The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-04-08
carr SChurZ.


go. Carl Schurz, the Radical Senator from
Missouri, delivered most scathing and
whitening philippe against Grant and hls
Secretary of the Navy for their conduct III
connection with that visionary scheme
This effort of the Missouri Senator has placed
him in the very front rank as skillful and
powerful debater, as well as a man OF varied
and extensive reading. His style of oratory
is of the cut and thrust order, aboundlng In
invectiye, and goes straight for its victim,
cutting with the precision of genuine Dae
mas Gus blade His arraignment Of Grant
for his unlawful proceedings was as severe
as 1t was well me.ted. Morton, Howe, and
Harlan. especially the latter, undertook
feeble defence of the President, but in the
hands of Schurz they were as mere play
things We profess to be somewhat famil-
lar with the personal history of Carl Schurz
ever since be escaped Prussian vengeance
and sought an asylum on our shores, and
confess that we have been agreeably disap-
pointed in our estimate of his character.
His course thus far in the Senate shows that
he is not narrow minded political bisot,
but that be is a gentleman of enlarged and
liberal views. In his speech during the last
session, IN favor Of the removal of political
disabilities from the people of the Southern
States, he stood precisely on the same high
ground he occupied ia the Chicago C0nven-
tion that nominated Grant in 1868, and OF
which body be was a leading member. AL
though he is a pronounced Radical, he be
! leyes that the constitution must be main
! taincd at ell hazards-that our government
| Is one Of prescribed and limited powers
/ that no President can, at his own mere voli-
tion and without the sanction of Congress,
use the naval or any other forces of the
/ government for the purpose Of protecting and
/ upholdng the ruler, whether usurper or not,
of foreign island in the exercise of his
power during the pendcncy of unauthorized
/ negotiations for its ultimate annexation to
/ this country. In q word, lie does not be-
| :ieve. as he said in his speech, that Grant as
! TIE United States In the following conclu1-
/ ing paragraphs Of his brilliant effort, Mr..
| Schurz protests against Presidential usurpa-
/ ton in language rs truthful as it is eloquent
at is true, he who has deserved well Of the
/ Republic should never forget, as Washington
! never forgot it. that the highest reward of
true Republican consists in the greatness OF
I his country, an3 the assured rights OF his ie!-
, low citizens. But if he wants more, let him
! have more. Give him riches with a lavish
/ hand cover him all over with gold; steep him
| in luxUtirs but let not your gratitude 20 ore
ma e you unmindful of your duty 10 all. /
( beseech you let not gratitude seiuc5 you to
throw the laws OF the Republic at his feet.
No nation deserves to be free and great F.;
| no nation will remain free and great-nay. sir,
! that nation has already ceased to be free and
great that will pay debt of gratitude at the
( expense Of its constitutional rights and libcr
J ties.
! "On an occasion like this the people have n
right'to expect that their representatives ShOnld
+ have the courage of a great duty. Let this
( first precedent Of acquiescence IN an act OF
. usurpation bT a successful soldier pass into
/ history, ard you will have struck blow 1T the
cause of free goTernccen that will resOund
| throughout the earth. The nations of the
world will ask Have the A N fican PEOPLE
! become tired of Their Constitutional rights
/ that the guardians of the Constitution can per
NIT them to be invaded not only with impunity,
/ bat even without a remonstrance3 They will
ask: IS it true then what frequently has been
/ sail, that the United States issued from their
( first revolution as a Republic only by accident,
an accident depending rpon the sEbimely nm
sclish spirit of Washington, who, instead of
graspiDg the crown modestly retired to tho
pI0w OF Gincinnatas BGt. on the other hand.
YOU yindicate the Constitution against tho
President, even tue President oi our own
choice=-anG tbs world will understand that in
this Republic at least no man can grow 50
great to overtop the majesty Of the laws
that here at least republican inst;utiois are
safe. for they in the keeping of men who
know Iheit rights, and knowing, dare IHain-
tain