The Portland daily press., 1876-01-20

These were the principle OF individual liberty,
the principle of local government in the strug-
gle against centralized power and the principle
of the exemption of American destiny from the
influence of European politics He
would unite in celebrating the centennial an
niversary on these three principles. Let him
see that the liberty Of the citizen was secure
against arbitrary power, that this freedom and
independence what Chief Justic, Chase termed
the anatomy OF the states was safe against the
arbitrary usurpation OF federal power, that
American destiny was to be guided alone by it's
own policy and be free from the interference of
European policy, then there would be ndee1 o
anniversary. The spirit of the GEN.
tennial was obedient TO the constitution. The
greatest invention of American genius had
been left out OF view entirely, and that was the
absolute subordination of governmental power
to the rigid, intlexible, unbending rule of the
Mr.. Tucker then proceeded to argue against
the constltutonality of the pending measure.
To questions by Messrs. Hoar and Lawrence,
Tucker said the word national was not in
the constitution.
Lawrerce-It was in the minds of the men
who made the constitution.
Tucker-The men did not make il. No one
man made it, apd the federal convention did
not make it. ii the gentleman wishes to know
who made it, say with great emphasis) the
states made it. (Sensation.) In the further
course OF his remarks, speaking of George
wv
in the country, and be ventured to say TO the
gentleman from Ohio (Gartield) who spoke the
other day about perjury that George Washing
ton was in the view of the law perjured rebel
for he was an officer in His Majesty's army, and
he (Tucker) took it for granted that he swOre
to support the crown and then went into re-
bellion.
Mr. Garfield-Did he hold a commission in
the British army at the time of the revolution?
Tucker-No, sir.
la M. 4
nit perjury.
Tucker-Then you claim that his oath only
lasted as long as he had his commission.
Z Gar6eld-It ceased when his commission
expired.
Tucker-But he resigned.
Gartield-He did not resign.
Tucker-He did resign.
Garfeld-He was not officer at the time.
Tucker-Why, the gentleman does not know
the history OF his own country. (Laughter.)
Garfield-Did he resign to take service agalpst
the crown? He was trying to get service IN
Great Britain before the war and failed.
Tucker-He resigned and then he took SER
vice in the rebellion. When the gentleman
was speaking of men of the South, the other
day, he spoke of those who resigned and after.
wards took service on the Confederate side.
Garfield did not speak Of those who hay-
ing resigned took service, but spoke of those
who, being still under their oath, contemptu.
ously violated 1T and struck against u.s.
Tucker-L you had so qualified your phrase
ology; should not have interrupted you the
other day, for know no such person. The
reason why interrupted the gentleman the
other day is that represent on this floor dis
trict and little town where sleep the remains
of the noblest American who ever trod this
soil, (meaning Robert e. Lee.) He sleeps in
death, and no dishonor can ever by implication
or expression, be thrown on that honorable
grave that the representative from that district
willnot rise here and repel. (Sensation and some
applause.) -t- r'
3 Mr.. Baker of Indiana asked Mr. Tucker
whether ne deemed that the people of the
United States constituted one nation and that
It's government constituted national govern
ment?
I. Mr.. Tucker said that was not the question.
Baker-Does the gentleman object to an
sweriDg the question? ...=.s'
Tucker-I do, sir, COMPATIBILITY 1 tell the
gentleman that if he supposes there is any
question which he (emphatcaly) can put to me
which should seek to evade, he is vastly mis-
taken.
Baker-I should be glad to have the gentle
man answer me this question.
Tucker-The gentleman cannot get me to
answer unless by my own courtesy.
Baker-Certainly not.
Tucker-And knowing my rights Oh that
point L am not to be led away from the subject
of the discussion to answer what appears to
me to be an idle question in discussion.
Baker-l did not intend to lead the gentle
man away
Mr.. Tucker then proceeded with his arsu-
ment in the course Of which he quoted the gen.
tleman from New York (Hewitt) as SAYING
yesterday that the government was confessedly
an educator of the country, and commenting
on it, he said confessed by whom? I never
confessed it. | not only do not confess it, but
deny it in toto. | deny that this government
can enter on the control of the common
schools of each state of the Union. DENY
that this government can go into our common
school system in the states and upturn it-ac-
cording to the views of the members of Con-
gress here who know nothing in the world
about it. (Laughter.) ..
Hewitt made an explanation which the re-
porter did not catch.
MIR. Tucker then went on to say that the gov
eminent has no mission except to execute its
powers and to perform tssduty under and in
subsection to the supreme law of the land
the constitution of the country Spoken with
strong emphasis and great effect.) Show me
either the power to pass this bill, or that this
and will vote for it. But otherwise before
God and my country cannot vote for it. The
only limit to the growing corruption of the
country is Limitation of the power of the gov
eminent. l believe that the mission of this
government at this time is economy, retrench-
ment and reform. We have reached the time
when it becomes us to put the breaks down. to
call halt on lavish expenditures. If the tax
is only one cent to carry out an unconstitution-
al scheme, | will remember the adage that ''it
is the last straw that breaks the camels back
and | will vote against it. 1t was the mission
of this House and of his political friends to say
that this thing must cease right here and now.
They should immediate on the altar of duty
their sentimental patriotism and go back to
the simple virtues and the economical habits
and customs of their fathers a hundred years
ago. He was in his heart of hearts in favor of
a Centennial appropriation. He had no objec-
tons to showing theprogress which the United
States had made under the impulse of free ms
titutiOns in art or science, in manufactures, in
agriculture, in commerce, in mining and in all
industrial pursuits, although his own state
Jagged behind in those great enterprises for
reasons which he would not more than advert
to- He had no envy of the prosperity Of the
sister states himself, and his associates from
the South knew no motive but the patriotic
one of adv ancing the great interests of the
Union. of conformity to the constitution, and
when the government is restored TO its pristine
purity, when the principles OF the revolution
are reestablished and liberty is proclaimed
throughout the land to every man under the
palladium of the habeas corpus unrepealabie
by an edict of the President, or by an act of
Congress on account of constructive rebel
lion, then shall the time come when we shall
unite with Massachusetts in that splendid close
of Webster's great speech forty years ago.
Constitutional liberty under constitutional
union. Yes, liberty and union, one and jDSep.
cradle, now and forever"
Mr.. fuckers speech created sensation in
the House and admiration of it was literally
bestowed by both sides, Lamar saying it was
the best speech he had ever heard in Congress-
Without action on the bill the committee rose
and at 10 p. ~, the House adjourned
Dominion Board Of Trade.
OTTAWA, JAN 19.-In the Dominion Board
of Trade to-day, Henry Dunning of Quebec,
moved that the British government be urged to
take such measures as they may deem best to
prevent undue interference of the British
Board of Trade surveyors with Canadian ship.
ping.
Mr.. Wilson moved an amendment that the
British government be requested to place Cana
dian vessels on the same footing as the more
favored nations aud that the certificates given
by the Canadian Loyds be recognized in Eng
land.
The amendment was rejected and the origin
al motion carried.
& A motion was made by Mr. Grant and adopt
the islands of the Dominion be connected with
the main land by submarine cables, and that
the government be petitioned for their imme-
diate construction.
The delegates from the National Board of
Trade of the United States, were invited to ad-
dress the convention on the proposed reciprocal
trade between the two countries
Mr.. Henry of New York, first spoke upon the
subject of transportation and thought the peo-
pie of the United States would unite with the
Canadians in enlarging the canals
He urged the construction of the Caughna-
ma f0r Iii of