The New York herald., 1874-09-15


liberty, the democratic party found itself arrayed
against the suspension OF the habeas corpus and
military arrests in the loyal States against the
issue OF legal tender notes aud system OF internal
revenue dependent upon spies and informers.
And this not because It was in favor Of secession,
but because it was In favor Of the rights OF per-
sons: not because 1t was not In earnest to pre-
serve the integrity OF the whole country, but be-
cause it sought 10 preserve If under a limited and
localized and liberal instead Of under centralized
and despotic government. Nevertheless, many
good men then became mised as to the purpose of
the democratic party, and have come TO look upon
1t as a mere party OF reaction; to rega
it az governed By hostility to the negro,
not desire for local government; as
ready to destroy the Union instead OF
seeking through the rights OF States TO preserve
those limitations Of government essential to per-
sonal liberty. 1t is true the democracy have for
mally declared they have no such purpose. They
have even supported lifelong opponent TO estab-
llsb the sincerity OF that declaration. Nevertne-
less men still ASK .What, then, Is your purposesn
should democrats not, therefore, now put forward
such practical, definite ana precise issues as to
remove all color Tor these mis- judgmentsY
1t is very easy Tor political convention OF either
party to resolve IN iavor OF economy, retrench-
ment and reform, puriicauon, pacihcation or the
like. These are results we all agree in wishing.
But by what measures are they to be enectedY
republican party and the continuance OF central
iz9tlon and extravaganza. But neither on the
other hand, by reaction oy the revival OF issues in
respect to slavery, suffrage, or those powers OF the
general government which have been finally de-
cided. Nor yet again by any mere general deca-
ration, true enough, but wanting tnat precision
ana application requisite TO satisfy the Class
speak Of
clared Icr 'Tigid restriction OF the governments,
both State and national. to the legitimate domain
OF political power by excluding tnerefrom ali ex-
ecutlve and legislative intermeddiing with the
affairs OF society, whereby mOnOpoles are iostered,
privileged classes aggrandized and individual free
This declaration expresses, am sure, the views Of
large majority OF the people. But yet the ques-
ernments are to be thus restricted,
The great the especial evil OF the time is cor
rupion In legislation 1t Is preposterous TO call
it's legislation Is sale; and yet it has been noo
rlous not In South Carolina alone, hut in New
rk ana 5a5 Ts b %es 0p ~
vate payment and tnat almost any pr-
vate bill could be passed upon SUFFICIENT payment
Year by year tue statute book sweils with
private ana local laws, with laws granting one set
OF men privileges. immunities or mOnOnpolies at
the expense OF the whole, whether it be by the
opening OF u street, the construction OF a "bouic
vard,u the franchise OF street railway, authority
to take usury or other monopoly until the lobby
men seek places In the Legislature for punder
not for public good. Corruption IN legislation, ike
by corruption in the executive departments, nay,
even sometimes by corruption in the judiciary it.
sell, until IN inc WuOe DOuy Tue TlnuJS Oh
men, instead Of being lnvloate, become for sale,
which I take to be a condition of government
whatever the form OF the goyernment-nearly't The
worst possible.
Moved by such evils, men cry out Tor reform.
And they propose to effect 1t by eectine only good
men TO ottlce. But such reforms have always
proved, and so long as the Inducements tor COR
ruptiOn are so great as now must always prove,
partial and insufficient. The true remedy for this
evil Is to remove the cause OF ito deprive
the Legislature OF the power to plunder by so
amending the constitution tnat the Legislature
or-rixyn nan or IA hlf nn lu
by general AND public laws Limitations on tho
power OF the Legislature exist in the constitution
limitations were sufficient TO preserve The
rights OF citizens when those constitutions
were made. The opportunities for .plunder
small; but with the growth of population
and wealth those opporl rlunlties have increased
until State after state has been forced to
its constitution as TO put an end entlrely to prI-
vate aud local legislation. PENNSYLVANIA has, by
n aIaS the a
islatlve corruption by abol.shing the possibility OF
private legislation. WHAT the Legislature does or
law, equally open Tor and applicable to all cltlzens
so that each citizen snail gam no more oy II than
the others may and thus Is without greater In
ducement for IT'S passage.
Tne two great political parties are now disput.
ing fennsyiVania lor me Sfeait OF LII ss reSr
! in strict pursuance OF democratic principles Con
| stitutional goyernment-that is, government &C
discretion OF the Legislature shall be sc
limited as to preserve inviOlate certain
cratic doctrine. We need only to apply thai
principle to the existing condition OF a1arS TO Sc
true @ aow az Erea know s1S Woud Il
therefore, be timely and wise for the democratic
party to take definite ground for 1t now, and pre-
sent 1t as one plank OF Its platform ior the comms
| elecuong
But wnat is needed for the State Is needed fol
! the federal government as well. Congress ha
been less corrupt than the State Legis latures be
| cause dealing mainly with general and public ant
| less with local and private legislation. But yea
| by year the range OF its legislation increases l
| is beginning 10 charter corporations, to gran
monopohes, to bestow special privileges. Having
taken control OF all the money and banking insti
tutions OF the country 1t is now urged 10 taxi
charge OF all It's other business. TO continue thu
course without resurrection Is to follow roaa lead
all the demoralizlng and corrupting in
oneaiaT onetniTa Of the the tine Of Congress is spen
upon private bills Many OF them are
indeed, Tor claims against the government i'sen
person having q claim against II can prosecut
his government and recover OF 1t In open court
United States payment OF claims with lew ex
ceptIops) is wholly dependent upon the WIZ .
the Legislature. And yet Congress must neces
sartly be the worst possible triblnal to determlD
sucn matters and so long as no other Is provide
II cannot but result, as now, that Just claims WI
20 lor yeats or forever without payment, an
that others, excessive in amount or Will
out any merit whatever. Will be allowed while tn
pressure for the allowance OF Cial1ns ID u cousSal
influence Tor evil. surely some CONSTITUTIONS
provision which shall make the obligation OF col
tracts invioable by Congress, authorize publ
courts to determine all claims against the govern
ment, forbid all gratultles and subsidies whateve
prevent the granting by Congress OF mOnopolle
and forbid its charterlng OF corporations to carr
on business witnin the States has come to t
needed, And since there be honest men who fet
a reopenng of the issues of the past, II an effort
made to prevent these evils by strict constr uCtO
Of the federal constitution and since the stricte
construction OF That constitution wonid not ce
talnly and wholly prevent them, let US meet the
apprehension by seeking such changes In the col
st,tion ITSELF either by revision or amendment
that instrument as shall certainly secure sns c0u
try against these increasing dangers - ~
Undoubtedly the constitution is # be mai,
tanned. 1t is high 8nG sH..cInn compact, above
TO be held inylolahSe. But when the country itss
mas -necohSo 50 changed in It's condition that u
,wnts Wulch tue constitution Was intended TO y
sure can no longer be secured by II, those vi
have most faithfully supported the existing co
stituton are those VINO are best entitled TO adV