Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-10
consistency is that Of the thorough

consistency Is that OF the thorough
going partisan.
Since when has the Federal Govern
ment acquired the power Of abolishing
the constitutions Of States which arein
full communion with the Union, having
their full delegation IN both houses Of
Congressa Something Of the sort was
done IN regard to several Of the South
en States just after the war, because
it was before they had been re-admit-
ted, or were recognized as States by
seating their Representatives in Con-
gress. To-day Grant or Congress has
no more right to abolish the constitu-
ton Of Arkansas than that Of New
York. In either case there could be
but one possible plea, /. e., that the in
strument was unrepublican either
In form or substance. Now a
State Constitution can be unrepubhcan
only in M way, and that is by viola
ton of one or more provisions Of the
Federal Constitution. In other words,
the States reserve all powers not con
eeded to the General Government.
With this definition Of an unrepubli.
can State Constitution-and we regard
it as n that cannot be gainsayed-it
is evident that such an instrument
would fall to the ground of its own
weight, because all State officers, legis-
latOrs and judges, as well as lawyers,
are sworn to support the Federal Con-
%stitution as "the supreme law Of the
land" All this talk about guarantee
ing a republican form of government
is the baldest b~alderdash, designed e1-
pressly to cover veryunrepublican pro-
ceedings.
Grant asserts that the cid Arkansas
constitution was ~overthrown "by vio-
lence, intimidation and revolutionary
proceedings" How is this possible
when the majority for it was so over.
whelming, that it could not have been
overcome, if every stay-at-home In the
State had been counted as Radicals
against it? In fact, it was Just such
revolutionary proceedings" as revo-
lutionized the whole North last Novem-
Der. Grant cOnfusedly e~onfesses as
much when he speaks Of the "minori-
ties" az needing protection. This be-
come the more laughable, infaee Of the
opinion "ventured" by him a few lines
above, that Joseph Brooks was law
fully elected" by amajority, of course.
He utterly fails to specify what pledge
Arkansas has violated in her change Of
constitution, or what condition of her
re-admission to the Union has been
negatived. His closing words contain
q threat that deserves attention:
81 earnestly ask that Congress will
take definite action in this matter, TO
relieve the Executive from acting upon
questions which should be decided by
the legislative branch Of the Govern
ment."
Here is q direct intimation that the
Executive viii assume duties which he
confessedly recognizes as Legislative.
What then becomes Of the constitu-
tional division Of the executive, legis-
]
lative and judicial departments? All
the quasi Legislative power Of the
President is exhausted with the veto.
Whence does Grant derive his claim to
act upon questions which should be
decided by the legislative branch Of
TIE Government" These are serious
questions for patriots who seek to pre-
serve our free institutions.
Again, this threat Of interference In
Arkansas is inconsistent even with
Grants Louisiana policy. In regard
to the latter be told Congress that their
~non-action would leave matters in
statu qUo-that he would continue the
policy he had previously followed.
According to this logic, non.actiOn by
Congress would leave Garland in power
as it left Kellogg, and would be a neg
ative endorsement of Grants non-in-
reference in Arkansas as it was Of his
active bayonets in Louisiana. But
Grant is progressing, and now he
threatens that if Congress does not act
he viii assume the functions Of both
Congress and President.
Few will fail t. see in this bold, bad
message the second step in the Radical
programme Of Southern reconstruction
to secure a third term, It's issuance
indicates a determination to place Ar
kansas in the same helpless plight as
Louisiana. Tbs Outrage Committee
viii furnish cur Judge Legislature
President-and COMMANDMENT Chief, all
in one. with excuses for upsetting the
autonomy of Alabama. Other States
must be made to follow suit, and so
drilled that their electoral votes shall
be counted for Grant. They are need
ed 20 cOunterbalance OBJECTIONS in the
North. Force in the South and fraud
in the North, wherever practicable, is
the third term programme. Let the
people understand it, so they may pre-
pare as best they can. Forewarned is
forearmed.
4 CURIOUS PARALLEL.