. i,
Many of the advocates OF what's called
strong government 10 this country are
men cf personal integrity, as many OF
the monarcbists Of Europe are good
men; but as their theories Of government
spring from distrust Of the people, they
are constantly seeking TO fortify them
selves in power over them, and to evade
responsibility to them. Corruptions,
fraud and force are necessarily reported
to accomplish their purpose.
How strongly this is illustrated by the
course Of the party now 10 power, in the
measures they have taken 10 perpetuate
that power, and upon which we now ar
raien them at the bar Of the people
When Senator Sumner first asserted
the power Of Congress to regulate sui
frage in The States, has doctrine was dis
claimed by all his associates, and be vas
snubbed in the Senate, and told that be
spoke for himself alone; that the Goa
stiiution expressly reserved the right 70
the States 70 regulate Suffrage; that the
atiemp, At secession By some OF them
did not alter their legal relations 10 the
Federal Government or give u any
mower over that suhject within the re-
bellious States, which it did rot posssss
in other States.
Mr.. Sumner and a few others persisted
| in maintaining this doctrine, but the