Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-01
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Whenever mention is made of the con-
sequences that would follow the INSTALL
ment of the democracy in complete pow
er at Washington, the democrats trea. the
matter with affected contempt. Senator
Morton made some plain remarks upon
this subject, for which he has been very
roundly abused in the democratic papers.
The Argus speaks of it as an attempt to
scare. and says everything has been fixed
by constitutional amendment so that there
can be no danger whatever.
We fancy that Senator Morton knows
as well what is in the constitution as the
Argus or any other democratic authority,
and understands that that instrument may
be defed and broken by those who deny
the legality of the amendments. He has
a reputation as a statesman which would
suffer did he talk simply to scare. Mr.
Morton by ability. knowledge, position.
character, is above misrepresenting the
constitution. or exciting alarm among the
people without what he believed to be good
cause. Seeing that the next House is to
| be governed by the rebel democracy and
that the democratic party in the North is
wheeling into line on the olfState Sow
ereignty platform, there is good reason
that the republican party should be awake
and informed as to the true condition of
affairs.
Mr. Morton is not alone among repuo-
lican Senators in his declaration of dan
ger. All OF them realize the situation and
understand the facts as he does. Senator
Anthony of Rhode Island, a man noted
for candor, honesty and intelligence.
speaks as follows in the Providence Jour
nal: ...
The damages claimed by distin-
guished rebel of Louisiana against
General Sheridan, for property seized
while he was in command in that State
are to the modest sum of over $780,
600. Already the democrats have the
power in the national House ofRepre-
sentatives, and of their majority con-
trolling number were in the rebel SER
vice. Give them the full power. let
the party which sympathized with the
rebellion, or which is controlled by
those WHO sympathized with it have
The rule ia AID s5s departments Of the
government, and sreFy I4a who has
@Hergils,sa the authority cf the union,
60 ifse damage u Ia ene1ies, would
be Liable 10 is'rsssssg suits and be
CON PEELED 10 defend. al his own cost
and perhaps at bis own peril, the or
ders which he executed by military
authority.
And this is the logical consequence
of the principle maintained by those
who govern in the democratic party.
They hold that what we call the re-
bellion was only an attempt to secure
their just rights, none the less .justifi-
able because it was unsuccessful, borne
down by tyrannical power, that the
constitutional amendments are not
binding. because they were not legal
ly adopted, that all the laws to secure
equality of rights are invalid, because
their warrant is found only in these
illegal amendments, and that the whole
constitutional amendments and con-
gressional acts, should be swept from
the statute book They hold that the
emancipation ofthe slaves took private
property for the public use, and that
nnder the constitution, compensation
is due to the slave owners. We have
no reason to doubt that they entertain
these opinions honestly and we are
quite sure that if the opportunity is
afforded to them, they will manifest
their faith by their works. 1t is for
the people who put down the rebellion
to say If they will allow the principles
of the rebellion to be inaugurated after
the arms of the rebellion have been
put down."