The Republican journal., 1870-10-20
GRANTS INTERFERENCE IN MISS OUR
POLITICS.

In speech at ST. Joseph. Mo-. Oct. s. the Hon
B. Gratz Brown, the Liberal Republican candidate
for Governor, alluded to the dismissal by the Pres
ldent OF Mr. Bennett Pike, United States Disric
| Attorney, al ST. Joseph. because of his being in
favor Of liberal principles. He said he had been
one 81 those who We're reluctant TO believe that the
| President intended to inaugur.e in the State o
| Missouri a system Of removals from public office
with a view of controlling the public sentiment o
The State; that it was only upon his arrival at St
Joseph that he had been advised of the removal oil
| "A gentleman high III character, pure in integrity
of admirable legal attanments from office, because
OF his sympathy with the Liberal movement in this
State; that i'll response to any such action he had
no doubt that the free people of Missouri would
find the way to make their voice heard that they
might even resort to the language of their ancestors
IN an Old and more memorable conflict when they
had declared in rhyme that had rung through the
realm
IT soften thousand Cornish men will know the why
He went on to say that far As this indicated a
policy III behalf of the President and an intention
of removals for the purpose of controlling the
action Of the people of Missouri he had only to say,
it would be utterly without cfect that, for his
part, he had simply this to say, that he would
represent this great uprising of freedom in our
State.
He would then and now cast down the gauntlet
OF defiance to the President of the United st ates
and invite him to come on with his removals and
see how far he could curtail the sovereignty of "A
free people in opposition to the sentiments of peace
i'll the beginning of his Administration that so far
as be was concerned, he did not care the snap Of Il
finger for the opinions OF the President in this ues
ton of internal politics; that he had been one o f
those who had help to teach the President what
freedom meant when he came to Missouri in 1861
declaring that if this war meant the liberation of
the slaves he would strip off his epauettes and
abandon the service; that he intended to teach him
further that freedom meant the liberation of all the
white llen Of this nation well the liberation
OF AT the black men OF this nation; and that he
could not go back under the specous preensr OF
party policy upon the freedom of the white man af
ter having accomplished the freedom of the black
man. Mr. Brown then proceeded TO say that for his
own part he desired here and now to throw down
the gauge of battle to the President Of the United
States, and to invite him to the encounter and to
make this an issue in the State of Missouri. and
that he would risk his reputation upon the issue
That he would find that the people OF this State
were men neither to be bought nor to be intmt,-
ted; and that they would give majority against
any such sinister manipulation Of fifty thousand
votes.
Mr. Brown added that if the President supposes
Republican party by system OF intimidation and
removal from office, lie had mistaken the peo-
pie Of the United States. That the President of the
tnitrd States would find that in Missouri at least
freedom had been declared, and there was no long
er amy slaves either to the tenure Of office or to
the tenure OF property; that, for his part he
simply wished once and for all to bid an effective
defiance to this whole system of intimidation on
the part of the General Government, and say 10
Presidents and Congressional Committees and Cab
met officers and heads of Departments that he did
not the snap of his finger for all their influence
in the State of Missouri and he wanted to add that
il any of them wanted to try it on in Missouri he
welcomed them to the conflict and invited them to
the issue, and if he did moi satisfy them before this
canvass was ended that they had mistaken their
market then he would never make another appea
10 the people of Missouri; that he had only to add
in this connection that the idea of President of the
ntcd States undertaking to influence the vote of
sovereign state i'll great question of internal poll
cy was simply ntoerablc.
Who made Gen. Grant, and what was he that he
should talk in this wise: When the war began he
was one of the humblcst citizens of this country,
without voice influence, who had never given
direction to the public opinion of the nation, and by
what right does he assume to do now? Does he
stand one of the accredited leaders of public
thought? Does he stand as one of the men who
have been identified with the triumphs of freedom
in the past? Does he stand US one of the monu-
ments that we have been to look to for our
inscriptions of freedom heretofore? If not. then
have only to say it would be wise and well for such
men to leave the completion of the freedom of this
country to the achievement of the men who have
undertaken it, and have accomplished it without
interference on the part of those who have simply
reaped its rewards. This portion Of the speech
was received with thunders of applause from the
whole audience. and created an immense furore.