Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-07-05
THE Pennsylvania MANIFESTO,

tsd---A Powerful Paper by Hon.
Jeremiah Black.
The following are the material portions Of
the address to the Democracy Of Pennsyl-
venia BY the Democratic Executive Com
mittee Of that State. The paper was pre-
pared by ex-Secretary Jeremiah S. Black
The Executive Committee of the Democ.
racy of this State, TO whom the following
address was referred by the recent State
convention, now present the same TO you as
embodying some Of the reasons which actu-
ATE and control the organization they repre-
sent We here solemnlY renew our often
repeated declaration Of fidelity to the great
principles upon which our party has acted
from the time Of its first organization. Our
ultimate objects are those of our fathers
when they adopted the Constitution, viz
ITO form q more perfect union, TO establish
Justice, TO insure domestic tranquility, to
promote the general welfare, to provide for
the common defence, and secure the bless
ings Of liberty TO ourselves and our posteri-
ty." We sincerely believe that the govern.
ment of the United States, administered as
it was in former days, with a direct view to
the advancement of these principles, would
do for us and for our children all that any
people can reasonably desire from the polit-
oal system under which they live. We are
equally sure that if not carried out in thu
spirit of those BY whom il was framed II
must become q curse instead of a blessing.
Situated as we are, obedience to the fuDds.
mentsl law means not only the honest per-
formsnce of sworn obligations, but freedom,
peace, and prosperity to all classes of peo
pie. On the other hand, the usurpation OF
interdieied or undelegsted power is not only
a crime in itself, but the fruitful parent of
other crimes, and will lead, as it has already
led, TO indefinite misgovernment, corruption
aud tyranny, subvertinE all liberty, and rem.
dering the rights of ell men insecure. When
we speak of the Federal Constitution, we
mean the whole instrument, with all its
amendments, and Acknow edge the equal
obligation of every part Several Of those
amendments were carried by brute force and
by frauds upon the public will so glsring as
TO take from their authors all claim upon
our respect. But we cannot deny thstthey
have actually become part of the Constitu.
ton nor can we avoid that fact, nor get
behind il, by showing the corrupt miscon.
duct OF the men who at that time controlled
SVhEAobH 1hN ma1hcEcu hhc tDNaNC hbkl5l
lures. Whosoever swesrs to support the
Constitution must perform all that is nom
mated in the bond" AIy change which
experience and reason shall prove 20 be de
sirable must be made in the prescribed way,
and not by revolutionary and disorderly
means.
THE DECLARATION OF 1871.
No candid person will deny that the lead
ing men ia power at Washington have been
unfaithtul to their duties. They have broken
the pledges they made 10 the people, aud
in reckless disregard of their oaths, they
have violated the p~lainest provisions of the
constitution. They have deprived the
States of their sacred right OF self govern
ment In matters purely local, aud dIssrI1ed
them OF the power to enforce their own laws
for the preservation of order within their
wi boundaries. They have passed bills OF
pains and penalties, operating on millions at
once, without regard 10 the guilt or Inno>
cenee Of the parties. They have trampled
on sll the securities of life, liberty aud pro-
perty. They have treated the bsbeas cor
pUs law with contempt, and denied the
right of trial by jury. They have sent out
swsrms Of their hirellng agents with ~ins;ruc-
tions 70 kidnap, ImprIson and kill free cltl
zsns for political offences, without judicial
accusation, without warrant, and without
trial. They have not only troddeu upon
the great principles, embodied in the origi-
nal constitution IS it came from the hands
Of its trainers, but even the amendments,
which they themselves interpoisted, have
been broken without remOrse whenever IL
suited their interests. In defiance of tue
NIIlth amendment they have doomed many
persons TO the worst kind Of SLAVERY or 10
voluntary servitude" in the public prisons,
without the pretence of any crime whereO.
the party was legally convicted. In tue
face of the XIVth they have abridged the
equal rights" of whole masses of white
citizens. Without the least resbeel for the
right Of universal suffrage, guaranteed by
the XVIII, they have interiered both forcibly
and frsudulently to prevent fair elections,
and to set them aside after they were held
These outraRes upon justice, liberty and
law have been perpetrated, not during the
conflict of q civil ar-no in moments Of
wild passion or heated excitemeus-but in
cold blood, upon deliberate reflection, in a
time Of profound peace, in foil view of the
consequences, and their authors have fol
lowed out this line of policy, stsp by step,
with q persistency which shows their fixed
determination for the future, a.. in the past,
20 be bound by no oath and held by no
promise. The two last ard most important
of their anti -cons:itutioUA al measures show
more distinctly than others their settled
design to strangle the Liberties of the
nation, and take PERPETUAL power into theii
own hands. The force bill authorizes the
President, not only to invade the States al
his pleasure, but by declaring martial Law
20 subvert all government, except what
consists of his mere will. Under the cleo,
ton law HIS cannon is planted directly
against the freedom of State elections
Already the bayonets of the executive hsv'
cleaned around the polling places in the
cities Of New York and Philadelphia. VII
can mistake the meaning of these prepare
tions for the next Presidential election
Who doubts that warning and rebuke ar
needed now to prevent the admlnistratio
from carrying out its purpose by force? !
the warning be not given by the people o
fail Of its proper effect can we hope 70
peace 2 1t seems to US an error to suppos
the American people tame enough to b
kicked under the yoke of a despotism; o
ignorant enough to be juggled out OF To
great inheritance Of free government whie
their fathers left them.
RorTEHNEss OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
We complain of our present rulers 70
lawless usurpation of powsr. Power nc
delegated is always abused. In this, as i
other cases, usarpation has been accom-
panied and followed by corruption. Fraud
without number, and almost without iimi
have been committed on the public. Me
of the worst character for common honest
are permitted to occupy the highest place
OF the money collected from the people, an
not stolen before it reaches the Treasury,
large portion is squandered by Congress o
party fAvOEites OF corrupt rings, and on baG
combinations Of public plunderers. Tn
enormous extent to which this financial co
ruption has been carried will become man.
fest to any one who compares the expend
lures of the government during the 81