American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-05-04
Governor Palmer on Some of the
Issues of the Day.

lSSucs VI tht
nois, addressed large assemblage of
citizens at Springfield, few evenings ago,
upon political affairs. From his speech
we extract the following:
Now, as have said before, have declined
being candidate upon the Republican ticket.
These newspapers say L have done SO be-
cause l know somebody would beat me. l
am sure that if the doctrine that the Presi-
dent is absolute is Republcanism anybody
ought to beat me, my faith would not be
worth cent when tested by that rule. Any
body is better Republican than l am, if
that is Rcpublicanism. But 1 have been
about sixteen years making that discovery,
and cannot and will not advocate the cleo
ton of any man President of the United
States who does not respect the Constitution
of the United States, and of this State, and
the laws of both. [Cheers. Presidents and
Governors are but magistrates Their au-
thority originate in the Constitution, and is
defined and limited by the State and the laws.
Neither of them are rulers; neither Presi-
dents or Governors possess inherent powers;
all their powers originate in the Constitu-
tion of the United States in respect to the
President, and of the State with respect to
the Governor. / will not support any man
who does not admit, whenever the question
is raised, that the military shall always be in
strict Subordination to the civil power.
know what military power is. 1t was my
misfortune to be sent to my native State,
toward the close of the war, with almost alb
solute power; and there, during the suprem-
acy of military rule, necessary, perhaps, ow-
ing to the existence of a state of war, 1t was
there that my will, yes, the will of the Gen
eral commanding the army, was the rule for
the government of citizens. 1t was then
that the General of army, when pris-
oner was brought before him, could order,
in the exercise of his own will, the man to
be taken to the military prison; it was then
that the word of the General deprived men
of their liberty, or let them go forth to en-
joy the free air of heaven. l saw so much of
military rule that l would not to-day entrust
the liberties of the people of the State of
Illinois to any man into whom God ever
breathed the breath of life. Applause.
The power is terrific; think of it and tremble
for the man who has ever exercised it; trem-
BILE at the peril in which he was placed, when
his voice was the rule by which the lives
and the liberties of men were judged, and
condemned or approved; think OF that tern.
BILE power called martial law, and then tell
me, my Republican friends, who have some
times almost censured me, tell me if l have
been too Jealous, when l have witnessed
these acts at Chicago, and the act OF PresI-
dent Grant in sending troops into this State
to act as police?
pie of the State of Illinois convicted by the
Judgment of the Legislature of a violation
of the Constitution and laws of the United
States and of this State. l know that it is
sending troops to that city; but l am able,
on Trustworthy authority-authority l will
give if any gentleman will call upon me for
ito show that General Sherman, when
General Sheridan made the application for
the troops, Endorsed upon it, General Sher-
idan knows that l have no troops for any
such purpose" and General Grant Endorsed
on the same paper, General Sherman Will
send four companies to Chicago toact as po-
lice" That explains why, when l was con-
Quoting that most deGorous correspondence
that the President could not ''see it, as the
phrase is. 1t was not the order of Sherman
that was the subject of controversy; 1t was
the order of the President himself. This
accounts for his reluctance to disturb that
order.
1t is for these reasons, and for the reason
that perceive nothing in the character OF
General Grant to warrant me in believing
that it is either his inclination or nature to
the reforms | have pointed out,
that have said to the Republican party OF
the State that cannot concur in his renom-
nation and l will not aid in his reelection
The question, then, was, what are you 90
ing to do about it? My Republican friends
say, are you going to act with the copper
heads?" Well, l know what l have been
doing for several elections past have
been begging the 'Copperheads" to act with
me mighty hard. [Laughter.l l know that
we have worked for their vote for the Re
publican ticket; l know that very soon after
the war, General Grant took General Long
street, who was one of the most able of the
Generals, and gave him profit
able rich fat office at New Orleans. Hear.
1t would seem that a good Republican might
venture to do what General Grant does, al
though there are some things that he does
that / could not venture to do. L am not
good enough Republican for that. Laugh
teri General Grant has given offices to
men who were in the rebel army-we do not
propose to do worse than that, if we were to
answer the question in the affirmative.
TCheersI If an earnest, sincere Democrat
differs from the great body of the Republican
party on any question, what is it? Does the
Democrats desire to re-establish slavery!
Why, such conception would be worse than
a silly dream. Slavery can never be re-estab-
lished in this country except at the cost OF !;
civil war that will be equal to the cost OF the
war that it took to abolish slavery. 1t is i'm
possible that slavery can ever be re-estab-
shed, and who in the name of common
sense, who has seen the blessings that have
resulted from its abolition, would desire to
see 1t re-estabished? l do not believe there
S a man-unlcss, indeed, there may be some |
Did men who have forgotten nothing and
will learn nothing-who would re-establish |
slavery if it could be re-established
deprive the colored man of the right of suf |
rage? What would be done if the question
vas left to the Democrats in the State of |
illinois? Would they wish to take away the
light? Why, if it was left to the Democratic
party, one-half OF them would say to ne
sroes, ''Why, if you will vote for us, guess
We will turn against the party, and save you |
n the exercise of your rights" lLaughter.l |
Revolutions never go back, and there is no.
body in this country anxious or even willing
% deprive the negroes of their votes.
What then would the Democrats do if they
got into power? If they would not re -estab-
ish slavery, if they would not deprive the
black of the ballot, in what do they differ
rom the great body of thinking men at the
present hour? Why, nothing.
But it is said, IF you go to Cincinnati,
you cannot elect your man without the votes
If the Democrats" Well, L only wish was
tote for him. Cheers and laughter. So
ar as | am concerned, l would give the
whole Democratic party full absolution if
hey will vote for such IA man as will be nom
mated at Cincinnati. But let me ask
Tou if you do not sometimes desire the same
hing. An old Democrat, a very old one,
,ut who is very weak in his memory, and
confounds dates, writes to this
mornings paper a letter i'll which he init
mates that if anybody be nominated at Gin
innati that he will vote for Grant. Why,
would you Republicans that for Grant
ct a Democrat vote for him? Why no, you
wouldn't do that would You? IGrcat laugh
cr. l think you would quote what say to-
light about Grant not being Republican, in
rider that you may get the Democrats to
'otc for him, andif you ever do that, ! will
axe back just rs much of that statement as
can. You will prove by my testimony that
le never was Republican, and that he was
lways "A Democrat, and you will insist that
ou yourselves are Democrats. You would
'e ''all things to all men, so that you might
ctain the post offices. [Great laughter.
Yes, nomination will he made at Cmcin-
'ati. have no controversy with those Re
'ublcans that prefer to adhere to the Phia-
lelphia organization. They have definite
objects, and SO have we.
l say to night that have lived long enough,
have done service enough to my country