The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-04-09

:. "a aASc4tstAat1s ~ AO1tt1 ~ ~ AAAe
! which are ominous Of the faiure. South
Carolina, which was once led BY tie bril-
liant intellect Of Calhoun, and stood
proudly pre-eminent amidst the bright ar
ray Of sovereign States, has fallen into the
hands Of thieves. Her sovereignty is de
stroyed, her glory gone; she sits in the ashes
OF her greatness, shorn OF her strength and
reaches out her hands for deliveranes. In
herhdmiliation she has applied to the Pres
ident Of these once United and happy
States for relief from expressions which are
daily practiced upon her unOffending citi-
4 zens. The President received her memo
rialists kindly, but stated that as South
Carolina was now a sovereign State,
he could not see that he had any
power TO relieve. her from the wrongs
complained Of but referred them to the
Congress. Strictly speaking, his answer
was correct, but what mockeFy and INSULT
A sovereign Statel bound in chains; while
the jewellers uaaKe-the capital hideous with
their Publications and shouts Of bacehana-
lian riot. See them in the vaults Of her
treasury I Under the name of officers of
the STATE, they bring forth the money which
has been forced from an overpowered peo-
pie. and divide it among them Murders
are committed, but the mnrderersare of the
class from whom the officers sprang They
walk about in open day The law has
lost its majesty. But she is a,soYereigu
State Yes, a sovereign in sorrow, like a
mother weeping over the biers Of her chill
dren. And yet, in all her sorrow and
humiliation, it is better that she should
endure the ills which now afiict her
than to give up her birthrght
for mess Of pottage The President
could do nothing without usurpation Of
power. The Congress can do nothing with
out violation of the ecOnstitutiOnal rights,
or rather the reserved rights, of the States.
Her condition is miserable, but the worst
point has been reached. With care and
united action the viOlatoEs of her rights can
be put down and the good citizens of the
State take the reins of government once
more, -. .-.-s -. s. - -sl
But what will be the consequences which
will result from this mistaken policy9 How
wilt-it affect the rights and privileges of
the other Southern States2 And what will
be the portion of Texas2 1t does seem that
we have fallen upon evil times. The burdens
have been so heavy that men who, previous
to the overthrow Of the Constitution, were
=
the strong advocates of the reserved rights
of the States, now tacitly admit that they
are dependent upon the President and
Congress for their existence and well
beingl How humiliatingl how fraught
with dangeEslk 1t is just the condition
long sought for by the advocates of central
iza.ion and a stronger government. VIII
not the members of Congress seize upon
and improve 1he opportunity to establish
precedent by which the government of
every State can be overthrown at willl If
they can interfere with the internal affairs
of the State of South Carolina, regulate
taxation, remove officers, establish munich
pal laws, and direct and control the machi-
merry of her government, what viii prevent
them from, claiming and exercising the
same powerover Texas9 They have the win,
will they dare attempt to. use the prece-
dentl That isthe all important question:
In whatever direction we,turn ouEeyes, all
is darkness save at Zone point. There at
that point in serried ranks the advocates of
the greatest good to the greatest numbers
stand in firm array The banner Of equal
rights floats above them. Their motto is,
sgFhe voice Of the people Is the voice of
God. j" They proudly point to the years Of the
past, before the dark deeds of the late war
stained the uscutche0n Of liberty, for the
fruits of Their principles. ? They are even
now organizing for the fight which viii
take place in the future at the ballot box.
But for these we know what would De the
coursesof the party IN power, soon the
last vestlge OF local self government, or
State rights, would be blotted- out, and
the people would be turned pSer, bound
hand and foot, 'to the spoilers. And while
we deprecate the course Of the South Caro-
lima memorialists, it may put the people on
the watch, and thus be the means Of foorgan-
izing more th5rOughly and slzillfally the
Democratic party, the only and last hope Of
pure republican government The action
Of Congress upon the memorial viii, there
fore, be watched with no little interest. If
it is assumed that Congress has the right'tO
legislate for the relief Of South Carolina, it
viii be only for mischief. .'ForeWarned,
foreamets =, Then o0r people win be able
70 see the outeropping Of the wicked,
secret workings OF Hamilton, DAVIS 8 co.
against the right Of .ths people or Texas to
choose her oRni officers. And Ouncitizens
should BE- prepared TO give a calm firm sup
port to the government Of their choice. Tt
Is time that the cyl principles, whichswere
born OF the expressions Oflthelwar and al
ofita consequence, should be rolled up and
buried out Of sight as the garments Of a
pest house. Overpowered by numbers, We
wera told 70 ues0rtsto the ballot box,fOr the
redross of WRONGS It has hsea dohe TIE
enemy, 1T last, has been beaten and TIE
bone and sinew once more direct the ship Of
ctatcC uAu toe4 3foW weak IN tne hoor ,ol
vietoryl WIN they ever yield again TO the
enemies Of good government t. misruls.
and oppFsssionl Ne think mo-. .saAnd il
axill berN wei, rfofs th0se who are now in
WashinFl6n, t6 consider the nse9usnces
81 attempting 10 bring the state oncamOra
under their control aIla naniFnlatiaus 1t
csnnot Be done. Thelrolo ilulil
whey gnaw Z BE. 2 The socAl..e de-
cree hss gone forth. Texas is, ana .of
tizht w be, ne. 2 TIE Rubicona crossed.
There win l,e no rotuEn 20 bondaae. 49,
- -. = 80 80
tSANuokN AM 1lIs ! HAIk l,SlIlla
- tgAIlE QCErxE1.,'
-sasL 3, q. lsna..l1l .slssr-n. b ne ~