The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-05-05


without the recognition of corresponding
rights.
This great principle has been incorpo-
rated in the fundamental law Of the repub- |
lie, and we behold now in the constitution |
Of the United States as il Is, the great char
ter Of equal rights. By the amendments |
that made IL so, mean TO stand with un-
fnching firmness 10 the last, not only be-
cause they are there in point Of fact, but
because, II they were not, they ought to be.
Cheers.
They form the very basis Of the new
order of society which issued from our
great revolution they embody the only
possible sentlemeritof our past onAicts, so
much the only possible settlement that the
people would always have 10 return 70 IT,
if they tried any other. And IL is my
firm conviction that this republic will
have no endur' repose until that settle
ment is universally accepted and carried
into effect not grudgingly and with mental
reservation looking to II chdnce 90 over
throw it, but fairly fully and in good faith
as finality. To this end my earnest Of
forts will always be devoted, and | shall
hold it to be my duty to oppose any move
ment or combination working in the op-
posite direction, rs highly dangerous to
the Pehcc " wv ''""hy' lh'''"''
cheers.
Upon the same ground am in favor Of
general amnesty. [Cheers.l As l have
worked for the equal rights Of men, be
they white or black, SO l stand up for
the equal rights of men, bo they Democrats
or Republicans. [Cheers.l 1t is time
that those political disabilities should dis
appear which were imposed upon certain
classes of those connected with the rebel
lion-political disabilities instead of pro-
jecting the rights and security of anybody,
serve only to nourish n spirit of sulicn
discomfort and stand in the way of all eff
forts at the restoration of fraternal feeling
But not only with regard 10 the new
amendments do mean to uphold the con-
stitu,ion. I consider it one Of the most
pressing needs Of our day that we should
return to the sound practice of constitu-
tionAi government. Times of war and
great national peril have naturally engen-
dered looseness OF constitutional notions
which, in times Of peace, cannot DO per-
mitted to 60 farther without serious dam
ger to the integrity Of our republican in
stitutions.
In the constitutional Limitation of polit-
ical powers, VIC find, as our ancestors a.
ways have found, the main safeguards of
popular liberty. And when those consti.
tut,onsl limitations are disregarded, even
for the protection of the rights Of some,
those rights will be put in jeopardy by the
danger brought upon the rights of all.
The safeguards of our common rights and
liberties contained in the constitution are
too sacred and valuable boon TO be per-
manently jeopardized in providing for a
! passing emergency. For reasons like
these found myself compelled to oppose
the so-callcd ku-Kl lux bill even against a
majority Of my party friends in Congress.
| lCheers.l
| But still more striking instance OF that
looseness of constitutional notions revealed
itself in that most fragrant unsurpation
of the war-making power by the executive
in the San Domingo case an attempt not
only utterly with outparallel in the histor )
| Of this country, but without the shadow ol
a constitutional argument to palliate it
Startling as that attempt was, more start
/ ling is il tha: such IN act should.so far have
passed without a declaration of sentimen,
in Congress, preventing it from becoming
a most dangerous precedent in our his.
| tory. But worse still is it, than such an
act can be committed, without at leas,
arousing public opinion to commanding
| demonstration of disapproval.
1t is indeed time that the American
people should open their eyes to the dan
gerous character of this tendency, and
that neither q great name nor an object
appealing to our sympathies should be
permitted to disguise it.
As for me, l have seen the working Of
irresponsible power and personal govern
| ment in other countries, and may assure
my constituents that while am u citizen
Of this republic, / shall struggle to the
last gasp against its introduction here
[Great chering.l
! shalt as heretofore, give my earnest
efforts to the subject Of civil service re-
form, not only with view ~ raise the
standard of working efficiently in the SER
vice of the govc nment, but the abolition
| of the patror age, or more properly the
| spoils system, which surrounds the execu-
two with sycophants and as / once ex-
pressed 1t in another place, makes the at
mosphere Of the White House SO thick
with flattery that the sound-wave of pub
lie opinion cannot penetaate IL. 1Great
cheering.1 A system which is transform
ing into otiice-mongers the representatives
of the people, Is most seriously endanger-
ing the independence of the legislative
branch of the government, and is gradu-
ally demoralizing our whole political life.
Finally, you will find my voice and my
vote in opposition to that most unjust sys-
TEN Of taxation, which by means of high
protective tariff, under the pretense of de.
veloping certain industrial interests,
takes money out of the pockets Of the
many and puts it into the pockets of the few
Tcheers instead Of the treasury of the peo-
pie, and in favor of such an adjustment of
our taxes aswill,distributelmost equally the
common burden, reducing taxation to as
low point as will DO compatible with the
conscientious discharge Of our national OBJ
legations and an economical administra-
tion Of the government
Here. my friends, you have in few
words my political programme, touching
the most important questions now before
the people; Firm and uncompromising
maintenance Of equal rights, as guaranteed
by the constitution as il is; amnesty and
q policy calculated TO restore fraternal
feeling; strict fidelity to tho essential prin-
ciples Of constitutional government re-
form Of the civil service; revenue reform
and . reduction OF taxes. In these things
l honestly believe, and in working for their
realization am profoundly in earnest.
This course have followed so far and I
shall continue TO without regard to my