The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-08-01
The sifuatIon.

SA0 PNHOAo VI IAO ESASA -
ment within the express grants of the
Constitution, and yielded all their
domestic affairs and interests to the
States themselves. Per consequence
it opposed a United States Bank,
internal improvements by the gene~
raj Government, and a high tariff
for the manufacturer at the expense
of the consumer. AS measures
counter to these, it favored banking
and internal improvements by pri-
vate corporations and individuals, or
if need be by the individual States,
a sub-treasury system for the fnan-
ces Of the Government, and as near
an approach as practicable to free
trade, with a tariff for revenue only.
These specific questions, affected
more or less by compromise, ceased
to be living issues at the overthrow
ofthe patriotic and honest old Whig
party. But the Democratic party
still rallied around the cardinal doc
trine of strict adherence to the
Constitution. In it, the mass of the
intelligent and thinking people saw
safety to our liberties and the pre-
servation of the Government.against
anarchy and fanaticism. This doc
trine was steadfastly arrayed against
that fanatical. crusade upon the
guarantees of the Constitution,
whose triumph, in the passage of null
lifcation laws by three-forrths of
the States North, tore asunder the
time-honored old Union-that Union
which we all honored and revered,
and which, we still remember with
admiration and sorrow. The bonds
of the Constitution broken and set
at defiance, and the laws trampled
upon by the crusaders, the Southern
States, knowing no rightful power Of
coercion, attempted to gather them~
selves into-a fabric, the counterpart
of the old Union. But the heritage
bequeathed US by the Fathers of '76
was not to be rescued SO easily from
rapacious hands and violence. The
Spirit Of the crusade usurped the
reins of Government, and with all
the madness Of fanaticism, boasting
a higher law" than the Csnstitp'
ton or even than Holy Writ, waged
the war of conquest upon this last
hope of American constitutional
liberty, whose scenes of carnage are
yet red in our memories; and, on the
ruins of our comely fabric, raised
the nondescript despOtism which has
cursed the land ever since; a des~
potism which, long ago sated with
blood, has not in six weary years
ceased to belabor its PROSTATE victims,
as they sue for peace-to belabor with
the outrages and indignities its bru-
tai soldiery, with political disabilities,
with defamation and contumely, with
violence to their social life, with the
mockery of republican government
without representation, and with the
horrid rule of servile race instructed
in demoniac oppression by the basest
scurf and ofscourings of its myrmi-
dons. Boosting that revolutions
never go backward" and having cut
the Gordian knot of constitutional
restraint, its bounding rush and
impetus have whelmed every opposi-
ton; and its huge vessel of State is
dashing at will, far out in the limit
less and uncertain seas of unwritten
constitutions.
The sounds of maelstroms in the
distance and of breakers ahead, how
ever, it is hoped are waking appre-
tensions and general alarm. There
is still hope that the Democratic party
may yet serve for an anchorage to
stay the plunging craft till it may be
safely moored.
Through the long ordeal of fanat-
icism the Democratic party, North
and South, has not ceased its devotion
to constitutional liberty. Brave
men and wise, from limit to limit
of the States, are waking the people
to the absolute necessity of drawing
back the Government within the
limits and restraints of a written
constitution. Startling enormities,
also, are warning them in trumpet
tones. Taxation, like a burning
sirocco, consumes the land, while
unblushing peculations and robberies
by Government officials are perpe-
trated on every hand-it may be
said, with Government sanction.
Let the country rouse to that &C,
tivity which is demanded by the exi,
gency of the times, and as a solid
party let US act together with one
heart in the great struggle. Let each
man be a patriot and sacrifice on the