New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-12
SENATOR SCHURZ'S sP GECH.
Continued from First ,raae.

should Sit in tnaN boE-oiatuIe hs ite mVluhVie
Tux OUTRAGE UNCONSTITUTIONAL
What provision Of the Constitution, what laws are |
there on she book furnishing warrant for such
proceedingsi II said in extenuatou OF the inter
ference the military power OF the Uuted States tbat
the persons elected from the Legislature by the Federal
sodiery legally elected members OF that Legs
ature Suppose that had been but that not inc
question. The question is Where is the constitutional
principle where the law authorizing United states SOL
dcrs with muskets IN their hands TO determine VINO
legally elected member of State Legislature a"d WV
mott II is said that the mode Of organizing that k
iature was not in accordance with tho etaiu'os VI Wv
state Suppose that had but that Is ho' 'iie
question. The question is, Where u '"o Vo"S |
tn,onaI ar ler, warrant for the bayonets OF |
tho Federal soldiery TO interpret tue Ha'
utes OF States and TO oecioe iol ""u "
leo1slature points parliamentary law III Is sara
tina, the Governor requested the aid OF United States
soldiers 70 purge the Legislature OF Illegal members
That NAV be So but Is the question. The ores
tion IT, where is the law authorizing United States
soldiers 10 do the bidding OF State Governor who at
tempts 70 decide who to be the members OF LeEs
lature reguiy convened at the place and at the time
fxed by lawi II said that trouble threatened be-
tween cOntending parties in Louisiana. Suppose that
had been so but that is not the question
Tue question is Where Is the law from
which the National Government, in case OF threat
ened trouble in q State, derives its power 10
invade legislative body by armed force to drag out
persons seated as members OF q oCate '"'
Others may take their places Where is the law ASK
You will search the Constitution and the statutes in
vain. 1t is my deliberate judgment, conscentlousiy
formed, that the deed done on the Atm OF January III
Louisiana constitutes gross and manifest Violation OF
the Constitution and laws. We have an act before us
indicating n spirit 10 our government when either
ignores the Constitution and laws inerprets them
that they cease 10 be safeguard OF the independence
OF legislation rights and liberties Of the people and
that spirit shows itself alarming still in the in
strument the Executive has chosen to carry out his WILL
sHER1DANs ACTION CONDEMNED.
No American citizen can have real without profound
regret and equally profound apprehension, the recent
dispatch OF Gen Sheridan to the Secretary OF War, IN
which he suggests that numerous class OF citizens
should by Wholesale be ouawed as banditt by mere
proclamation OF the President, to be delivered over to
the military commander for summary judgment by a
military commission. Nobody respects Gen. Sheridan
moro than do for his brilliant deeds on the field OF
battle. The nation has delighted in hOnOriDg his namo
aud the nation wond sincerely depore to the hero
OF the Ride OF Winchester and the Charge at the Five
Forks stain his by attempt to override the
laws and lead charge against the Consti
tutionnl rights OF his countrymen. The policy
he has proposed is so appalling that every
American citizen who loves his liberty aghast at
the mere possibility of the suggestion. II is another
Illustration how great man may be as soldier, and
how conspcuOusly unable 10 understand what civil law
and Constitution mean how glorious in fighting for
you, out HOW utte III 10 govern JVuj anu 9St Oth
Sheridan Is moi only kept in LOUISIANA as the nstru
OF the Executive WILL after all that has hap
peued, encouraged by the emphatic approval OF the
Executive branch OF the National Government. CON
all these things have alarmed Not me alone,
for IN all parts OF the country the press is
giving to the feeling. What
learn 10y private information couvinces me that
the press il not exaggcratng tho alarm
OF the people On all sides hear the questions asked
n ttis can be done in Louisiana. II such
things he sustained by Congress. how long Will
before IL be done Massachusetts and Ohio
How long before the constitutional rights OF all the
States the self government Of all the people will be
tramped under footi How long before General OF
the Army may in the chair you occupy TO decide
tested elections, IN order TO make majority in the
Bonate; ard before soldier will stalk into the House
Of National representatives, pointing to the
speakers shall say, take away that baubleT
Wild and exaggerated these appreheGsions
may seem. yet these are the feelings you VIII
when the voice Of the people penetrates
And would ask you, Can you AK what is pos
tiblc and what mott VINO is there among who bu
three years ago would have expected be called upon
approve the gross. most unjusthable usupation OF
Judge Darrell and the Presidents enforcement OF it as
the lawful origin Of a State Government And who Of
you. when permitting that to be done, would have ex-
peccd TO the United States soldiers march into
hail q State Legislature decide its organic alton
Permit that today and who of you can tell me what we
shall be called upon-nay forced-to permit tomorrow
A CRISIS ARRIVED AT.
Senators We have arrived crisis. Will not
zeal that cannot contemplate that crisis without
apprehension; for what has happened already makes
me look forward with anxiety 10 what may still be IN
store for us. We are evidently downward slope,
the question where shall land. 1t is not the
success Of NapOleOnc ambitions this country that
fear If they existed they would still lind Amer
can not French people 10 deal with; but what
do have 10 fear, II we continue
Oh in that course, is this: that our time
honored constitutional principles Will be gradually
sbhtcrded by repeated abuses Of power establishing
themselves precedents that the machinery OF ad
mnistration may become more and more mere instru-
neDt OF Rang rule tool 10 manufacture majOres and
70 organize plumber; that the hollow shell OF repub-
Mean forms the @ Ivernment will become a mere foot
ball Of TapaoiOus and despOtc factions. have long
considered our policy concerning the South
fraught with great only danger South
the whole Republic. have therefore opposed II,
step by step, and warned you Of its inevitable
consequences know that Southern society has been,
and a measure is, disturbed by violent tendencies
aud grave dsorders. pave denied It, and no
lody has more earnestly condemned and denounced
the OF violence which happen than l. Those dis
orders would be the last TO palliate or ex-
ouse; but also believed that they were, in a great
measure the Offspring Of circumstances aud ~ be ex-
peeted.
THE CHANGES CAUsED BY TIE WAR
When the war closed great revolution had suddenly
amid general distress and confusion transformed the
whole organization OF Southern society Not only was
labor uprooted wish which the Southern
people centuries considered their whole
wealth aud prosperity identified, but by the enfran
ehsemen Of negro that class of society which had
just emerged from slavery with oil iRnorance-gnO-
for which readily adm. II not responsible
wac suddenly clothed with political power, IN some