The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-01-27


alton for the Centennial was before the
House of Representatives last week,
cold-bottomed Old Virginia rebel named
Tucker, aired some of the cardinal doc
trines Of true Democracy.
Here is the report, as telegraphed to
the daily papers:
Mr.. TUCKER Dem }, OF Va, spoke in
opposition to the bill, and said the path
OF duty that lay before him in regard to
this Centennial bill, was as clear as it
ever was in regard to any question that
had ever been brought to his considera-
ton. What was proposed to be celebra-
ted in this Centennial year Was 1t pro-
posed to have a material exhibition only,
or was it to be an exhibition worthy of
great moral principles that were to be
illustrated by the anniversary of our in
dependence In this view there were
three great principles that underlie the
Declaration of Independence. These were
the principles of individual liberty, the
principle Of local government in the
struggle against centralized power, and
the principle of exemption of American
destiny from the controlling influence of
European politics. He would unite in
celebrating the Centennial anniversary
on these three principles Let him see
that the liberty of citizens was secure
against arbitrary power; that freedom
and independence, what ChiefJustice
Chase termed the autonomy Of the State,
was safe against arbitrary usurpation OF
Federal power; and that American des-
tiny was to be guided alone by its own
policy, and be free from the interference
of European policy-then there would be
indeed a Centennial anniversary. The
spirit Of the Centennial was obedient to
the Constitution. The greatest invention
of American genius has been left out OF
the view entirely, and that was the abso-
lutte subordination Of government power
to rigid, lnfexible, unbending rule OF
the Constitution Mr.. Tucker then pro
eeeded TO argue against the constitution
alty of the pending measure.
Mr.. HOAR asked Mr.. Tucker whether
when the Constitution delegated to Con
gress certain National powers, including
the taking of Naaional attitude toward
foreign nations, it didn't intend that
such expenditures for National dignity
as were usual to nations welding those
powers, should be made by Congress.
Mr.. TUCKER asked the gentleman
from Massachusetts, to point out to him
where the word National" in respect to
power or anything else, occurred in the
Constitution.
Mr.. HOAR-The power to levy war,
to conclude peace, to establish commerce,
means a nation in every line where that
power is granted.
Mr.. TUCKER-If that is what the
gentleman calls National power, / under
stand him; but there is no such thing in
the Constitution as power to levy war.
There is a power to declare war and to
raise and support armies.
Mr.. H0AR-And to levy it after it is
declared.
Mr.. TUCKER-That is not in the Con
stitution. The power to create and main
tain a navy, and to make rules for the
regulation of the land and naval service
covers the whole question OF what the
gentleman from Massachusetts, means.
Mr. LAWRENCE (Rep.), of Ohio, call
ed the attention of Mr.. Tucker TO letter
from George Washington, transmitting
the Constitution to Congress, in which
the government is called a National gov
| ernment.
Mr.. TUCKER know it. / admit it
said that the word National" was moi
in the Constitution, and the gentleman
has not found it in it, He finds it outside
of it. That is exactly what | say.
Mr.. Lawrence-It was in the minds o
men who made the Constitution.
Mr.. TUCKER-The men did not make
it. No one man made it, And the Fed
eral Convention did not make it. If the
gentleman wishes to know who made it
| say (with great emphasis) the State
made it. [Sensation.l In the further
course of his remarks, speaking Of Georg'
Washington, he remarked that Georg'
Washington was the first great rebel il
the country, and he ventured to say tn,
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Garfield), wh'
spoke the other day about perjury
thought that George Washington was, il
view of the law, a perjured rebel, for h
was an officer in his majesty's army, AM
he (Tucker) took it for granted that h.
had sworn to support the Crown and thel
went into rebellion.
Mr.. Garfeld-Did heh'old acommissioi
in the British army at the time Of tn
revolution2
Mr.. Tucker-No. sir.
bIr. GARFIELD-Then / think he di,
not commit perjury.
Mr.. .TUCKER-Theny you claim that hi
oath only lasted so long as he held hi
commission.
Mr.. GARFIELD-It ceased when hi
commission expired.
Mr.. TUCKER-But he. resigned.
Mr.. GARFIELD-He did not resign.
Mr.. TUCKER-He did resign.
Mr. GARFIELD-EIe was not an office
at the time.
Mr.. TUCKER-Why, the gentleman
does not know the history of his owl
country. Laughter
Mr.. GARFIELD-Did he resign to tax
| service against the Crown
Mr.. TUCKER-Oh, no; that is anothe
thing.
Mr.. GARFIELD-He was trying to ge
sevirce TO Great Britain before the wa
and waited.
Mr.. TUCKER-He resigned, and the
he took service in the rebellion. Whe
the gentleman was speaking of the mel
Of the South the other day, he spoke O
those who resigned and afterward tool
service on the Confederate side.
Mr.. GARFIELD did not speak o
those whoIhaving resigned. took service
but / spoke of those who, being still un
der oath, contemplatingly violated il
and struck against the United States.
Mr.. TUCKER-If you had so qualifie,
your phraseoiogy l should not have in
terrupted you the other day, for j know
of no such person. The reason why
interrupted the gentleman the other da.
was, that ! represent on this floor a dis
trict and little town where sleep tn
remains of one Of the noblest American
who ever trod this soil (meaning Rober
E. Les) He sleeps in death, and no dis
honor can ever, by implication or express
ion, be thrown on that honorable grav,
that the representative from that dis
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