New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-15
ale,v 0rleaas &epnbliea,l.
FFIclAl JOURNAL Of THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL Of NEW ORLEANS
SPEECH OF SECRETARY BOUTWELL,.

SPEECH OF SECRETARY BOUTWELL,
We, copy from the Cleveland, Ohio,
Leader the speech Of Hon. George 5. Bout
well in that city on the twenty ninth ul
timo. 1t is entirely different from that de
livered by him at Cincinnati. 1t is review
of the leading positions of the Democratic
platform of Ohio. 1t dissects and dispOsei
Of the Democratic NEW departure" on the
amendments; shows the constitutionality
and necessity Of the reconstruction and Ku
Klux legislation; defends the national bank
ing system; exposes the practical absurdity
of Democratic free trade and so-called
-.re,euue REFORM" and touches the civil
service reform and the general prosperity
OF the country:
1t is known to some of you that l spoke
in Cincinnati last evening; and to some OF
YOU, what I said may be known also.
there spoke of the financial condition Of the
country. A further discussion Of that sub
iect by me does not appear to be necessary.
and tonight shall ask your attention to
other topics Of interest at this time.
l said, last evening, that we were brought
face to face with a policy which might he
stated in three propositions. The third of
those propositions / discussed in that city,
and tonight propose to consider the other
two.
l. The Democratic party does not accept
the constitutional amendments as right in
themselves, although. as We affirm, they are
the only national guaranty for the princi-
pies on which the war was prosecuted, and
the only security for the rights Of four
millions of human beings. emancipated on
the first Of January, 1868.
2. The Democratic party proposes to an
null the banking system, and to eliminate
from the tariff system the quality of pro-
lection wherever it can be found, and this
without regard to the effect upon the bust
ness and prosperity of the country.
These propositions are drawn from the
resolutions adopted by the Democratic con-
vention of Ohio, at its last session, and
although the Democratic party of the cOun-
try can not be made responsible for them,
they are 80 far in accord with the known
views of the party that it may safely be as
sumed that they express the opinion of the
mass of voters attached to that Organiza-
ton. As the basis of what propose to say
upon this subject, read the first and fifth
resolutions: -
''First-That, denouncing the extraordi
nary means by which they were brought
about, we recognize as accomplished facts
the three amendments to the constitution
recently declared adopted. and consider the
same as no longer political issues before the
country.
"Tifth-While the fundamental law, as
expressed in the constitution, is necessarily
paramount until abrogated as prescribed by
that instrument, all legislation is. in i:s ma
ture and purposes, temporary, and subject |
to change, modification or repeal, at the |
will of the majority Of the people. as ex- |
pressed through the law-making power of |
the people; and that the pretense that any
act Of Congress not executed, or any legis- |
lative policy of party is an absolute tinality, |
is totally inconsistent with the whole theory |
of government and that it is the unques- |
tiOnable right of the people. OF themselves,
and through their representatives, at each
successive Congress, to judge what legisla- |
ton is necessary. proper or appropriate to
carry into execution or enforce the central
power. rights and duties of the federal gov
eminent"
Two facts are clear: first, that the con-
venti0n denounces the means by which the
amendments were adopted and, secondly,
that the amendments are dependent for
their efficiency upon the legislation OF Con-
gress. In one particular only does the con-
vention express its approval Of what is con-
tanned in the amendments. and that ap-
proval is founded in the sixth resolution.
in which they advise universal amnesty I'M
in its first section. declares
All persons born or naturalized in the United
States, and subject to the jurisdiction there
OF, are citizens Of the United States and OF
the State wherein they reside. No State
shall make or enforce ,any law which shall
abridge the privileges or immunities of cit
liens of the United States: nor shall any
State deprive any person Of life. liberty or
without due process of law, nor
deny to any person within its jurisdiction +,
the equal protection Of the laws
Such is the manifest justice of tie rights
in this section, and such the
security afforded to naturalized citizens as
well as to those born in the United States,
that it is difficult to understand the ground
on which the convention withheld its al- I
prevail of these provisions.
The third section, to which the sixth reso-
luton relates, provides that mo person s
shall be q Senator or Representative in
Congress, or electOr Of President or Vice {
or hold any office, civil or mill
,ary, under the United States, or under any i
State. who, having previously taken an oath {
he United States, or as member of any 4
legislature, or as an executive or judicial q
officer of any State, to support the consti. g
utiOn of the United States, shall have en-. +
ragged in instruction or rebellion against [
he same, or given aid or comfort to the t
enemies thereof" The judgment of the d
convention is, that Congress, under the last s.
;iause OF this section, ought to remove all o
lisa abilities, and this without any discrimi- C
3atlon as to the individual character or con- |;
luct OF those who are embraced within the Il
cope OF the constitutional provision. Con- Y
'ress has already relieved large number Ii
4 persons, and it will soon remove the dis v
abilities Of all but small class. ii
The number who will be deprived of their O.
lvli rights for long period Of tine, is very O,
mall; but that exceptions should not be d.
made against persons who hold high civil in
mo military positions in the government of A,
he United States, and afterward become t.
pecially responsible for the rebellion, and OF
OK the mode of carrying it on but that they Q;
mould DC admitted at once to all the privi1- Ia
ges OF citizens Of the United States, is a al
lew OF public duty which ia not likely TO o,
e accepted BY the men who performed SER f.
ice IN the field on the part Of the Union or "
= the friends of those who sacrificed their RI
ives for the country n
The fourth section OF the fourteenth al
mendment declares valid the public debt. 81
lcluding pensions and bounties for service re
suppressing the instruction. II also in
uts it out Of the power of the nation. or of or
ny States, to assume or pay any part of pa
re obligation in aid Of instruction or re. in
elton against the United States. or any as
aim tor the loss or emancipation of slaves. in
hese guarantees are essential to the peace IN
the country and to the preservation OF
G public credit. 1t ia worthy of notice dc
at the Democratic convention of This er
ate had not word to say in behalf of ra
ese propositions. But the fifth section is tn
G one to which that party entertains the as
ost serious objection. In that section al
wer is given Congress to enforce by ap- bt
opriate legislation all the provisions of DC