Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-12-20
More Change,

shall -be held in all the States on the
same day, and fixes the I'd Tuesday
Of November as the time.
This is just ono month after our
State election, aud will compel the
citizens of this State to bear the cx.
penso Of two general elections every
other year unless our State Constitu,
ton is made to meet this change.
There is no doubt but that Congress
has tho right to fix the time for hold.
ing the Presidential and Congressional
elections, but whom held in States on
n different day from that fixed for
holding their regular State elections,
the general government should also
be magnanimous enough to pay the
expenses for holding said elections.
II an individual has tho right to order
work done, it naturally follows that
he has the right TO pay for it, especial.
ly when the benefit nures to his prof.
it, Just so with the general govern
ment. When its agents or represen.
tativcs order an election for President
or Congressman, it should foot the
bill. Tho States may tear the ex.
pcnsc when held on the day,of the
State election, but tho general govern
mcnt has no more power to compel
the States to bear the expenses of
Presidential and Congressional clee.
tons than to pay the salary of these
officers or that Of our foreign minis.
ters.
We have often been surprised at
the ignorance of ,ciSe men, in their
efforts to prove that there was no
distinct lines between the duties and
powers of the general and State gov.
ernments. And yet these lines are as
plain and well marked by the Consti.
tuition as those of farm or town
lot. That disputes may arise both
between States and individuals upon
this point, is quito natural. So there
is between adjacent land owners, who
frequently turn up in Court to have
the question settled, and in this way
squander all they are disputiug about,
while some neighbor, or perhaps an
enemy, finally comes in possession of
all. This is looked upon by all well
disposed persons rs loolishness. Yet,
how much more foolish is it not to
understand the duties Of government
and the relations existing between the
general government and State govern
ments. This was precisely the casc
at the time our country was involved
in civil war by the two extreme
factions in lS60.6l. The Seccssionists
in the South acted as though they
owned the whole country, and the
Abolition beretics in the North acted |
in n similar manner, with this marked |
difference Tho Secession lcPders |
graspcd the sword and the musket to
enforce their theory, while not Il sin.
gle original Abolitionist had the cour
age TO meet his antagonist, but mean.
ly and cowardly sent a substitute, and |
then camorcd for war.
Therefore, in order to prevent IA
naties and knavcs from involving the |
country in similar peril, in tho
future, let Congress and the State
Legislatures go on and lcgislatc upon
the question until all disputed points
are settled by equal enactmcnts, and |
the boundary lines between the two
systems so plainly marked that none
but blind persons can fail TO see them.
To our minds the distinction is as
plain as the lines which mark our lot
from that of our neighbors or that
regulating our households. Yet, un.
less the advocates of estate rights"
become moro active, ard see that the |
whole territory of the United States is
literally rcsurveyed and the people |
educated to see tho distinction, tho
horrors Of the Lincoln reign will be
repeated within tho next twenty
years.
The intcrmeddling Of that frebrdnd, |
Gen. Sheridan, with tho municipal |
affairs of the city of Chicago, is a
freak of no mean significance, and but
for the wonderful forbearanco of Gov
crnor Palmer, Of Illinois, blood would |
have been spilled ere this. He, know.
ing that Sheridan was q mere coxcomb |
and the Mayor calf, has allowed the
matter to pass for tho present. But,
until tho military authorities are
made to know their places, there is
no safety for personal liberty and
property.
While patriots and gentlemen were
at the head of State and military aE
fairs, there was not much cause for
alarm, but since all has by accident
fallen into the hands Of a set Of avari.
cious ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS there
is danger on every hand
-. .
How TnE MONEY Co.'s. The Radi.
cal journals arc publishing with huge
head lines, Governor Geary's procla.