The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-01-13

Congress is about TO provide, by lcgisla.
tion, for the building up and protection
of the commercial marine of our coun-
try, and for postal facilities TO and from
foreign countries by American vessels.
These measures should, aud no doubt
will, receive the approval of the peo-
pie. Ii Is also gratifying to find the
manufacturing, railway and
other interests of our great commercial
city OF Philadelphia, moving with Wig
or, and, l am assured, with success, In
the means necessary to estab.
lish a first-class line of American iron
steamships to run between that city and
European ports. The Legislature will,
no doubt grant liberal franchises to
effect result that will place our Com.
monwealth in advance of all others, in
the construction and use of such vessels
for ocean navigation. With the aid and
facilities which the National and State
may find IL their duty
and interest to extend, it Is hoped that
this enterprise will be successful. The
and maintenance of steam.
ers suitable for the purposes indicated,
would consume large amounts of our
great staples-iron, steel, coal and lum
Der - and also give employment to
thousands OF our mechanics and citi.
zens, and vastly benefit all branches of
trade and industry.
All good citizens will rejoice when the
last disagreeable vestiges of the recent
civil war shall have been obliterated
Since the cessation of open hostilities,
the nation has set the whole world a
noble example by its unprecedented
magnanimity in forgiving the offences
fn nj H., hn
mass of those who warred against its
peace and safety. In this regard, we
have been as generous In peace as we
have been invincible in war and now
but comparatively few of those who
sought to dissever the Union remain
as aliens and strangers to its govern
ment. The supremacy of the laws has
been maintained, and their power is no
longer disputed. The passions that ex-
cited and protracted deadly strife have
subsidized, and we are again, practically,
homogeneous people. There are,
doubtless, here and there, some disaf-
fected spirits, but their numbers are too
few, and their power too Insignificant,
to give serious cause for uneasiness or
alarm. And even towards these, con-
ciliation will be more productive Ofgood
results than the avenging force of tri-
umphant power. 1t is greatly to be
desired that universal peace, amity, and
national fellowship and brotherhood
should again prevail throughout our
country. And the time is, trust, close
at hand, when this grand and perfect
consummation will be effected by uni
versal amnesty. 1t would efface the
lingering distinctions which are foster
ed by punishment of the very few for
crimes in which vefy many participa-
ted, and remove the last pretext for
hostility against government whose
magnanimity is the crowning glory of
its power. 1t will accord with enligh-
tened and progressive civilization, and
harmonize with the tested might and
grandeur of free institutions. 1t will
present, too, the noblest government of
the worlds history as impregnable and
distinction, class, birth or circumstan-
ces, upon the virtue and intelligence of
all its people.
The employment Of United States
troops at elections, without the consent
of the local and State governments, has
recently received considerable attention
and apprehension. 1t is regarded as an
interference with the sovereign rights
of the States, which was not contempla-
ted by the founders of the general gov
ernment, and, If persisted in, must lead
to results disastrous to peace and har-
mony. The practice is one so serious
in its character, and so Injurious in its
tendencies, as to merit prompt consid
Grafton, and decisive action, not only
by the General Assembly but by Cong
ress. One of the complaints of the col
onists against the British King was the
oppression growing out of the assump-
tiOn of this power. They said, "He has
kept among us in times of peace, stand
ing armies, without the consent of our
Legislature;" and, what is especially
pertinent to the case in point, "He has
affected to render the military indepen-
dent of, and superior to, the civil pow
er." The alleged authority for the use
of troops, at our State elections, is de-
rived from the tenth section of an act
of Congress, approved May 81, 1870,
entitled "An Act to enforce the right of
citizens of the United States to vote in
the several States of The Union, and
for other purposes" which authorizes
United States marshals to call to their
"such portion of the land
or of the militia, as may be necessary
to the performance of the duty with
which they are charged, and to insure
faithful observance of the Fifteenth
to the Constitution of the
United States" But it must be fore
ed construction of this law that will
justify the presence of armed national
forces at our places of election when no
necessity exists therefor, and where
their presence is calculated to provoke
collision. With good President, the
exercise of the power referred to might |
have no injurious results, but in the |
hands of bad man, governed by per-
sonal ambition, it might prove exceed
ingly calamitous. Unconsciously good
President might be induced to employ
it wrongfully a bad one would be al
most certain to use 1t for his own ad-
vancement. Under any circumstances,
in my opinion, it is unsafe, and antago-
nistic to the principles that should gov
ern our republican institutions. At the
last October election United States
troops We're stationed in Philadelphia
for the avowed purpose of enforcing the
election laws. This was done without
the consent or even the knowledge of
the civil authorities of either the city
or the State, and without any express
ed desire on the part of the citizens
and as far as can be aScertalned, with
out existing necessity. From con-
scientious conviction of its Importance,
have called your attention TO this SUBJ
ect. A neglect to have done so might
have been construed as an endorsement
)f measure that meets my unqualified
lisapprOval. The civil authorities of
Pennsylvania have always been, and
are still, competent to protect its citi-
zens in the exercise of their elective
and the proper and only time
for United States military forces to in
tervene, will be, when the power of the
is exhausted and their
aid is lawfully required.
The celebration of the Centennial |
Birthday Of American Independence is
exciting much public attention. 1t will
be an important era in the history of
the nation. Congress has already agi-
tated the subject, and will, doubtless,
soon take action in relation thereto.
The place for this great occasion should
not be a question of controversy. No
other could be so appropriate as Phila-
delphia. Around the Hall of Inde-
pendence cluster all the brightest mem.
Ories of the eventful period to be com.