The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-01-17
COLUMBIA. S. G..
Tuesday Morning, January II. 18711
What Is a Republican Form OF Co
vernmcnt3

Gle Of the Constitution of the United
States provides that "the United States
shall guarantee to every State in this
Union Republican form Of govern
ment." In the House of Representa-
tivcs, on the first dny of the re-assem-
bling of Congress, after the Christmas
holidays, Mr.. Rogers, member from
Arkansas, introduced resolution recit-
ing various acts of outrage and oppres-
sion committed at the recent Congress
sional election, and declaring that 'no
Republican form of government exists
in that State, and that no legal opportu-
nifty is allowed the peonle of TINT State
to maintain their rights" Therefore, 2"
the resolution goes on to direct. that
"the Committee on the judiciary be di-
rected to make full inquiry into the
state of political government in the
State Of Arkansas, and into the conduct
of the Governor and registrars. with
power to send for persons and papers,
and to report at the earliest practicable
moment, if they find legislation necessa-
ry, a bill to secure to the people of that
State the exercise of their rights" The
resolution was adopted.
The frequency with which this provi-
sion of the Federal Constitution has
been resorted to within the past few
years as justification for any and every
species of interference on the part Of
Congress with the internal government
and domestic concerns of the several
States, has been repeatedly the subject
of comment. The Baltimore Sun ON
phatically declares that Congress ap-
pears to have proceeded upon the as
sumption that the Republican govern
ment" guaranteed by the Constitution is
the government OF the Republican party,
and that whatever legislation was neces-
sary to secure and perpetuate the ascon-
dency of that party was within the scope
and protection of that instrument. AS,
however, it is bad rule which will not
work both ways, the drift Of Mr.. Ro-
gers resolution seems to be to admonish
tho political majority that the precedent
which they have established may horeaf-
ter be used with equal effect against
them. His resolution is aimed, appa-
rently, at the proscriptive and disfran-
chising features of the present State
constitution of Arkansas, and at tho con-
duct of the Governor aud registrars at
the recent Congressional elections. The
speech which he delivered on Saturday
Presidents message which referred to
the expression of popular sentiment in
the South having been interfered with
and stiAed by intimidation and outrage
He wished to show that in Arkansas at
least the responsibility for such outrages
as were committed lay at the door, not
of the opponents, but OF the friends of
the Administration, and that it was til O
voice of the opposition which had thus
been stihsd. That the trainers of the
Constitution inever intended that their
language in this particular section should
bear the loose construction which has
been put upon it by the party in power
is proposition too plain for argument.
When that Constitution was adopted,
Republican institutions were an expert
ment. There was considerable party
in this country who thought that the
government created would be found alto
gether too weak. There were even to be
found some who preferred tho forms OF
limited and constitutional monarchy
who thought the British constitution the
most perfect model for imitation, and
who wished to approximate to that model
by the creation of life tenure in the
Offices of President and Senator. It was
to guard against tho possibility Of nny
local revolution which might result in
the establishment Of dictatorship or Il
titled oligarchy in my of the States. that
this section was incorporated into the
Constitution. Now, however, that a
different Interpretation prevails. it would
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