Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-08-11

Fernando Wood e one Of the load.
ing lights Of modern Democracy. He
Is candidate for Speaker Of the Dem.
ocratic Lower House Of Congress. He
10 among the half dozen prominent
vrsrnbers OF xhxe -E9o~.e rnssoeI hs
was Mayor of the city Of New York,
which was then and 10 now the strong
est hold that that Democracy has In
the United States, which some good
but deluded people hope to expect re-
form from. Indeed It 10 q patent fact
that this reform Democracy flourishes
best, and rolls up its biggest msjoritics
where the greatest centers OF corrup-
tion exist, and among the lowest and
most degraded of our citizens. 1t is
not amiss since Wood elaine to have
been loyal during the war to give an
extract from . message submitted by
him to the Common Council OF New
York City in January, 1861. In that
message he said:
ut would seem that . dissolution of
the Federal Union 10 inevitable. Hav-
ing been formed originally ON . basis
of general aud inutuRl protection, but
seperate local :" independence---each
State reserving the entire and absolute
control of ito own domestic affairs, 1t
is evidently impossible to keep them
together longer than they deem them.
selves fairly treated by each other, or
longer than the interests, honor, and
fraternity of the people Of the several
States are satisfied. Being Govern
ment created by opinioa, Its cpntinu-
ance 10 dependent upon the continu.
ance 6f the sentiment which formed it.
"It cannot be preserved by coercion,
or held together by force. A resort
to this last dreadful alternative
would Of itself destroy not only the
Government, but the lives and prop
erty Of the people.
ut may be said that secession or re-.
volution In any Of the United States
would be subversive of oil Federal
authority, and, so far % the central
government is conserved, the resolv-
ing tho community into IL original
elemepts-thst, II part Of the States
form new combinations and govern
ments other States may do the same.
California and her sisters ofthe Pacific
will NO doubt set up an independent
Republic aud husband their own rich
mineral resources, The Western
States, equally rich In cereals and
other agricultural products, will prob
ably do the same. Then 1t may DO
said, why should not New York City
instead Of supporting by her contri-
buttons in revenue tWo-thirds of the
expenses of the United States, become
also equally ind4pendentp Az q free
city, with but nominal duty ON Inn
ports, her local government could be
supported without taxation upon her
people Thus we could live free from
taxes. and have cheap goods nearly
duty free. 10 this she would have
the whole and united suppoft of the
Southern States, % we'll a. all the
States to whose interests aud rights
under the constitution she has always
been true.
at is we'll for individuals or com.
munities to look every danger square
in the face, and to meet Il calmly and
brayely. A. dreadful % the severing
df the bonds that haYe hitherto united
the States haa heon In contemplation,
Il y now apparently . stern and In
evitable fact. We have now to meet
It With oil the consequences. whatever
they may be.
"If the Confedcracy is broken up The
government ID dissolved, and II BE-
hooYes every distinct community, u
vel! q eysry individual to take carr
"Whsn disnnion has become flxed
and certain fact, why may mot New
York disrupt the hands which bind
her to . venal and corrupt nlaster-tc
. people and party that have plund.
cred her revenues, attempted to ruin
h0r commerce, taken away the power
OF self government, and destroyed the
ConfederAcy, Of which sho was thu
proud Empire City"
RaltimQye lawyers are amaged At the Wig
orous memory and lucid logic Of Reverb.
Iohuaon nou, In his q al vaer HiS nhvs