The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-09-14
golitieal Affairs.
The False Departure.

We publish below pungent criticism
of the heresy by Mr.. Carlisle, the
Democratic candidate for Lieutenant.
Governor, in Kentucky. We hope
none will fail to read Mr. Carlisle's
masterly exposition of the subject
When attemps are making to Republi
canizc the Democratic party, every
Democrat should take care to inform
himself on the subject. Mr.. Carlisle
was int rviewed on The False Depar.
ture.' by Commercial reporter, aud
We make an extract from the report
which appeared in that paper:
Reporter should like to hear your
views upon the question of accepting
the constitutional amendments as Was
done by the Ohio Democracy.
Mr.. Carlisle-I am unwilling to be
placed in such position as to justify
the accusation Of having voluntarily
made an unlriendly criticism upon the
action of the Ohio Democracy, but as |
will have to speak on these questions
during the present canvass, there is, |
suppose, no improperly in stating my
opinion now. In the first place, | do
not think that these constitutional
amendments are no longer political is
sues before the country, or will have the
effect whi;h they appear to have sup
posed it would.
Instead of Withdrawing them as sub.
jects of political discussion, it will give
them far more prominence than they
ever had heretofore, and We will be
confronted by them throughout the
entire canvass. The only way in which
any question eau he withdrawn from the
arena Of political discussion is for both
parties to ignore it altogether. This
can not be done as TO these amendments,
because they present real living issues,
in which the people feel deep Interest.
They are not dead issues, aud politicians
eau not kill them by resolution. The
Ohio Democrats seom to recognize this
to some extent at least, for they have
simply attempted to turn the discussion
away from the validity aud merits Of
the amendments themselves, to the
question of their construction. In this
| think they have made grievous mis-.
take.
The Democratic party having at all
times protested against the principles
Of the amendments, and against the
means by which their final adoption
was secured, is justly entitled to the
benefit of whatever advantage can be
acquired over the Republican party on
account of its fraudulent aud forcible
alteration Of the Constitution of the
country. The circumstances under
which these wrongs were perpetrated,
instead Of justifying or excusng them,
greatly aggrayate them in my opinion.
| hold that no motive, however patriotic
it may be, actually or proiesscdly, eau
sauc,ify a result attained by force and
fraud. The whole country knows that
these amehdments, or two of them at
any rate, were procured by such means
as would vitiate any contract, however
solemn, aud there is not, iu my opinion,
Democrat in Ohio or elsewhere, who
would deliberately assert the contrary.
Now, it is true that the construction
Of the amendments is very important
matter, but it can not possibly be more
important than the substance of the
amendments themselves. If the Dem
ocratic party had control of Federal
affairs, with power to decide what con-
struction should be given to the amend.
ments, and what legislation should be
under them, they would be practically
less hurtful than they now are, Still
they are based upon false theory Of
our original system of government, and
if the other provisions Of the Constitu-
ton are warped to suit them, the doc.
trine Of State Rights, in all its length
aud breadth, will be completely de-
stroyed. Taking the general terms Of
the amendments, aud especially the
Fourteenth Article, with the coustruc.
tion put upon them by Congress aud
the Executive, and there is absolutely
no longer any room for State Govern.
ments in our system.
There Is no place for them to stand,
and no functions for them to perform
without constant danger Of conflict with
Federal power That and the Fifteenth