Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-07-26
TWO SPLENDID LETTERS |
Hoffman and Mcclellan.

The letters below, from Gov. Hoff.
man and Gen. Mcclellan, were writ,
ten in response to invitations to at.
tend the celebration of the Fourth, by
the Tammany Society, in New York
City.
Gov. Hoffman upon a ..strong Central
Government"
STATE OF NEw YoRK, Ex. CaAxpER,
ALBANY, June 20, 1871.
To the Council Of Sachs"' Of the Tamma"y So
ciety:
have received your kind invita-.
tion to be present at the celebration
of the Fourth Of July, at Tammany
Hall. / regret very much that other
engagements, entered into before |
received your invitation, put il out Of
my power TO comply Herewith.
You do well in calling attention to
the fact that again now, as on the
great Fourth of July of l776, the vital
question is pressed upon the American
people whether they shall bc govern.
ed by force or will govern themselves
Our recent civil strife led TO n great
concentration Of administrative power
in the Federal government; but as
the war wac temporary and out of
tho ordinSrv course of events 30 this
extraordinary exertion Of power
shoulS have been temporary and
promptly abandoned as soon as the
war ceased. In the revolutionary
struggles of our forefathers George
Washington was for a time invested
with powers almost If not absolutely
dictatorial. The moment actual war
ceased this greates, Of military .'hiafs
gave up his commission, divested
himself of power, and left all political
questions TO be settled by the free
and peaceful deliberations Of the peo-
pie. The whole civilized world, its
monarchs, its statesmen, its scholars,
its people, looked with awe upon the
simple grandeur Of Americas hero.
To day the world at large docs rever-
ence TO his memory as to no other
name among those who have CONTROL.
ed the political destinics of men.
The human race takes pride in him
shall we, his own countrymen, sur
render our faith in his wisdomi
Our great civil war ended six years
ago; the deliberations of our people
are not yet free. Powers have been
lately conferred, under law of Con.
gress, upon the American President
which ought not to bc intrusted Ia
any man, and which no man is good
enough or wise enough to WELD. Al
his own discretion he may, under this
wicked law, suspend, in any portion
of the country, North, South, East, OF
West, all the lawful rights of it's citi
zens and govern it by military force
subject TO no restraint but that Of bis
own villa power less limited, less
guarded, more absolute than that
conferred upon President Lincoln in
the time of actual war.
The great political question now
before us is whether, in the future, we
are to be the subjects Of what is com
monty called strong government, oil
shall continue 10 be, as heretofore, Q
strong people. All political power
pertains, OF right, to the people
whatever is conferred on the govern
ment is so much taken from them
What many men call a strong govern
ment (meaning one of extended, un
limited powers) necessarily implies
a weakened people. The two-"l
strong government and strong peo
ple-cannot exist together. This
question of whether we shall make
the government strong or keep the
people strong, is one that always un
derlies our party divisions, but is Al
times presented more boldly and dis
tinctly than at others. II was plainly
presented at the revolution Of 1776
The advocates of strong government
lost. 1t was again sharply presented
in the contest which brought Jefi'er
son into the Presidency, when alst
tho advocates Of a strong government
were put down. 1t is again as sharp
ly presented to us today and what
ever questions of lesser and more
temporary importance may have di
vided the American people on tn,
other occasions, il is their duty nov
10 consider, above all things, whether
the absorption Of all power into thu
central government, which Is going OF
at fearful ratio, is consistent with tn,
permanent welfare of the people, o.
even with the permanent strength ant
endurance Of tho government Itself.
1t has boon proved that this grea
Union OF ours cannot be torn asun
der. 1t is clear, too, that the right
Of States are rights within the Union
safest in the Union, best pa 5tected b.
the peaceful remedies provided by th
Constitution. IT. however, we aban
don the wholesome principles whicl
controlled in the construction of on
Union, decay more fatal than vic
lenoo must supervene. This vas
continent can no more be we'll govern
ed in all things by one central autho
rity at Washington than was tn
whole Of Europe we'll governed iron
Rome in tho days Of tho Roman cm
pire. Tho results would be, now q
then, loss of character and vigor il
the people, and sooner or later tn
breaking down Of the govornmen
7 itself The Constitution ofthe Unitet