The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-18
MILITARY USURPATi0N.
Speech by Hon. E. St. julien Cox
Delivered in Minnesota State Senate March D.

Session Senator Drake OF Ramsey couh'y Il
offered the following: c
WHEREAS, Under the Constitution OF tht
United States each State is the equal u anu e
entitled to all the ri ehts and powers oeloAsiiiS
to each and every other state T
/ Avn WHEREAS Each State Is supreme IN al l
matters of government, except where othsrMlsS '
provided by the Constitution Oh the Chl'eo
States; .,;...,, troo :; ]
controlling the organization of a State Leglsia-
ture is subversve OF every principle OF ifee rep
resentative government;
h AND WHEREAS, 1t is asserted that the con
stituonal rights OF the Leg,siI hare hem in
vadea and disregarded BY officers and soldiers
of the army of the United States;
Therefore. be it resolved by the SenGtc ana
House Of Representatives Of the State q Mimms
so That the g greda' nlanly Violated by the
Intrusion OF soldiers Of the army OF the Ini.sa
/ States upon the Legislature OF state, py lIS
order of military commander, y" no silu ~ ;ts
presume TO Judge of the qualincatlols ~ 10
/ members or Of those claiming to be members,
ord anv attempt to enforce such Judgment
L would be a usurpati n OF power ana NC p VIZ,
edent against which all the other states s'iooio
solemnlY protest. G, |
/ T1non these resolutions Hon. y. 81.
] Julien Cox of Nicollet, spoke as follows
\ Nh. PRESIDENT: But little remains TO
be said upon this question after the elo-
] nuent remarks of the Senator from Blue
! Earth. to which we all listened with SO
much qualification. There are, however,
( some xiews which have not been touched
| mon in this Louisiana question by the
Senator from Steel and Blue Earth.
desire at this time to occupy the Senate
for b;cf period and which is the apology
:, I offer for trespassing on your patience
and time. The Senator from Blue Eartn
has most ably exhibited to the Senate the
great perils to which the union OF the
States is exposed by frequent and unre-
huk ed infractions Of the Federal constitu-
tion - danger which all must agree IS
paramount and to the consideration VI
which all we'll wishers to our nation must
be forcibly attracted. But recent events
Handspring since the expulsion OF 'he
persons legally claiming seats IN Tue LIZ
islature of that most unfortunate ota'e VI
Touisiana. and since the remarks OF Tux
Honorable Senator from Blue Eaith nave
arisen and which to me are causes 81 .ii'
gravest apprehension, and wen calcuia'e'
to fill the minds of our people win s'eli
forebodings Of i'll to come. ne state .
the case, standing as 1t does, IS mat
body Of men, peaceab'y assemoieo' ~" Aui
ly elected, representing the sovereign
law-making power OF o,ate'
Violently disrupted by soldiers
the United States, acting under inc at
- proval of the President ana the oecre'a,
Of War. The question IS not thal IN
military were requested to interfere.
Acers, in the military service OF u
limited States must, and believe the e'
,cat;on Of this branch of the public ser
ice can leave no doubt oil the iac0 do iul
understand that they cannot lesaiy
terfcre, at the request OF any person
officer, with the civil affairs OF any ota'
unless in case of rebellion lnsurresuo
invasion or inability to preserve the Id"
They know full we'll III time oil pea
that arma ceddht to9de !"
the military shall be subscribe
and not paramount to the clvli authofi'
and no mans request, nay, no man
. ders can constitutionally be ooeyed ="
Lands his aid in the overthrow OF CT
government and constitutions rlS
The Stars and Stripes waved over u
hall OF legislation IN the city oil New
leans on that eventful day. was u
reheluonl What! Soldiers dispersin
peaceful assembly covered with' anu
mo refuge under, the broad banner
liberty and of the Union. The arm
the military invoked to overthreN
legislative body. Granting tha'
senator from ST. Louis be right that
occnnatiou Of that assembly chamber
,be soldiery of the United States was
the request Of the Speaker oil that o.
St;I crcat wrong was done. The II
pan3eoce of that body which alone
nudge of the eligibility and quatlhca
Of its own members was violated ana
sacred Guarantees and barriers oil
stitutional right were invaded ana
thrown.
Have Honorable Senators IN the
Of PARTY totally forgotten
immortal sentiments cont'
in that living declaration of prln'
enumerated at Philadelphia w wears
When the President says TO Ten.
dan. Il heartily approve OF your az
Il. must have escaped his recollection
that that instrument sets cut as gre
cause of complaint against George IN
conduct and treatment of the Anne
- colonies very analogous TO the
mont Of our sister States IN the
II speaks in thunder tones to us u
NOT TO be misunderstood. 1t arl
that sovereign :,
For dissolvlng representative II
and for suspending our own Legisia
For ouartering large bodies OF
II troops among US.
For rendering the military indepe
of and superior to the civil power.
For keeping up. IN times OF
standing armies without the cons
eur Legislatures.
4 Ii the people Of this country III
assurance that this fragrant usurpa
y rights would end here, It might re-
MS to the belief in necessity that
no law. But even now we learn u
President is demanding OF Cens-
overthrow of a State government
another of the sister States OIL TINS