Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-03-31

VI VINO i'',hN EAEiNAhh'
There seems to be a diversion. lie
says that the Democrats asked for the
Interference of the military first and
then the Republicans afterwards asked
for ii. He looks upon il rs a mere
matter Of party, not as matter Of
principle but he says the Democrats
asked him to interfere, and then the
Republicans signed by 50. | believe
then the military was called in there,
and what did the military do? They
went in, and as General Sheridan says
himself, Mr.. Kellogg said to the army
or TO the military, "put this man in
and put that man out, and the Legis-
laturc was set up by the military upon
the point Of the bayonot, and that is
done under the prctence Of keeping the
peace. The Lceislatnre is qualified
and organized, surrounded BY armed
soldiers, this is new way of qualifying
members of the Legislature, and con-
traiy TO the genius and theory Of any
free government. So far, then, as
Louisiana is concerned, for the reasons
which / have given, ! cannot regard
the action of the military or of the
President as in accordance with the
Constitution. | cannot record my
vote for this resolution ! will not
vote against the resolution because it
is q Republican measure, but ] will
vote against it on principle. This res
olution calls on the President TO cx-
press an opinion favoring practices
which, | think, are unauthorized and
unwaranted, but if we record but one
vote sanctioning the Presidents inter
ference, what are we to do in other
cases2 Why single out this particular
act and IN principle sanction it and
not sanction all the high-handed meas
ures which preceded itY
THE ARKANSAS CASE
Mr.. johnson next took up aud re-
viewed the policy of the President
towards Arkansas, by which he made
Baxter Governor by simple proclama-
tion. If these proceedings are permit
ted are allowed to stand as prcce-
dent, il will change our form Of gov.
ernment. If il is assumed by the States
rcadmitted under Reconstruction acts
as the President assumes in his proc
lamation, that their Constitutions arc
to stand unchanged, immovable and
unalterable for all time, unless il can
be done by the Federal Government,
then ourform of government is changed.
To deny The States of this Union
authority to change their fundamental
law will be to subvort their government
This principle is guaranteed by the
Bill of Rights and by the Consti-
tuition Of the United States, and
it cannot be denied by any one who
has any regard for the rights of the
States and for the Constitutional law
that the people have a right to change
alter, or to amend their form of gov
crnment in their own mode and man
ner within certain limits. These limits
are prescribed by the Constitution, ,anc
are that 1t must be a Republican form
of government If that is so, | should
like to know where the authority j:
to interfere with them. These ideas
have come from these usurpations o
power. Let me refer again to tn,
Presidents message; II earnestly ash
that Congress shall take definite actor
in this matter, and relieve the Execu
tive from acting upon questions which
should bo decided by the Legislative
branch of the Government A threat
THE IRON HAND,
though clothed in silk, is laid upon us
If you do not do so and so, ! will do il
If the resolution under consideration
inquired in regard to this threat int
the proposed increase of such power
rs this it would be more legitimat,
than the one now under consideration
which is for its endorsement, hence We
sec how this power travels. An en-
pire laid off in the South, commanded by
a military chief. Then we come along
to the Force bill, then we como along
to the endorsement by congress and
looking over these things, we inquire
what lies behind all this2 Don't W,
see that the change of opinion, tha
the change of position, must be foi
some reason? From May 10 up tC
the action of General Sheridan wa
only ninc months. There must b,
something behind all this action of th'
the President there must be some
thing to explain his inconsistency
there must be something that under
lies all this.
An arbitrary military empire laid of
in the South and placed under the con
troll ola dictator must mean something
We can only look at it in the light o
events that will transpire in the ap
proaching Presidential election. Whei
we have the conquerer and usurpe
installed in the Government and h
has gone on extending his military
power until he has accomplished hi
purposes, the time may come whel
some member in the other hal
may introduce u resolution like this
Whereas, Great disturbances and dis
satisfactions exist in the country
and for the sake Of preserving peac,
and harmony in the country, be IL re
solved, that A or B is hereby declare'
President. don't care whether yol
call him monarch, king or Presiden
for the next Presidential term or tn
next eight years. What would yol
do thcn2 Where is the power TO pre-
vent it2 Where is the army2 Wher
is the navy? What could You do?
The ilnpotcncy and the weakness q
an unarmed people when brought il
contact with the armed, we all know
would be powcrlcss, and here to-da,
say in the presence of this Senate, AM
warn the people against the approach
ing danger ] tell my countrymcr
Mr. President, that the Empire !
ahead. and that instead Of having
free and Republican Government now
We have d kind OF government whicl
is called
4 sTRArocRAcY
which is military government whor
the country is ruled bya militar.
chieitan, and where tho army Is i
power That is the government yol
have got now, the army is the power
We have got stratocracy. We hav
not got a democracy. We have no
,ot a ,.o,,,,hl;oan farm of e,nvcrnn,cnt