The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-04-02

CONSTITUTION, ana interfering IN u state
% Louisiana in the taking OF that Gov
ernment. IL a palpable violation Of the
Constitution of the United States. II this
course l. TO be- practieel, and the Federal
Government j. going 10 be a partner TO
disappointed candidates Ia the Office OF
Governor of a State. / see we have inaugu-
rated a state Of things which will result in
the overthrow of the Constitution. which
binds the nation together aud is the foun-
dati0n Of government.
Why, the time has been Ia this country
and since my recollection, toO-ihat II
AN act like this, II a usurpatiOn like this
had been attempted, Il would have pro-
duced a shock throughout the nation. The
nation would have been indignant from
ONE extreme 10 the other. and would have
been ready 10 hurl from power the lerpe-
traitor OF such an act. But o we see
things differently we can see men come
into power and exercise power not author
lied by the organic law OF tie land. We
have gone outside of the Constitution In a
way that will bring this government 20 an
end. or change It's character 80 that it,
present structure will all be lost.
The Senator here referred 10 the orders
sent TO Sheridan to proceed 10 New Or
leans. and said Here i a general OF the
army who is sent back 10 the people that
repndiated him with authority 10 90 and
look over this country. and 10 mark him.
self out an empire, prescribe the limits Of
his government, or what he shall take uu-
der control. lie marks a the area; he
describes the points and limits of his COM
mand his power is as absolute a that of
an emperor. Look az the growth of pow
err; look ar the advances which usurpa-
ffnr l. .s.NAT.. .Al ..l... -.
slider calmly and deliberately. without
party bias o. prejudice, we find that these
acts are none other than those Of usurpa-
ton and tyranny. Where does all this
power come fromg and. might ask. up
on what meat does this our Caesar feed.
that he hath grown : . great" that he can
prescribe and lay down empires and place
commanders over them. IL i time the
country was awakened and considered
these things. Ii the excitement las been
So high In times gone by that many things
have been overlooked, think the time has
arrived, and | trust the excitement has
gone down. and that the American people
can return 10 the organic law Of the land
IL is time that people had begun 10 o
slider and weigh well these things.
Mr.. johnson described the organization
OF the Louisiana Legislature. and continue
ed: | cannot regard the action of the
military or of the President "a in Accord
ance with the Constitution. cannot re-
cord my vote for this resolution. / will
not vote against this resolution because
il is a Republican measure. but will vote
against il GU principle. This resolution
calls OF the Senate 10 express an opinion
~favoring practices which | think are unau-
thorized and unwarrantable : bat if we re-
cord one vote sanctioning Presidential in
reference what are we 10 do in other
cases: Why single out this particular act.
and in principle sanction il. and not sane
ZION all the ~high-handed measures which
preceded IL:
The action of the President in Arkansas
affairs was denounced By senator Johnson.
who referred TO the growth Of Federal
power Is follows: We see how this pow
err travels. An empire laid of in the
South. commanded by a military chief.
Then we come along 10 the force bill, then
we come along TO indorsement by Con-
gress, and looking on these things. We in
quire. what lies behind all this: Don'twe
see that change of ~opinion-thai change
OF position must be for some reasons
There must be something behind all this
action of the President there must be
something 10 explain his inconsistency
there must be something that underlies all
this. The force bill, with authority TO
take away State Governments; an arbi-
trary military empire laid Oft in the South
ana placed under the control of adictator.
must mean something. W. can only look
az il in the light of events that will trans
pire in the approaching Presidential cleo
lion. when we have c~onaueror and usurper
installed in Government, and he has gone
on extending his military power unrl he
has accomplished his purpose. The time
NAV come when some member IN the
other hall may introduce a resolution Ike
this
WHEREAS, Great disturbances and dissatisfac-
Sons exist in the country and for the sake of
preserving peace and harmony in the country be
Resolred, That A or b is hereby declared Presi-
dent.
1 don't care whether You call him mon
arch or king, or President, for the next
Presidential term or the next eight years.
What would you do then? Wherei is the
power to prevent 1t. Where is the army .
Where Is IT,. navy. What could you do
The impotency and weakness of an IN
armed people when brought In contact
with armed we all know. We would be
DOWCIltrc. anu 4 utit it-~A IA AnC Hltr
ence OF this Senate, warn the people
against approaching danger. | tell my
countrymen. Mr.. President. that the EN-
pire is ahead. and that. instead of having a
free and Republican Government now, we
have a kind of government which Is
called a s~tratocracy. There is..a military
government where the country Is ruled
by a military chieftlin. and where the ar
my is the power. That Is the govern
ment YOU have got now-the army; the
power we nave got-a stratocracy. We
have not got a democracy we have not
got a republican form OF government
That is all the government yon have got.
How far of is the empire? How far of l.
military despotism? ! warn the people Of
my native country against the dangers
which are coming. Don't let us talk about
party. but let the people who compose the