Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-01-16
"N1TION.1L IDEI.'
Lecture by scnator q. p. Morton OF IndI-


The regular lecture in the Bay State
Course VA, delivered To IA audience of
about eighteen huudrcd persons in Music
Hail recently by Hon. O. =. Morton. late
Go tornor, and uow Senator OF Indiana.
Senator Morton met with q hearty rectp
ton OF applause as he appeared on the
platform slowly coming forward with the
aid OF two canes. lnstead of tho usual
desk. a table was placed at the front of
the platform at which Mr.. Morton was
seated. On account OF his disability OF
the lower limbs. he remained seated dur
ing the lecture which was prclaced with
a song 10y Mrs. Wentworth IIigginson,
with piano accompaniment 10y Mn T. +.
Ryder. senator Morton began his lecture
by saying:
Latte, and Gentlemen: 1t is a maxim
in regardlo national defence and military
affairs that in time of peace we should
prepare for war 1t is equally true in
political sense. In time ol political
peace and comparative calm. it Is well
Tor nation 10 prepare Tor troubles that
may possibly come 10 look over the
ground and see what principles may be
in operation that have brought trouble
upon The country and which may result
in trouble and calamity again. We have
just passed through dreadful contest,
scarcely ever paralleied in modern war.
and Ne tnndly hope that We are enjoying
peace for long time TO come. That i.
the prayer of all. We fondy hope that
our political dissensions and trouble.
have passed away TO return no more, and
that the noXious principles that brought
these calamitieS upon US have been buried
in the grave OF rebellion 1t might be a
fatal delusion should we indulge too
strongly in its belief No one would
be happier than myself to accept it, but
| cannot shut my eyes to the fact that
Ilere ale centrifugal forces now at
work. ut this time comparatively feeble,
that may again thrust upon the country
the calamitieS of rebellion and possibly
bursl the bonds of Union asunder
Senator Morton then spoke Of the doc
trinc OF State rights ~ n proposition that
the States composing our nation are in
themselves nations, possessing in them
sclsca all the powers, rights and attri-
butcs of nations; that the Government
WAS formed by these States as political
corporations that the government rests
upon the States. represents the States, is
the agent OF the States that this Govern.
ment OF ours is not as we would fondly
suppose a torn of government, but is
mere compact between sovereign and in-
dependent States. From this proposition
il has beon deduced that the Uuion is SIM
plya compact for a particularpurpose, and
the Government simply the agent OF the
States, and that any State has right to
withdraw when in its own judgment the
conditions Of the compact have been
violated or its own interests require its
withdrawal; also that each State has the
right to nulliy any law of Congress
which in the judgment Of the State is in
violation of the compact by which the
Government was formed This doctrine.
Senator Morton declared the evil genius
OF the country, and eur danger from the
first As early as 1898 it was announced
in resolutions drafted by Jefferson, and
presented in modified form to the Vir-
ginia Legislature and afterward to the
Legislature OF Kentucky.
The resolutions have been the 5ane of
the nation and the dry ROT of every State
which has embraced them. They were
introduced for a temporary purpose. Il
is very common mistake that this doc
time of State sovereignty was originated
for the benefit OF slavery-to protect,
establish al extend slavery, and that it
perished with slavery, and was buried in