Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-05-27
Democracy Means Civil War.


cestralzng the State Governments-W orces-
ter Spy.
This is a pregnant fact. 1t found IL
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
tla 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 at every haz-
ard" Then followed the threat that any
attempt on the part of the nation to en-
force it's revenue laws in South Carolina
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 zealo,s of the South, who de-
claimed against the Capitalization of
power in the hands of the Government
of the nation, were in fact bent on
centralizing all power in the hands
of the State Governments The cutlery
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
stituton 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 MS human chattels, and that
the nation was bound to protect him in
che peaceabe possession of his negro
property. Il 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-
BILE with the very existence of the Union.
1t has been used only to strengthen the
grip of the stakeholder upon the souls
and bodies Of human beings. Who has
been deprived of life, liberty or prop
erty through Capitalization? None, ex-
Cept shareholders and their deluded
satraps, who raised their hands against
the Government which projected them
III 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; J. 1t is an assault upon the integ-
rity OF the Union .. 1t is menace to
the American idea of popular freedom,
3. IL Is threat Of the virtual re.enslaye.
ment of the colored race. If the States
are Independent sovereignties the nation
is nothing but Il league, subject to be
broken at the pleasure of any one of its
members. The war settled this ques-
iion, 1t may be said that war is force
YId that no legal question can be deter
named by force. But sovereignty is
political question and all political ques-
lions too kno,ty for the ballot must be
settled by the bullet and the bayonet.
Il follows that an appeal having been
taken from the ballot to the bullet and
the hayonct, and the appeal decided, a
feassorton OF the distinctive dogma
which brought about the appeal is Heic
threat Of mar, This is the exact attitude
of the Democratic party of the country
to-day. IL rencwS the political contest
which eliminated in civil war less than
fifteen years ago, 1t rcasserts the dogma
OF States rights, which led straight TO a
war waged for the destruction OF the
Union. Is it not then an assault upon
the integrity of the Uniong And Will
the people support such a political par
tyg What Is the American idea of pop
ulag freedomg II was laid down in the
Declaration OF Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-cyidert:
that aN men are created equal; that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain iualicn-
shlc tights; that among these are life, liberty
and The pursuit OF happiness.
The doctrine Of States rights, as inter
prctcd by Calhoun and jeff Davis and
their followers, and fought for by the
armies OF the Confederacy, denied tuCSc
solt.eyident" truths Does its reasser-
ton 10y the Democratic party mean any,
thing less than like denial? Is not It's
reas5ertlon, then, menace TO the Amerj
can idea of popular freedoms The logi-
cal conclusion is that the asceudcncy OF
the Democratic party IN national affairs
means the virtual reinstatement OF the
colored race in This country. We DO not
40 80 far as 80 assert that gctUal re-Cn.
s.aycmeut WIN be attempted, but giltHF
re-opSl8ycmcpl iowy Through dis.
eliminating state statueS-luhor law,
and criminal laws recognizing an inc
quality ia civil rights between black en-.
white citizens, discriminating laws ou
the subject of education, and finally dis
eliminating laws on the subicg, of po,it.
ical rights. All these have been album
dainty iuyeshadowcd in several Southern
States.
Let citizens reflect, then, that the cu.
90. ..-uLn ~ IN. 80 i,nttnn ~ IL "