The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-08-14

"OpPSA HhA luht NOuSututlOHhl 81
. enment must once more reign suprem
There Is no safety for our free institution
but in this.
i, 1t has been said that the Ku.KluX bi
u was brought forward in Congress NJ
NJ merely iOrthe purpose Of suppressing di
H. order and violence, but Of enabling th
Il Republican party TO maintain or restoI
Is lis asCGndenCy and especially the Pres
y dent to secure for himself the eleCtOra
al vote OF the Southern States by the mach
!. merry of that law 1t Is possible tha
ii some unscrupulOus politicians have sue
l. an object in view, but they howeve
e, wanted and proposed n law much NOR
1t ,Sgeeping than this. But ii is my delibcr
ate conviction, based upon personal oh
n servation, that majority ol those VIII
$ voted for the bill had no other object thai
c to afford protection to the persons in tn
5 South who seem TO be hGlplesslyGXposed t.
persecution and OutragGand many OlthGm
voted for the bill with hesitation, And ye
| do not want TO justify their vote or Il
excuse anybody, but to be just au
honestly convinced that nothing has done
more to keep alive the spirit from which
tho Ku.kluX Outrages proceed than The
acrimonious war that was wagCd upon the
reconstruction measures and the COnsttu
tional amendments, and the studi0us en-
couragement that was given to the hope
, that all these things would be swept away
again II only tho Democratic party should
come into power. ! am furthermore con.
vinced that a large majority Of the Re.
publican party North and South are in
favor OF u liberal, generous and strictly
constitutions policy, and that the Gema.
goguCS and sChCmers among the leaders OF
thst party would have been utterly impO.
tent had not the lawess element In the
South and the blind rcaCtionists every.
where most induSlriOusly furnished them
the capital TO work upon.
In speaking Of the San Domingo case,
the speaker sAid that the annexation Of
San Domingo would inevitably lead to
the annexation Of the American tropics
down to the lstlmus Of Daricn, md would
give us q population Of the Latin lndo
African mixture, which has no notions in
common with us, that would promise no
prospect OF successful assimilation with
our political system. We would gain
countries that are beautiful, but countries
whose possession would be the source of
incalCulable difficulties, military govern.
mcnt, corruption and decentralization of
every kind.
Speaking Of the orders given by the
President to our naval squadron in the
West Indies to protect Bae2, tho chief of
the Republic Of San Domingo il he was
lntcrIered with by any one, Senator
Schurz said the power TO involve the
country in war is power Of tremendous
responsibility. II cant be CirCumsCrbed
too carefully nor too cOnsCiUnCiOusly
guarded against abuse. That this power
was taken from the executive and con.
tided to the legislative branch Of the Gov.
ernment, was one Of the most important
changes in the theories of constitutional
government, and was essentially II repub.
lican provision for which VIC gratefully |
remember the fathers of our constitution
! have been severely Censured and at.
tackled for my attitude in this affair
That can't touch me, but when respec.
table Republican journal summons Mr.,
Sumner and myself to compare our per.
sonal differences with the President for
the sake of the public interest, II descrv.
es an answer. cannot understand this
vicw Of public affairs. know Of no
personal differences that could influence
my political attitude. My personal rcla.
tions with the President were never other
than friendly; complain Of nothing and
were II otherwise | would certainly lose
my seli.respect, If on account Of a personal
feeling | was capable Of attacking the
policy Of the President, hut II the Presi.
dent were my dearest and most intimate
friend, this friendship would not restrain
me from opposing violation of the Con.
stitution
lido view the great battles OF politics as
q comedy wherein VIC sec fit to play at
parting in one act and at reconciliation in
the next. Tome 1t Is q serious, sacred
task ! know only right and 'duty !
should have been but too happy II
could have contributed to the end that
this administration should provo bles.
sing In every direction and hoped
much. am fully conscious Of the re.
sponsibillty or should never avcspoken
Of IL, had deemed II may duty
and were l not profoundly In earnest
1t "a my conviction, q conviction conscicn.
tiously formed, that this violation of the
Constitution, In It's most important point,
and In which the people cannot willingly
suffer TO pass without On ncouraging the
Of their constitutional rights
piece by piece, and without dropping
into the dangerous habit Of submission to
The arbitrarily freaks Of personal govern.
ment. am not the man to change my |
like pair of gloves. Let [
Them prove to me that am In the wrong
and all difference arc compared, but until |
hen l shall not cease TO battle against the q
,anCtloning Of this precedent either I
through Congress or through the people, {
with All the energy Of my nature. {
Others may compromise with their &
conscience. can't and ! shall not en-. a
lorse violation Of the fundamental law Z
~ supporting the reelection Of 0 Presi {
lent who perpetfated Il. Vituperation {
Ind Calumny may he heaped upon me, d
iut am conscious Of mn aim as pure as {
I is great. ! shall he innexible, and ir |
'tand solitary and alone shall not cease {
o sound the signal Of danger, deeply con. 1
'lnced as | ain that future events will jus. +
lily my warning. '
President Grant hns placed his cousins '
md brnthors.in.law by the dozen nj the d
luDlic crib, and the whole chorus of n
latterers exclaim, "a trile, who will find y
ault with him for that" and he who feels I
he indecenCy Of such acts, and expresses 8
lis feelings, Is simply denounced as n n
raitor, whose heart must he full nj black /
lesigns. These are no trines. The 4
.Onsins and brOthers.in.law of the Presi. q
lent may, as officers, be no worse than n
'thers, hut when he puts them to the a
lpbliC crib, the chief Of the State teaches H
is subordinates, by his example, which 4
: everywhere visible, that in his opinion c