The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-18
THE FINANCES.
Speech of Hon. s. =. Cox at Concert HaII
Last Evening.

6s -
ex-Congressman OF Ohio, on "Tbe Business Con.
ditlon of the Country" The meeting was or
ganized by the selection of William O. Patterson,
Esq, as President, and the usual number of
Vice.Presidents.
MIR. Patterson introduced the speaker in a few
remarks to the audience, after which he pro-
ceeded as folows:--
Gertlemen:-I remember once to have heard
performed play called the BeRONoR Bdmiy-a
last family. Throughout all the shifrings OF the
scene the leading parsonage, MADAME Benoi-
ton," IS always inquired alter, but does not
appear. She is al ways about to go out or
expected 10 return. We may be allowed to
inquire OF our radical rulers, on this OF all days
OF the year, after the leading feature of American
Republlcanism. May we not ask in an humble way
after tne American Constitutions IL is really
the bead OF our political family. AS this is ito
natal Cay, and thus city its birthplace, our radi-
cal friends will not think 1t treason if ! make
few illusions to its BIRTH and ito function. Iu
pursuance of resolution OF the Congress of the
CoufeOeraton, OF the 2lst OF February, 1877, the
Convention was appointed which met IN this
city; that Convention adopted the Constitution;
it vas Submitted to the several States, and ratI-
fed bS Pennsylvania on the 18th of December,
l7o7. lt bUre the great name oil Washington
1t was slgUed by sucn names AS sherman. King,
Hamilton Dayton, Franklin, Wilson, Morris,
IngeIson, CJmer, Madison, Rutedge, and
PTnckney. These were the organic lawmakers
OF our republic. l disdain to speak OF the
Constitution coddlers OF this time IN the same
breath. They gave us a matches lnstru-
ment 1t was the refinement of human polty.
1t has been the theme of the philosophic
MINDS OF the world since, as 1t embodied al
the wisdom and eimiuated all uuwisdom OF the
ages before its appearance. 1t supplied the de.
fects of the Articles OF Confederation. 1t did
more. 1t reconcled all local and commercial
dive1sities. 1t gave national unity. This uuIty
lasted. II lasted until the mad zealotry Of
sections, North aid South, embroiled the un
willing people. 1t was sought, hrst by hate and
then 10y war, to sever the bonds of constitutional
union. 1t Is now sought again TO undo the
great work OF 1887 by fresh invasions upon the
integrity and harmony OF the Federal system.
What rash advance upon the truth of history
and the genius OF those who made our Govern
ment has been made since eighty one years ago
this day! When the Convention sent out ITS
rescript to the Congress, with the Constitution
for ratification, it was urged that the only
desderatum in national government was
the power to make war; peace, aud treaties, and
tolevy taxes and regulate commerce. So Jealous
were they of these DO Vers, that the fathers
divided the trust among three organizations.
They called on the States to make sacrifices of
State pride and Individual liberty for these
objects The States responded. Said Washing
ton:-"In this system Is involved our prosperity,
felicity, safety, national existence" SO it was.
So it is to-day l wish tonight that the
18th of September could oe held sacred
TO the memory of the i'm mortal names
and the grand deeds of those who made and
VINO ratified such Pennsylvauans as Benjamin
Rush, James Wilson, ana Frederick A. Mullen
berg. They were men who looked forward, not
to a confined area for our Government, but to a
Gordon OF uniformed States which were to be
inhabited by myriads of our race" When Mr..
Wilson proposed to 1atity the Constitution in
the Pennsylvania Con yenuon, his first thought
was one now so unusua-of political and Chris
tian charity. "Dverslty OF sentiment demanded
spirit of mutual iorbearance aud conciliation.n
1t was as indispensable then as ills now Conce5-
sion and sacrifice were held to be absolutely
necessary to the expanding quality of the United
States Government; expanding in only one
direction-the expanse OF It's defined and limited
powers over ne W and forming States! The great
elements of national unity were secured; the
States were strengthened, and by their strength
the Union grew. We became strong against all
the world, for we fulfilled what Pennsylvania in
adopting the Constitution promised, 'salutary
pe1manency in magistracy and stability in the
laws" Alas! what fall since then, under
radical dspensations!
This was our happy Union till 1861 Then
radicaism began lis work. The reptile bored
into the mound, the fierce waters rushed in
with violence, and to-day the remnant only of
the best system OF human government stands as
a warning against excess and corruption.
do not come here to you to speak so much
about politics as OF the dlrelul effects which this
excess produces upon business. / am just from
Maine-where have seen the whole coast de-
nuded OF Its ship-yards and foreign tonnage by
radical rule; and it comes home to my appre-
hension that other interests will tumble into the
same abyss under the same burdens and
eXcesses. Constitutions were intended TO save aud
protect, not to poster, harass, oppress, and re.
press. Our Consultation, so malchless for its
reserved powers, and so wonderful in the
division and checks upon its granted powers,
has been utterly set at nau9 hit in war and peace
by the dominant party. That party cannot re-
cOncile the sections, States, or races in the
Union. 1t Is not In harmony with our organism
as government.
To perceive why the radical policy has failed,
and why it will fail when completed involves
an inquiry into the nature and character OF our
Union. AS by the violation of these laws wal
came, so by their observance, and by that alone,
will peace come. AS the immediate cause of the
war was the assertion OF a ight to throw off the
paramount Federal authority and withdra "
States so the cause OF the present discomfort is
the practical assertion OF the right OF Congres
paramount to the organic law-to keep States
QUITO regulate the conditions OF their pre-
tended admission, TO in nteImeddle IN their suffrage
and to carry on what legislation they require
by citizens of other States, not familiar with
their neeos.
RECONSTRUCTION ACTS
Here Mr.. Cox discussed at lena tn the relations
of the ates 10 the Federal Government, and
illustrated the RADICAL revolutionary policy by
the Reconstruction acts. These acts give all
control over the States to Congress, and create
military power as its instrument.
The col strnction and execution OF these laws
is not con6ded to the proper civil officers or
those traued in the Law. The will OF any petty
oiicer or soldier who chooses 10 set up his in
terpre alton is made, by express Enactment
judicial, executive, aud legislative. or course
the officer plays fantastic tricks, which are only
relieved from the ridiculous by the terrible con.
sequences in which they involve all that is deal
in II e and precious in liberty.
To compass this kind of precarous recon.
struction, upon which the Republican platform
congratulates US, Congress subVerts the original
plan of the Government. The division OF power
State and Federal, is obliterated The distrlbu-
tion OF powers among the Federal departments is
mi hn fRit. fin Of a hann m nfs