The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-18
MILITARY usuRPATloN.
speech BY Hon. {. St. julien Cox
Delivered in Minnesota State Senate March ,.

Delivered in Minnesota State Senate MaIch D. Il
L Just before the close of the Legislative o
Session Senator Drake of Ramsey county
offered the following: c
WHEREAS. Under the Constitution OF ths {
United States each State is the eguah,
Eentitled to al. the rights and powers pelonsiis
Ito each and every other State
Avn WHEREAS. Each State IS supreme III al
}matters Of government, except where otnerwlse
provided BY the Constitution OF the Onlteo
Estates m :,;..r,, foroo in
I controling the organization of State Legisla-
Eture is subyersive Of every principle OF free rep
Fresentative government; A. A.. ao,,-
n AND WHEREAS, 1t is asserted that the con
stitutional rights OF the Leglsiature an ~; ;r
vaded and disregarded by officers and soldiers
tof the army of the United States;
Therefore. be 1t resolved by the Senate ana
House Of Representatives Of the state o. M;nme
Tha. the ,ss great pr Sa2ny Violated by
Intrusion OF soldiers Of the army o. me Int1
States upon the Legislature OF a State, py tns
I order 81 a military commander, who snouiu
presume 10 Judge of the quahncatlolls , ~ ., |
members or Of those claiming to be memoS,
ord anv attemnt to enforce such Judgment
anu any ,,snrrat;. of power aud be prec.
edent against which all the other STATES s''oulo
solemnly protest. r., 6.
I JTnon these resolutions Hon. =. 81.
Julien Cox of Nicollet, spoke as follows:
| Mn. PRESIDENT: But little remains TO
he said upon this question after the elo'
] nnent remarks of the Senator from Blue
! Earth. to which we all listened with so
much Qualification. There are, however,
some views which have not been touched
! unon in this Louisiana question by the
| Senator from Steel and Blue Earth. !
desire at this time to occupy the Senate
for bicf period and which is the apology
i offer for trespassing on your palehGe
and time. The Senator from Blue Earth
has most ABLY exhibited to the Senate the
great perils to which the union OF the
States is exposed by frequent and unre
buked infractitns Of the Federal cohstl'u
ton u danger which all must agree II
paramount and to the consideration
III which all we'll wishers to our nation mus
be forcibly attracted. But recent events
Handspring since the expulsion OF IN
persons legally claiming seats IN the Leg
fxlature of that most unfortunate otate q
louisiana. and since the remarks OF III
Honorable Senator from Blue Ealth nav
arisen and which to me are causes OF IN
gravest apprehension, and well calcu'a'e
to fill the minds of our people win s'el
forebodincs of i'll to come. The state
the case. standing as it does, Is: That
hody of men, peaceably assembled, lawiu
~ elected, representing the soveIeig'
law.making power of State
violently disrupted by soldiers
Inc United States, acting under the a
4 nroval Of the President and the Secretal
az War. The question Is not .ha' y
Military were requested to interfere:
1cers. in the military service OF
limited States must, and l believe the c
ncation of this branch Of the pubic ser
ice can leave no doubt Of the fact) Go iul
understand that they cannot legally
terfere. at the request OF any person
officer. with the civil affairs OF any Sta
unless in case of rebellion insurresu'
invasion or inability to preserve the LAY
They know full well in time OF pc,
that anna ceddnt togde u
the military shall be subservi
and not paramount to the civil authori
and no man. request, nay, no man
-" dars can constitutionally be obeyed y
lends his aid in the overthrow OF c
4 government and constitutional ris
The Stars and Stripes waved over
hall Of Legislation in the city OF New
leans on that eventful day. was
rebellion What! Soldiers dispersii
peaceful assembly covered with, ana
ing refuge under, the broad banner
liberty and Of the Union. Inc arm
the military invoked to overthre'
legislative body. Granting that
Senator from ST. Louis be right that
occnnation of that assembly chambe
the soldiery of the United States wa
the request of the Speaker OF that .
Still a great wrong was done. The
- nendence of that body which alone
Judge of the eligibility and quaiihc'
Of It's own members was violated ans
sacred guarantees and barriers Oh
stitutional right were invaded ana
thrown. A..
Have Honorable Senators in the
of party totally forgotten
Immortal sentiments cont
in that living declaration OF pr'n
ennunciated at Philadelphia W year
When the President says to zen.
dan. Il heartily approve Of your.
must have escaped his RECOLLECTION
that that instrument sets cut as gr,
cause of complaint against George u
conduct and treatment of the Am
Il colonies very analogous to the
ment Of our sister States IN the
1t speaks in thunder tones to us
not to be misunderstood. 1t ar
that sovereign
For dissolving representative
and for suspending our own Legisl'
For quartering large bodies Of
- troops among US.
For rendering the military lndep
Of and superior to the civil power.
For keeping up, in times Of
standing armies without the cons
eur Legislatures.
If the people Of this country h
assurance that this fragrant usurps