The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1871-08-04
Chr 5}larirtta Sonrnal.
Marietta. Georgia. August a, 1871.
ADDRESS
OF THE
Democratic Stat Central Comn'ttee
Of Pennsylvania.

The Executive Committee of thu
Democracy Of this State, to whom thu
following address was referred by The
recent State Convention now presen
the same to you as embodying some
Of the reasons which actuate and con
troll the organization they represent
We here solemnly renew our oft-re'
peated decIaratioa. of the fidelity tC
| the great principles upon which oul
party has acted from The time of its
| first organization. Our ultimate OBJ
iects are those of our fathers when
they adopted the Federal Constitu-
ton. to-wit: ITO form a more per-
feet Union, to establish justice, to
insure domestic tranquility, to pro-
mote the general welfare, to provide
for the common defense, and secure
the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity." We sincerely
believe that the government OF the
United States. administered as it
was in former days, with a direct
view to the advancement of these
principles, would do for us and our
children all that any people can rea-
sonably desire from the political sys-
tenn under whicAkthcy live. We are
equally sure that if not carried out
in the spirit of those by whom it was
framed it must become a curse in
stead of blessing. Situated as we
are, obedience to the fundamental
law means not only the honest per-
Torrance of sworn obligations, but
freedom, peace and prosperity to all
classes of the people. On the other
hand, the usurpation of interdicted
or undelegated power is not only a
crime in itself but the fruitful parent
of other crimes, and will lead, as it
has already led to indefinite mis-
government, corruption and tyranny,
subverting all liberty, and rendering
the rights of all men insecure. When
we speak of the Federal Constitution
we mean the whole instrument, with
all its amendments, and acknowledge
the equal obligation of every part
Several of these amendments were
carried by brute force and by frauds
upon the public will, so gIaring as
to take from their authors all claim
upon our respect. But we cannot
deny that they have actually become
q part of the Constitution; nor can
we avoid that fact, nor get behind 1t
by showing the corrupt misconduct
of the men who at that time controll-
ed Congress and mastered the State
Legislatures. Whosoever .swears to
support the Constitution must per
form all that is "nominated in the
bond" Any change which expert
ence and reason shall prove to be
desirable must be made in the pre-
scribed way, and not by revolution
airy and disorderly means.
THE DECLARATION OF 1871.
No candid person will deny that
the leading men in power at Wash
ington have been untaithful to their
duties. They have broken the pied
ges they made to the people, and, in
reckless disregard to their oaths, they
have violated the plainest provisions
of the Constitution. They have de-
prived the States of their sacred
right of self-govemment in matters
purely local and disarmed them OF the
power to enforce their own laws for
the preservation of order within
their own boundaries. They have
passed bills of pains and penalties,
operating on millions at once, without
regard to the guilt or innocence of
the parties. They have trampled on
all the securities of life, liberty and
property. They have treated the
habeas corpus law with contempt
and denied the right of trial by jury
They have sent out swarms of theil
hireling agents with instructions tt
kidnip, imprison and kill free citizen
for political offenses, without judicia
accusation without warrant anC
without trial. They have not only
tredden upon the great principles
embodied in the original Constitution
as it came from the hands of its fran
ers, but even the amendments, which
they themselves interpolated, hay'
been broken without remorse, when
ever it suited their interests. II
defiance of the thirteenth amend
ment they have doomed many per
sons to the worst kind of slavery
or involuntary servitude" in the pub
lie prisons. without the pretense o
rebuke If the warning be net Civ
en- by the people, or fail Of its prop
er effect, can we nope Tor peace =
1t seems to us an error to suppose
the American people tame enough
to be kicked under the yoke of {
despotism, or ignorant enough to be
iuggled out of the great inheritance
of free government which the faith
ers left them.
RoTTENNESs OF THE ADMINISTRATION
We complain Of our present rul
ers for lawless usurpatiOn of power
Power not delegated is always abus
ed. In this, as in other cases, us
urpation has been accompanied ant
followed by corruption. Fraud
| II. l. -,