The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-09-25

est peace and VIII you not lind that the civil
authorities have been overwhelmed by the
strong arm Of the National soldier, and that
the DEGREES Of the Courts Of Justice have been
set aside by the Sll-powerful influences Of the
bayonet7
How have they maintained the doctrine
mat the States ought to he left TO manage
their domestic alIairs2
Look at the history Of Executive and Con.
gressional interference in the Southern States,
and will you not find tho popular will over.
turned and diaregarded, and the great central
will at Washington dsposing Governors and
recognizing Governments in absolute def
ance Of the FIRST and bsst-known principles Of
our confederate policy?
How has the theory Of equal political rights
been maintained?
20 again to the South and you will find tha,
with the pretended claim of giving to the en-.
iranehised man his political rights they have
taken care 10 strip the citizen OF many Of the
privileges which he inherited from the Con.
stitution Of bis country.
How has the writ Of habeas corpus been
sustained2
Ask Of those who have been torn from their
homesat midnight under Ku.Klux laws, aud
forced to undergo trials before strange tribu.
nails and unfriendly people, and hurried of to
serve their term Of punishment in distant
States, for ofenses unknown to any law but
that dictated by vegeance and party spirit.
Ask Of the Democratic members Of the last
Congress, who, with weary eyes and anxious
hearts exercised their patriotic skill to defeat
the Force bill, which in view Of the coming
Presidential election was intended TO place
the Southern States PROSTATE at the feet Of
the Executive Of the Nation.
Ask the people Of Louisiana, who but a
short time since were at the mercy Of mill
tary chieftain, who telegraphed tho President
tina, the only remedy he could devise was to
treat the citizens as "bdRditti," and hunt
them down like beasts without the form of
law. And do we not know that the Govern.
ment-Cabinst and all--returned an answer
TO Sheridan, saying 1--WE approve of all you
have doner And General Grant, when
forced to give information to Congress, said
that although General Sheridan's sugges.
tons could not be carried out, yet il they
could be there would soon be an end to all
disturbance
Yes truly, my friends, there would then
be an end to all disturbances. Plow down
with shot and shell the opposers Of your ruin.
GUS schemes slaughter in cold bloed the men
who stand up TO defend the last vestige Of
their liberty, and you would have quiet, but q
quiet purchased by the overthrow Of every
right that we are taught from childhood TO
respect.
Lastly, gentlemen, how has the principle
been maintained of the judicious economy Of
the peoples money?
Were il not for the gravity Of the subject
this question might produce a smile on many
faces for do we not know that in almost
every Department Of the Government corrup.
ton bold and reckless has shown its face,
scandalizing the Nation ut home, discrediting
il abroad
May ask you to follow me for one brief
moment into this dreary field of robbery and
plunder. Shall ask you TO look back to the
Credit Mobilier scheme, which, when inves.
tigation was forced upon them, was found to
include under its dark shadow not only many
Of the leading men in Congress, Senators and
Representatives, but even officials holding
still higher positions, until men with bated
breath cried out, where is this to stop |"
Turn to the investigation Of the New York
Customhouse, and you will find respectable
merchants blackmailed under the official
sanction Of Stocking and Leet, until men Of
their own party cried out shame upon these
disgraeefGl proceedings. Look at the vast
machinery that forced through Congress the
subsidy OF millions Of acres Of the peoples
land to bolster up the rotten Northern Pacific
Railway Company, and the former agents Of
the Government deluding the minds OF limo.
cent people with the theory that these bonds
were better than Government securities. The
blow soon fell, the explosion came, and 10 !
the widow and the orphan were begyars in
the land.
Look at the Sanborn contracts, where high
| offtciala anthort1ad their District Attornava IN