Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-08-12
Euoro,ohmspts are Also made, and perhaps

EneroAehments are also made, and perhaps
the most alarming Of all, by the military |
power of the Government. The military |
power has come to assume, oflAte, the duties
belonging to civil officers, and that in def |
ence of law. / will allude again TO the |
State Of Georgia. II had elected Legisla- !
ture in 1868. Some difficulties had arisen
in regard to its organization, and, in 1869
or 1870, Congress passed Law declaring
that all persons who had been returned rs
elected to the Legislature of Georgia by
General Meade, who at that time had com
mAnd in that military district, should take a
certain oath and qualify as members of the
Legislature. The law provided that it
should be a felony, punishable by imprison-
nent in the peuitentiary not less
than two nor more than ten years
for any person TO interfere with any mem.
Der thus elected in taking the oath and par
ticipAting in the organization Of the Legs
lature. Would you believe il, with such
Law a. thai upon the stAtute-book, the
military officer in command in Georgia
issued an order prohibiting certain men
returned as elected BY General Mesoe' rom
sitting in the Legislature, and showing
others to take their seats, IN direct oenanee
Of the act of Congress, which should nave
aubiscted that officer 20 imprisonment not
lass than Two years in the penitentary
Was any notice ever taken OF III Yes, the
r,.,,s, vas referred TO the Committee on
~. Jndioiary in the Senate OF the United
St,,es. and q report vas made by that com
mittee, drawn by Senator EdmundH, OF Yer
mont, an ardent friend OF the AdministrA-
ton, expressing in mild terms that the com.
mittee were constrained TO say that the
action Of the military authorities was con
trary TO law, applause and that is the
only notice ever taken Of that outrage, of
that eneroaohment upon the rights OF the
Legislature aud the people of Georgia
ARMY OFFICERS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
A few years ago Congress passed another
law that no officer in the regular Army
4 should discharge the functions OF civil Of
fee, and yet who does not know that the
White House is filled with Army officers act
ing as Secretaries Applause Not day
passes during the session Of Congress that
we do not receive messages from the Presi-
dent Of the United States, delivered, not BY
the Secretary, . civilian, for whom the law
provides, but by an oticer-A major in the
regular Army Applause and Kisses.
Fellow citizens, suppose Andrew johnson
| had sent the Army up to Albany and organ
ICED a Legislature for you, aud told you thai
certain persons whom you had elected should
/ take seats and certain others should not
supposed he had filed the White House
with military officers, dischArging the func
> tons OF civil Offices contrary TO the law, d.
r you think it would have been passed owe
q uuuotced? How long can this people pre-
serve their liberties If they quietly submi
to such encroschments of power Ap
=; plsuse.
J, The safety Of The citizen, and his protec
e ton in his person and in his properly, is t
l. be found in local laws which the psopl
's themselves administer, Applause and nc
y in central government where all power
~ combined. II this system Of eneroachmer
3 is permitted to 20 on, the day is not distsr
y whea our republican system, based on III
L idea Of division Of powers between th
Dr Federal Government aud the States, will b
. transformed into one imperial despotis u
j" with all power at the city Of Washington
Is and when that time comes, care not whetbe
- that power be exercised BY a single perso
called q monarch, or by five hundred per
70 sons called = Congress, it is equally des
!, po.ism. Applause. 1t is now boldly pre-
i claimed BY men high in authority that th
States Of this Union have such powers onl
a. are conferred upon them by the Const
tuition of the United States, when Direct
!, the reverse is true, and the States have a
power except such as the Constitution of th
= United States has conferred upon the Unite
: States or has withheld from the States. Th
difference is this the Government Of tn
" United States Is a Government of derivativ
: powers those Of the States are nherep
y They have all power not denied them, Will
" the Government of the nited States has n
power except such "a is given to it, Al
70 plAuse. The Constitution of the Unite
States in terms declares. in one Of its amenC
. ments
:. "ART. TO- The powers not delegated
n the United States By the Constitution, n,
n prohibited by it to the States. are reserve
"a to the States respectively, or 10 the people
- These are the doctrines of 'the Liber
IS Republicans with Horace Greeley at the
d head, as laid down in their platform, i
y dorSed by their candidates, advocated ever
y where by their speakers and their newspr
}. pers, and enthusiastically sustained by ii
F people. They we're the doctrines most e
. seuliAl in the great contest between Jeffe
son and Adams, aud they are the doctrine
q most essential now, in the great contest b.
Il tween Greeley and Grant That was COT
test between Capitalization and state
10 rights. This is exactly the same old col
> test, and added TO it is q war upon q be
Il aud dishonest administration.