Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-29
RADICALISM.
ssThe Crimes and Blunders of
, the Republicans Party"
A Formidable Indictment by a
Radical Organ.

4 Radical Organ.
From the Chicago Tribune, lRadical,) March IS
T In the matter of the claim of Gen.
Ames to a seat in the United States Sen
ate, the Judiciary Committee reported
that he was not an inhabitant of the State,
and, therefore, not eligible at the time of
his election. The discussion, however,
has developed determination on the part
of some Senators (perhaps majority to
admit Gen. Ames anyhow, because he is a
Republican. Senator Carpenter, in speak
ing of this subject, forcibly condemned
the prevailing practice Of disregarding law
upon political measures. The Judiciary,
he said, was becoming a useless append
age of the Government, and ne expert
enced willingness, SO far as he was con
.oerned, that it be abolished, ssconceding,
for the purposes of this discussion, that
whenever the Constitution stands in
the way of what we deem human
rights, of what we deerua temporary adj
vantage, of what we deem a party end,
that it is to be trampled under foot and
'disregarded. While the Senator was
thus willing to concede away the judicia-
ry, whenever demanded by party, he was
not willing to give up the Constitution in
this particular case, because there was no
necessity for it, either of national or
party character, and, therefore, there was
no reason why the Senate should decide
this question on party grounds. The re
Duke was not ill-timed. Though uttered
with reference to the case of Ames, it
has an equal application to those MEM
beers of Congress who, for mere partisan
purposes, are endeavoring to force upon
the people of Georgia, after their terms
of Office expire, a gang of State
officers who are not wanted by the
people. Laying aside all considerations of
Constitution, law, justice, and good faith,
what possible interest have the Republi
cans of Wisconsin and Illinois in keeping
in Office in Georgia set of men so Odious
that they dare not trust themselves to the
chances of an election where they have
the political machinery in their own
hands, Is the country to be saved by
keeping particular Legislature and Gov
ernor in office against the wishes of the
people? Is it not a libel upon the Re-
publicans of the United States to assume
that they approve of any such policy, or
that they refuse permission to the repub
licans in Georgia to dismiss at the next
election gang of officials whose terms
have expired? Instead of being a party
measure to keep Bullock in Office in GeOr-
gia, it is an abuse of party confidence, and
an abuse of Senatorial responsibility and
decorum, to attempt any such revolution
airy and repulsive act.
But this is not the only case in which
congressional morality has persisted be-
fore the mistaken policy of temporary
party advantages. The judicial proceed
ings of the House of Representatives up
on cases of contested elections have sunk
as low in public estimation as those of the
hireling courts of New York city. Law
and evidence, facts and justice, are treat
ed with contempt or unconcern, and ques-
lions of right of membership and validity
of election are decided exclusively by the
politics of the contestants. Mr.. Dawes
of Massachusetts, was chairman OF the
House Committee of Elections for many
years, and in his judgment the House
placed great confidence; but he could not
stem the tide of partisanship, and he re-
tired in disgust from the Committee. In
recent paper read before the Social Sci
ence association, he said
ssAll traces of a Judicial character in
these proceedings contested elections are
fast fading away, and the precedents los
ing all sanction. Each case is coming TO
be a mere partisan struggle. At the die
tate of party majOrities the committee
must fight, not follow, the law and the
evidence; and he viii best meet the expec-
tations of his appointment who can put
upon record the best reasons for the course
thus pursued This tendency is so mani
fest to those in a situation to observe, that
it has ceased to be questioned, and is now
but little resisted. There is no tyranny
like that of majoritles, and efforts IN the
past to resist them, and to hold the Judg-
ments of the committee of elections above
the dirty pool of party politics, have en-
countercd such bitter and unsparing
denunciation, and such rebuke for treason
to party fealty, that they are not likely to
be repeated. The fruit that follows such
seed is too certain for doubt. The whole
proceeding must sink into contempt. Self
respect, as well as legal attainment, will
soon retire from service upon committee
required, in the name of the law, and
under the cloak of judicial sanction, to do
the work of partisans.
Since Mr.. Dawes retired, Mr.. Paine, OF
Wisconsin, has been chairman OF the
Committee of Elections, and he, too, has
become so disguised with the course OF
the House, in overruling law and justice,
that he has frequently asked to be relieved
from service on the committee. There
never was a greater mistake made by
party than the prostitution of its numerl-
cal strength to the establishment OF prece-
dents, particularly of a judicial character,
tor mere temporary advantage. However
successfully "self-respect and legal at
tainment" in the Senate and the House OF
Representatives, may be coerced into sub
mission to such action, the moral sentl-
ment of the people will always revolt.
The House of Representatives, two years
ago, by the votes of an INSCRIPTIONS ma
iority, elected member who had been
fairly and legally elected by small ma
ioritv, and the result was that lew
months later he was. reelected by several
thousands over his competitor. These
violations of justice, this bending OF law
and constitution to suit the exlgencles OF
party, invariably meet their retrlbutlon. Ii
a party cannot retain power and place by
adhering to law and justice, let it lay down
the authority; it is no longer useful.
In his admirable speech on the Georgia
| case, Senator Schurz thus pointed out
how temporary advantage may end i'll
a permanent defeat He said:
81 ask you, are we indeed reduced &c
that pitiable extremity of declaring thai
we can protect the citizens of the United
States in their rights only by violation
of the constitution and the laws, instead
| of their enforcement Heaven forbi(
that we should condescend to make 81
degrading, SO fatal an acknowledgment
Let Republican Senators advocating tina
course of policy well pause and consider
They speak of party interest.
"Sir. the conscience of the America
people willingly accepted many stretcl
of power as long as the life of the natiol
was in danger. But let no man deceiy
himself. The conscience of the Amer
can people has by no means become in
sensible to a wanton disregard of the laws
You mean to preserve, by this act, part.
ascendency in one single State of thi
Union. Why, Senators, if you have rea
the history of this country with profit
you will have learned that it is by jus
such acts that party ascendancy is lost i
the nation. Such acts are very rarel
| performed with impunity, and when 70