The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-16

!hs ,n,ssty and psT%9sneney Of rspSSssn govern
g That ancient and modern history unite in declaring
s Il
inevitably end at last in the arbitrary and despouc gov
Ths. We tender our sincere sympathy to the people
y a2 sse
eire umstances and assure them that win do tnat
to an The people the maintenance Of their just and
that we iondiy anticipate, with better understand
country have accepted the to the
That ws hail with gratitude and delight that
SS win
and administer their own laws
The reading Of the second resolution was re-
The have The nsa aIa 's 80
to you one who wears name long honored in the
history Of Massachusetts: himself soldier in the
service In the State OF Louisiana, Samuel N. Quincy.
GENERAL QUINcY's SPEECH.
General QUINCY said that the echoes OF the guns
OF Sumter had barely echoed INTO air before the
citizens rallied to the defence OF the country and
tnev had as quickly eatnered again Sp to protest
against an Interference with their liberty. He
hoped they came not as partisans, hut to express
dices. lie could not join IN tie ' severe ' ae.
nunclations which had been passed upon
had served. 1t had been his misfortune once since
the close OF the war to lead column OF federal
odyOuctS uILuScu ukdtu6b Tue new OTleduB mOD
and police engaged IN work OF assassi nation
and massacre. In other words, he marched the
suppression OF the Conyention, riot and slaughter
OF July, 1866, and he served as member OF the
military commission appointed to investigate the
same.
Mr.. GRAY then introduced John Quincy Adams
as one well known to them by personal presence
as well as hereditary names.
SPEECH OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
Mr. ADAMS was received with warm round OF
applause and proceeded TO address the assembly.
He opened by deprecating any feeling of partisan
ship In connection with the subject, and afrrmed
OF any party, but clrizens OF the United States
He rected at length the circumstances attending
attn OF January. the organization with a legal
quorum, the election OF conservative Speaker,
the swearing IN Of Ave
election from the Returning Board. The
organization was purely political contest,
more than had been witnessed in many States OF
the Union, and the House OF representatives of
sentative Of the people. At THIS time a general
offlcer OF the United States, accompanied by SOL
ders MAJ, marched INTO the hall snd producing an
force. the five members who mad just been seated
by the House. 1t Is just at this point. said Mr..
Adams that l wish to arrest your atten ton. Do
not permit yourselves TO be diverted from this
precise point by any defamation or sophistry.
What right had soldiers OF the United States TO
determine who should sit in the Legislature Of
slater 1t Is nothing to tell me thai political pas
slons ran high IN the State 1t is nothing TO aver
that many persons had been frightened as the
previous elecLion. 1t Is lmmaterial n true that
much violence or crime, arising from political pas
sion or prejudice OF race, prevailed in the
community nor Is 1t to tue purpose even that
the 1--WE members had been seated Dy a surprise
and voted In haste. Let 1t be granted, and Still
ask, ''Wnat right had the United States soldiers to
pass upon the election. qualifications and the re-
here was usurpation. The constitution permits
federal interference AZ the appeal OF the EXecu-
convened;n out in this case the Legislature was
actually sitting. But 1t was not merely plain
violation OF the letter OF the fundamental law.
OF excuse and Justification: There Is no renuncla-
tion OF the very thought Of sucn usurpation. The
tone OF the Message is more menacing than the
deed 1t attempts to palllate. The incident we
deplore to-day Is but . symptom, and sucn must
occur until the radically false relations now exist
ing between the government OF the United
States and some OF the States Is
IN te
pendent STATES; Tree to come IN or not, and the
central conception was that the general govern
ment was the creation OF the States, not they the
servants OF tho central government; but III con-
sequence OF ~ war .ti conquered states were
eminent in the world. After tlme where oppor-
tunlty was given. state after State threw or It's
afairs IN the hands OF the competent and intel.
gent classes out in several ll-starred States, and
ana the enormous preponderance III numbers of
the freedmen and TIE facility with which their
natural Tears permitted tnem to be led by crafty
and designing adventurers, seemed to postpone
Indefinitely the restoration OF an honest and
able administration OF the public trust
but snch IS the inherent force OF the
republican principle that 1t became daily
more clear that the powers OF management,
struggle they would, even tually fall before
the growing force OF public opinion within and
without those States. Ihis inevitable struggle Is
going on, must go on, and under q republican
tlonal methods, under the guidance of an intelli-
gent and an honest pubic opinion, 1t can end
only In the overthrow OF such governments as
that OF the State OIL Louisiana, because 1t Is not
upheld by the effective public opinion OF the COM
it are to be maintained by force of the United
States arms against all legal efforts OF the people
DO geI rS I one mas
made, and 1t must be speedily followed by others
more stringent and effective. Did it never occur
to you that the same process OF reasoning or eel-
ing when now induces you in moment Of ex-
element TO oppose plain violation Of
majority. tempted and excited as You are,
TO accept corresponding violation OF the
saiee guards upon which alone you can rely 10 pro-
tect the freedmen from an outrage similar to
that which we now contemplate. Do you think
there wlll be less temptationS Then count the
venrlon and estimate the power which they must
WELD in the party councils. do not believe that
that you render IL almost irresistible when you set
them so seductive an example OF successful usurp-
never contemplated that the United States should
sys5ematicSay maln'ain and prescribe govern.
of e De-
usurpatlon OF Charles the FIRST and OF Cromwell
and declared That the logical and inevitable re-
suit OF tendency in the public mind to pass
lightly over that which has been done in Louisiana
Is TO concentrate and confirm dominion
In the general government which VIII sooner
or later absorb all Independence OF the States.
This arbitrary act may &c defended on the ground
that 1T seems to tend to the security Of the black
race; but this stretch or prerogatve IN his benaf
does MIN Infinite injury. The great revolution in
public eeling with regard to the conservatives in
Louisiana OF late has sprung frJm sympathy with
their sufferlDg s and admiration OF the patience
with which they have borne them. Massachusetts
would not nave borne the same. Let 1t not be
erected into a precedent, for 1t is a precedent
which, as George washington tells you, has always
proved fatal TO republican government such
precedents you have seen mark like miestones
the broad ana easy way which leads TO Rome.
We stand wnere the ways part. Adopt this act OF
the army IN Louisiana and we have passed the
first milestone on our way to empire. On the
other nand stretches the rough ana dificUlt path
which our fathers trod My friends let us stand
fast IN the Old way, to the end that the consti-
tuition oil Massachusetts, hath II, 'To the end that
1t may DC O government or laws, and not OF men,"
Mr. Adams speech was frequently applauded,
and, the course OF It's delivery Wendell Philips