The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-20

ln or not, and the cenLrhl COnceptlOn was
that the general government was the crea-
ton of the states, not they the servants of
tie central government; but in conse-
auence of the war the conquered states
were saddled with the most intolerable
system of government in the world. After
a time, where opportunity was given, state
after state threw off its tainted and incom-
petent rulers and placed its affairs in the
hands of the competent and intelligent
classes; but in several ill-starred states,
and notably in South Carolina, Mississippi
and Louisiana the enormous preponder- |
ance in numbers of the freedmen and the |
facility with which their natural fears per |
mitted them to be led by crafty and de-
signing adventures, seemed to postpone
indefinitely the restoration of an honest
and able administration of the public trust
but such is the inherent force OF the re-
publican principle that it became daily
more clear that the powers OF management,
struggle as they would, must eventually
| fall before the growing force of public
opinion within and without those states.
| This inevitable struggle is going on, must
| 90 on, and under republican system of
! government, under our old constitutional
methods, under the guidance of an intelli
gent and an honest public opinion, it can
end only in the overthrow of such govern
ments as that of the state of Louisiana, be-
cause it is not upheld by the effective pub
lie opinion of the community. Now, if this
government and others like it are to be
maintained by force of the United States
arms, against all legal efforts of the peo-
pie to get rid of them, then this precedent
which has been made in Louisiana is
one eminently fit to be made and it
must be speedily followed by others
: more stringent and effective. Did it never
occur to you that the same process OF rea-
} soning feeling which now induces you in
moment of excitement to oppose a plain
violation of law, may equally induce a
Democratic majority, tempted and excited
rs you are, to accept corresponding vlo-
llatiop of the safeguards upon which alone
g Won can rely to protect the freedmen from
/, an outrage similar to that which we now
! contemplate. Do you think there will be
, less temptation ? Then count the votes
o the South can throw in Democratic con
vention and estimate the power which they
must WELD in the party councils. DO not
: believe that they will yield to the tempta-
tion but do say that you render 1t al
, most irresistible when you set them so
= seductive an example of successful usurp-
n alton. MIR. Adams affirmed that the con-
. stitution never contemplated that the Uni.
:. ted States should Systematically maintain
q and prescribe governments in the states
j Such work cannot be done except at the
!. price of liberty. He referred To the
J. Iusurpation of Charles the First and O
n Cromwell and declared that the logical anC
v inevitable result of tendency in the pub
re- lie mind to pass lightly over that which
If has been done in Louisiana in the genera
A. government which will sooner or later alb
s. sorb all independence of the states Thl
$. arbitrary act may be defended on tn
Of ground that it seems to tend the securit
o. Of the black race but this stretch of pre-
* rogative in his behalf does him infinite in
Of jury. The great revolution in public fee
u ing with regard to the conservatives
at Louisiana of late has sprung from sympa
a. thy with their suferings and admiratio
IS of the patience with which they have born
D them. Massachusetts would not hav
nd borne the same. Let it not be erecte
lg into precedent, for it is a preceder
%, which, as George w Washington tells yol
always pSEDvsSd n fatal to hep
pe Seen mark like milestones the broad an
ell. easy way which leads to Rome. We stan
mt where the ways part Adopt this act
of the army in Louisiana and we have passe
We the first milestone on our way to empir
nd On the other hand stretches the rough an
in difficult path which our fathers trod. N
friends, let US stand fast in the old wa,
so to the end that, as the constitution of Ma
it sachusetts hath it, ITO the end that
of may be government of laws, and not
he men"
ole Mr.. Adams speech was frequently a
of plauded.
we Hon. Francis W. Bird spoke next. |
ow cold bo oo,,o 90 n n.r,;son uab.d no
the one all his life. He belonged to the par
md Continued on third pagel