Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-01-28
THE SENTINEL.
The American Centennial.

public meeting at this place, professedly
called TO reform abuses in the expenditure OF
public money, that there is no authority in
the Constitution of the United States, or in
the Constitution of this State for appropra-
ting public money to the centennial ceehra-
ton of American liberty, SO called, aud that
no such appropriation ought 10 be made.
This resolution was quietly smolhered TO
death. But had the meeting beer filled with
Democratic hearts, instincts and impulses,
am very s1re The result would have been very
different Since then my views have been so
iucidly, logically and unansweraLly ex-
pressed in Congress by Mr.. Tucker, Of Viz
ginia, that you will confer a, favor on me and
the public by publishing his remarks.
respectfully, W. NElRs BoUic.
Mr. Tucker, of Virginia, spoke in oppose
lion 10 the bill, and said that the pa,h OF duiy
that lay before him in regard 10 this centen-
NAL bill WAS clear it ever was in regard
TO any question that had ever been brought
To his consideration. What was proposed 10
be celebrated in This centennial Year, Was
it proposed TO have a material exhibition
only, or was il 10 lie an exhibition worthy o.
the great moral principles that wtre to be IL
Illustrated by the anniversary Of independence
In his view lhele were three great principles
that uuderlay the declaration OF independence.
These were the principle of individual liher'r,
the principe Of local government in the srug-
gle against centralized power, and the Prncl-
pie OF the exemption of American destiny
from the controlling iifdeute Of European
politics.
lie would unite in celebrating the centca-
na anaiv, rsary on these three principles Let
him see thai The liberty of tue citizen Was
secure against arbitrary power, that the free
dom aud indepencence-w hat Chief Justice
Chase terms the nnutomy-of the States was
safe against the arbitrary usurpation OF Ieder-
al power and that American destiny was to
be guided alone by its own policy aud be Tree
from the interference of European policy
Then there would he indeed centennial an
adversary. The spirit of the centennial was
obedience to the constitution. The greatest
invention Of Amercan genius had been left
out OF ew entrely--and that was the abso-
lutte subordination Of government power to
she rigid, iHrxibe uabending rule Of the con-
sitution. Mr.. Tucker proceeded 10 argue
against the constitutionalty Of The pending
measure.
Mr. Hoar, of Massachusetts,, promising that
he hal been very much Interested in the gen
eman's able aud clear statement asked him
whether when the constitution delegated 10
Congress certain national powers, including
tut ldhlilR Oi II hdllOhA1 HNiltuue lONdIu a.
foreign nation, it did not intcnd thai such
expenditures for ornament, for national digDi-
~, were usual to nations welding those
pow ers, should he made by Congress? And
not the celebrations Of the centennial
once in Il hundred wears one of those ilUper-
Iy attendant and implied expenditures?
Mr.. Tucker nsked The gentleman 10 point
ont to him where The word ''naliOual' IN re-
spect 10 power, or yihing else occurred in
he en- and der II ed there
euch thing IN the constitution las claimed 10y
Mr.. Hoar to levy war there is power to
declare war, and to raise aud support armies
In answer 10 the declaration OF Mr. Lawrence
that the word 'natienal" in the minds
of the men who made the Constitution Mr..
TUckeT said The men did not make il
one man made it, and the federal conyeh-
lion did not make il. 1t the gentleman wishes
IL know who made it, | say tHlih great
emphasis) The States made it. Sensation
In the further course OF his rematks, speak
ing OF George Washington, Mr. Tucker re-
marked that George Washington WIS tie firsi
great rchel in the county, and he veniured
20 say to tie gentleman from Ohio, MIR.
Garfield who spoke the other day about
l,eriury that George Washington was III The
tIew of the law II perjuied rebel, for he was
officer in his mnFsty's army, aud he Mt.
THcker) took it for granted that hr swore 10
support The crown and thea vent into l.
bclliun.
Mr. Garfield. Did lac hold Il commission in
the British army at lie time Uf The revolution?
Mr.. Tucker No, sir.
Mr. Garfield Then | think he Gid not
commit perjury.
Mr. Tucker -Theu voU claim that his oath
only lasted so lon, as he held his omission
Mr. Garfield 1t cetsed hen his COMM :
sion expired.
Mr. Tucker -Bur he resigned
Mr. Garfield lie did not resign.
Mir. Tucker Tie did resign
Mr. Garfield lie was not an officer ut the
time
Mr.. Tnckcr-Why the gentleman does not
know the history of his own country.
laughter
Mr. Garfield Did he resign 10 take ser
vice against the crown2
Mr. Tucker-Oh no; that is another
thing.
Mr. Garfield lie was irving to get ser
vice in Great Britain before he war and failed.
Mr. Tucker .--lle esighed, aud then he
took service in the rebellion. When the gen
tIemnn was Speaking of men of the South the
other day he spoke of those who resigned
and after wards took service on the Conieder-
ale side.
Sir Garfield i did not speak of those who
having resigned, took service. but spoke OF
those who. being still under their oath, con
temptuously violated aud struck against US,
Mr. Tucker If YOU had So qualified your
phraseoiog} should not have interrupted you
the other day, for know Of no sach person.
The reason why | interrupted The gentleman
the other day was that represent on this floor
Il district and little town v here sleeps The re-
mains of one Of the nubesi Americans who
ever trod this soil (meaning Robert Lee.
lie sleeps in death, and no dshonOr can ever
by implication or expression be thrown on
that honorable grave that the representative
from that district VIII sot rise here and repel.
[Sensation and some applause
Mr.. Tucker then proceeded with his nTgn-
ment, in the course Of which be quoted the
gentleman from New York, Mr. Hewitt, say
ing yesterday thai the government was con
fessedly an educator OF the country, and com
menting on it he said Confessed by whom?
never confessed it; | not only do not
fess it, but deny it IN TITO. deny that this
government can intruae on the control Of the
common school OF each State Of the Union.
deny that this government can go into our
common school system in the States and up-
turn it according 10 the views OF members Of
Congress here who know nothing in the
world about it," Laughter
Mr. Tucker then went on to say: This
government land beg my democratic friends
10 remember III has mission except to exc
cute its power and to perform its dniy under
and ia suhectiOn 10 the supreme law Of the
land-the constitution of the county
TSpoken with strong emphasis and great
effect Show me either the power 10 pass
this bill or that this bill is essential to carry
out power conferred and will vote for it
hut otherwise before God and my country,
cannot vote for it. The only limit 10 the
growing corruption Of the country is IA lim-