Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-09-21
DEMOCRACY VS.. FEDERALISM
The Liberties Of the People Slipping away
from their Control.

from their Control.
The contest between the Greeley party
and the Gran, party is the same old battle
over again, which occurred between the
Jefferson party and the Adams party, and, 10
later years, between the Jackson party and
the next Adams party. Il is contest on
our side for restoration to the people OF
their lost right Of SsIEgOvsrumens and local
control over their own affairs; aad on the
Grant side for q centralized government
which, FROM central power aud by the
sword, rules States and Courts- The Gin
oinnAd and Baltimore platform declares
that "ths Administration now in power has
rendered itself guilty of wanten disregard
Of the laws OF the lAnd, and of uSurpinG
powers not granted by the Constitution it
has acted as If the laws had binding force
only for those who are governed, and not
for those who govern. II has thus struck
blow al the fundamental principles OF con
s,itutionAl govern ment and the liberties Of
the citizen That platform further de
ClArsI that ''Ihe pArtissus Of the Admiuistra-
ton are striving to maintain themselves in
authority Tor selfish ends by an unscrupu-
louS use Of power the which rightfuily be
long to the people, and shoald be employed
only IN the service of the country." The
instances in which Grant has intsrisred with
and controlled the local affairs Of States are
numerous Gnd pslpAbls. Through his
brOIhsI-in-laW, J. Z. Casey, collector Of New
Orleans, he broke up and diSorganized .
Legislature. This and other crimes have
been proven against him,-yes he keeps
Casey in Office. lie has violated the laws,
which he Swors to execute, in 80 many
ways that Senators who voted for him now
declares him more deserving Of impeSch~
msnt than was Johnson. His interference,
through bis tools, with elections, is patent
TO everybody. lie has usurped to himself
powers which no other President ever
dared Aitsmp, 10 exercise /. is proven that
he attempted, through ShAffsr, to dictate
the course of Judge Wilson, in Utah, and,
falling to accomplish his object, be removed
him and appointed a more plant tool. And
it has been proven that he procured the
passage Of an act increasing the Supreme
Court Of the United States 10 order that be
might appoint two railroad attorneys, Brad
ley and Strong to overthrow decision Of
that Court lie and his leading supporters
are now bending all their energies for a
greater concentration Of power in his hands
and a destruction Of the local governments
OF the people. /. is the same old fight
Democracy against FederAliSm-Gr Greeley
leading the States Rights party and Grant
the Capitalization party.
In the platform adopted at Cincinnati and
Baltimore il is declared az follows:
~. LOCAL IMPROVEMENT
With impartial suffrage, will guard the rights
OF all citizens more securely than any cen
trAlizsd power. The public welfare re.
quires the supremacy Of the civil over the
military authority, and the freedom Of per
son under the protection Of the hdbeds cor.
pus. We demand for the individual the
largest liberty consistent with public order
FOR THE STATE SELF.GOVERN-
MENT, and for the nation q return to the
methods Of peace and the constitutions
limitations Of power
Here is a recognition Of the old doctrine
o. laid down by Jefferson.
Horace Greeley, in his letter to the com
miilse of the Cincinnati Convention, dated
May goth, and accepting the nomination
says:
" l received and welcome il the nomina
iion as = spontaneous and deserved tFibut,
70 THAT ADMIRABLE PLATFORM OF
FhlNOlPLES wherein your convention q
tsrsely, 90 lucidly, 80 forcibly' sci forth tbs
convictions which impelled, and the purpos
90 which guided iIs course; . platform
which, casting behind il the wreck and rub
bah OF worn-out contentious and byRon,
ieuds, embodies, In fl and few words. thu
eeds and aspirations Of to-day
Mr.. Greeley then proceeds to epitomis,
the platform, and in doing so he says:
Sd. That, subject to our solemn obi
EAhonS to maintain the equal rights of a.
citizens, OUR POLICY SHOULD AIN
AT LOCAL SELF-GoVERNMENT AMI
NOT AT GENERALIZATION; tha. N
civil authority should be supreme over IN
%llitaEyi that the writ of habeas CORN.
~ 1oold Dc leAlously upheld as the safegusr
O, pssAoaAl freedom; that the individuI
s;s,SH S should enjoy the largest liberty cor
"' WIN public order, and that Their