Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-03-22
Are the Americans a Nation !

diana, and afterwards on Mr. Cox S re-
solutions, Is particularly significant in
view OF the approaching Presidential
campaign. 1t was al authoritative de-
! finltion Of the status Of the two great
parties OF the country on the vital is
sue of natIonalisnl, which was involved
in the secession Of the Southern States
and fought out in the War Of the Re-
belllon. | may be said that Mr.. Ba-
ker forced vote in tie House OH this
question IN party spirit. But, even
admitting that be did, and that he was
actuated by no higher motive than that
OF contfibatlbg % the political welfare
OF he party of which he is a member,
still it must he admitted not only that
be was justified in bis course, but also
that 1t was a timely and iin nyortant
movsmeaF. 1t Is proper that there
should be no concealm2nt Of the real
Intention OF the parties with regard to
this great question. 1t is essential
that the peapie o. this ceuntry should
know whether the issue Of natonalism
was defaitely settled by the War, or
whether there still exists a formidable
sentiment and numerons party which
hold to the deplorsble iaIIacy of Cal
hounism Perhaps no airer test could
be made Of The real sentiment of par
ties on this subject than by taking
vote In the popular branch Of Con-
gress on clear statement Of the case
Mr.. Baker, as We happen to knew, has
given the subject considerable thought
and has vital interest in it. The re-
solution which he introduced is an ex-
celient digest of the position of the
Republican party, which it took and
maintained during the war, and which
it is not likely to abandon aftera strug-
gle CT several years thas involved the
loss OF hundreds OF thousands CT lives
and thousands of millions CT dollars.
The introdUcJiou Of his resolution af-
torded an opportunity of obtaining an
expression OF the parties on concise
and Intelligent statement Of the case.
The phraseolt gy adopted by Mr.. Baker
is so we'll considered that it will bear
repeating here. It reads:
RcsolUed, That the people OF the
United States constitute one nation,
| and not mere conlederacy Of States
or nations; that the CONSTITUTION was
formed by the people acting in their
primary and individual capacity,
through their delegates thereto duly
constituted; hat the Government un-
der the Constitution is one Of the peo-
pie: by the people, and for the people,
and that i'll its appropriate sphere the
Government OF this nation is sovereign
aud supreme; that in its nature it is
permanent and indissolubie, except by
the action aud consent Of the whole
people; that no state has any right cr
authority to Judge Of the constitution
a ~ OF toe laws enacted by Congress-
o 70 nulilfy the execution Of the same,
and that al overt acts by any state Or
le le- thereof. OF secession theretrom
Or from rebellion against the same
constitute treason, and that the late
War of the Rebellion for the dismem-
berment Of the Union was causeless
and indefensible Oh any theory OF right
or ct constitutional law.
This resolution was like BON bshell
thrown among the Democrats acd Con-
federates. 1t created confusion and
dismay. The Northern wing tried to
eyade it altogether at first by an ad-
jonrnment, but this failed They then
took refuge in the weak and reprehen-
sible division into Northern Democrats
and Southern Confelerates. The
Northern Democrats did not dare to
vote against it, and would not vote for
it, SO they lodged or abstained from
voting. The Confederates were true
to the ''lost cause" aud voted solidIy
against it. The Republicans unani-
mously sustained Mr.. Baker, and the
vote stood 81 yeas to u nays; bat. as
it included a suspension Of the rules
requiring a two-thirds vote, it failed Of
adoption. The Chicago Congressman,
Caulfeld and Harrison, did not vote
with their Confederate brethren, but
followed the lead of Morrison and the
other Northern Democrats, and refused
to vote. There was nothing in the re-
solution to excite any special opposi-
ticn from those who pretend to be con-
servatiye Upion Democrats. Itsmply
declared that the nation in its appro-
pirate sphere is sovereign and supreme,
and antagoniZed the State Sovereignty
principle underlying secession. No man
pretending to believe in tie only pytn-
ciple CT the Union by which it can be
maintained forever indiyisihle could
vote against this declaration, and yet
the Northern Democrats refused to
vote for it, aud among them Caulfeld
and Harrison, of this county.
The necessity was felt of taking
action Immediately which would coun-
teract to some extent the impression
the Democratic lodging was sure to
| leave on tho countrv ond n w. &c