Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-05-21
Democracy Means Civil War.

The outcrv against Capitalization In the
National Government has never been raised
in behalf Of popular freedom. It has ALWAYS
come from those most actively engaged in
centrahzlng the State Governments.- Worces.
ter Spy.
This is a pregnant fact ISfound H.
lustration in South Carolina in the time
of Jackson, when that State undertook
to nullify the laws of Congress- A State
convention passed an ordinance DENYING
the right of the Federal Government to
collect duties on foreign commodities
imported at the ports of South Carolina,
and pledged the people of the State to
maintain the ordinance cat every haz-
ard" Then followed the threat that any
attempt on the part of the nation to en-
force its revenue laws in South Carolina
would be resisted by the State, the State
taken out of the Union, and its absolute
independence thereof declared and main
tanned. President Jackson nipped the
secession scheme in the bud, and, in his
proclamation issued on that occasion,
showed that the doctrine of States
rights, as interpreted by the Calhoun
stripe of Southern politicians, meant the
absolute destruction of the Union, and
meant nothing else. He showed that the
political zealots of the South, who de-
/
power in the hands of the Government
of the nation, were in fact bent on
centralNing all power in the hands
of the State Governments" The outcry
against Capitalization was next raised
by Democratic leaders when they saw
that the scepter of power was about to
depart from them through the impend
ing defeat of their party. When the
North protested against the further ex
tension of slavery, Southern Democrats
assumed that it was proposed not only
to restrict slavery, but to abolish the in
stitution altogether. Then was pro-
claimed the dogma that piece of the
mantle of State sovereignty was wrapped
round the person of every STAKEHOLDER
who might choose to settle in free terri.
tory with his human chattels, and that
the nation was bound to protect him in
the peaceable possession of his negro
property. 1t is therefore absolutely true
that the outcry against Capitalization
has never been raised in behalf of popu-
lar freedom" 1t has been raised, on the
contrary, only in behalf Of degree of
State independence entirely incompati-
bic with the very existence of the Union.
1t has been used only to strengthen the
GRIP GlsR R8tuitehe y slaaYXeholder upon the souls
been deprived of life, liberty OF PROP.
| erty through cenJraIlAaUao.-s ~. ~
cept shareholders and their deluded
satraps, who raised their hands against
the Government which protected them
in all their rights, not even excepting the
right to hold property in man.
What, then, is the logic of the re-
assertion of the doctrine of States rights
by the Democrats of to-day? We an
swer: /. 1t is an assault upon the integ-
rlty of the Union. 2. 1t is menace to
the American idea of popular freedom.
3. 1t is threat of the virtual re-enslave-
ment of the colored race. If the States
are independent sovereignties the nation
is nothing but league. subject to be
broken at the pleasure of any one of its
members. The war settled this ques-
ton. 1t may be said that war is force
and that no legal question can be deter
mined by force. But sovereignty is q
political question and all political ques
tions too knotty for the ballot must bt
settled by the bullet and the bayOnet
1t follows that an appeal having beer
, taken from the ballot IN the bullet an(
reasserti0n Of the distinctive dogmi
q which brought about the appeal is a nel
threat Of mar. This is the exact attitude
of the Democratic party of the countr,
to-day. 1t renews the political contes
which eliminated in civil war less thai
fifteen years ago. 1t reasserts the dogmi
. of States rights, which led straight to
a war waged for the destruction of tn
Union. Is it not then an assault upol
= the integrity of the Union? And will
the people support such political PAL
:. ty9 What is the American idea of pop
q ular freedom? 1t was laid down in tn
f Declaration of independence:
g We hold these truths to be self-evideRt
q that all men are created equal; that they ar
= endowed by their Creator with certain mailer
Il able rights; that among these are life, libert
: and the pursuit of happiness.
The doctrine of States rights, as inter
Il u preted by Calhoun and JEFF. Davis an
. their followers, and fought for by tn
y armies of the Confederacy, denied thes
d self-evident" truths. Does its reassel
NJ u tion by the Democratic party mean an,
?, thing less than like denial? Is not i
" reassertion, then, menace to the Amer
le N can idea of popular freedom? The log
~ cal conclusion is that the ascendency
- the Democratic party in national atfai
y means the virtual reinstatement OF IL
.es colored race in this country. We do NJ
VI go so far as to assert that actual rec
% slavement will be attempted, but 0trtlL
ie reinstatement. HowP Through di
u u eliminating State statues-labor Law
IN and criminal laws recognizing an in
"a quality in civil rights between black al
Az white citizens, discriminating laws {
le the subject of education, and finally di
Vi eliminating laws on the subject of pol
., ical rights. All these have been abu
~ dantly foreshadowedi in several Southe
10 States.
Ia Let citizens reflect, then, that the Of
US cry against centralization in the n
Iss tional Government is raised by the De
VI Ocratic party nOlo, as it was raised
lTe, that party during Jackson's administ
nf ton and during Buchanan's administ
- tion; that it was suppressed in the n
~ W instance by the uncompromising attitu
of Andrew Jackson, man OF unqu
l toned patriotism, Of military skill a
VIZ experience, of iron will, and Of ener
equal to every emergency; but that
~ - the second instance, through the cowa
.ko iN ice of James Buchanan and the corr
.Do ton of his followers, the country v
l1 les permitted to drift into war. Who dou
.no 4I that, with the Democratic party
sh' power, the emergency of threstened '
IN will again be presented to the Ameri'
ns peOplep Who believes that the DeI
VI cratic party will elevate to the Pr
G GnA dency second Jackson? Is it not mi
,;I more prODhDle Jndt, III Ihe eNSh1
WI WI Democratic national triumph, some {
tns ven like Buchanan will sit in the ehail
anu the Chief Executive? Are the Ameri
ely people prepared to take this risk, "
lMCn M ali that it impliesS 1t is quest
'ule which comes home to the heart and
al a. pocket of every citizen. 1t is not a m
pc question whether this or, that pOlit
way party shall direct for four years the (
non non TIMES of the nation, 1t is nota quest
ne whether this or that ambiti
loI1 statesman shall rise to supr'
lnu u executive authority. 1t is a. q
N u ton of life or death-life
egs' death to proud nationality; ques
ool whether our fathers were mere enth
boo and ennaI goyarpment and counted
sev' virtuous and freedom-loving posterit.
ooI' preserve and perpetuate the price
us hOOnI To hermit the Democratic pa