The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-02-29

hPOh anu yCb IL NAOCO AOOh "Oh-
derfallM strange that every important
Recommendation he makes is ignored
by his friends in this chamber, and
purpose of drawing the life blood
from it. 1H tllk
STATE RIGHTS.
Senator Thurman next discussed the
effect of the constitutional amend.
ments and the power they give to
Congress. This came up while con-
sidering Mr.. Summers supplementary
civil rights bill, which was proposed
as an amendment to the amnesty bill.
rhore had been some scoffing and rid
icule on the Republican side on the
subject of State rights, but particular
y from one of the Vermont Senators.
Notice the manner in which Senator
thurman brought home the fact of
State rights as it affected the Ver-
inonter's own State. He said:
: am, once more say that, although
have not gone to any such length as
some state rights men have gone in
denouncing the doctrine of the right
of secession, and have never believed
and do not believe in that doctrine,
yet am and hope shall die state
rights man. / am so because believe
that the existence of the State and the
existence of local self-government are
essential to freedom and TO prosperi-
ty in this country. ll4
TVhu o;t fhouo ~ a,,.l
as state-rights, how comes il that the
two distinguished Senators from Yer
mont are here, coming from a State
with not one-tenth, not one-tWelfth,
very little more than one-thirteenth of
the population of New York !? How
comes it that, with three hundred
thousand inhabitants only, there are
two Senators on this floor from Ver-
mont, while New York, with more
than four millions, has, but two? How
comes that sir? Is there no such
thing as State-rights What right
have they to make local law for Ohio I?
Why should new York, with her four
millions of people and only two Sem
ators on this floor, have her local law
made. here by the votes of twelve Sen
ators from New England, when all
New England has not a population
equal TO hers? How is it that twelve
votes shall be received here from New
England to make local law for Mis-
souri, In that local law New Eng
land has no interest whatsoever, while
that great State soon to have a popu-
lation equal to that of all New Eng
land, and now with population half
rs great, has but two Senators on this
floor. What is it that gives this une-
quail representation in the Senate but
the doctrine of State rights; nay, sir,
to go further, but the doctrine of the
original sovereignty of the States?
am not complaining of this. am
willing to stand by this inequality in
the Senate of the United States so
long as you stand by the Constitution
rs its trainers intended it to be. So
long as you do not trample State Gov
ernments out of existence, so long as
you let local legislation be the subject
flocal State law alone, SO long as you
10 not interfere and usurp the powers
hat properly belong to the States,
greet with arms wide open the Sena-
.ors from the smallest State in tho
Union; nay, | will take the Senators
rom Nevada into my embrace, al
llOuSu WHOiO OIdtG uOG8 nOt
contain as many Inhabitants as the
title city in which live; will take
hem and welcome them here as long
is you leave to the State Governments
hat power which the trainers OF the
intended they shonld
rave, and which. in my Judgment, is
,ssential to the very existence of free
at all. But il you will
trike down that power, if you will
bolish local legislation, if you will
the States, it you will make
hem mere departments OF central
zed government, ii you will make
hem mere counties of great State,
hen | say to the Senators the time
will come when that inequality in the
senate will not be submitted to lon
Ter. do not want to see it. 1 want
o see no such questions raised. L
want to see the Constitution adminis-
cred in the spirit in which it was
ramed. want the General Govern
nent sufficiently strong to protect ms
gainst all foreign aggression. / want
to be sufficiently strong to protect
s in the enjoyment of peace in this
ountry, so lar as that function is de-
olved upon t by the Constitution. /
FduI W b'SiICNC tiidt, Win tllHtS pieRS-
ngs, it will endure for all time TO
ONE, if anything of earthly institu-
ion can SO long endure. But do
rmly believe that it is precisely tho
.llotment of local legislation to local
over, which enables this Republic To
pread itselffrom ocean TO ocean. and
rom The arctic zone to the torrid.
trike that out of il, strike it's local
ont of the system,
nd it will go tho way that all consol-
lated centralized governments have
one in all times past; first a depot>
I'M uncomfortable, and next rending
ito fragments more numerous lar
nan the States of this Union now are,