The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-09-21
Democratic Contingencies.


Irrom inc lnicaRO Inter. Ocean.J
Let us suppose, for the sake Of %illustra-
tion, a sweeping triumph for the Demo.
cratic party next November, and Tilden and
Hendricks inaugurated, on the next 4th of
March. Then the Southern politicians
would claim and take control Of the party
machinery, and direct the policy OF the
Government, on the strong plea that the
South had supplied the bulk Of the %victori-
GUS vote In the electoral colleges.
II Is quite easy TO outline some Of the
probable consequences Of such a leadership.
So soon as practicable, u reorganization Of
the Supreme Court Of the United States
would take place, In order to give effect to
the views Of the Southern section. A SUI
icient change In the membership OF the
Court might be brought about by the en-
ployment of two devices: First, by the
passage OF a law to place on the retired list
bracing a portion Of the personnel as II now
exists; second. by charging the number Of
Judges. This duplex method would enable
the Democrats to rec0nstitule the Court so
that 1t could be relied Upon to decide, In
some test case, that the amendments to the
Constitution since the close Of the War
had been unconstitutionally ratified,
and so were without legitimacy or binding
force az part Of the organic law Of the land.
A judicial decision like that, reached
through established and recognized forms
OF action, would at once reopen for discuss
" V'sh' VI NV fhhbtt Nat tssuNs Ftt-
tied by the War and by the legislation OF
Congress-; such, for instance, rs compensa-
ton for slave property, assumption OF the
rebel debt 10y the General Government, aid
the payment OF claims arising out of the de-
VISITATION caused by the march and battles Of
the Union armies throughout the South.
There Is no telling where the reopened con-
troyersy would end. 1t assuredly would
contain the elements OF q tremendous con-
hict OF the most ardent passions that can
agitate the hearts and minds Of human be-
ings. Loyal sentiment would be atlronted,
aroused and embittercd. Any attempt to
push the decisions Of the Supreme Court
into acts Of legislation would inilame the
whole country to a frenzy OF excitement,
through the resulting antagonisms OF
SR1"'o people,. W Mea s,nesent Of ''i iass,IoS q,
intended to realize the deductive
fruits Of the judicial decision, would GER
tIinly be resisted in the North, and that,
too, while the taxing power, the Army, the
Navy and the whole machinery of the Ma
tional Government would be under the un-
%scrupulous control Of the Democracy, guild
ed In policy by the Southern politicians. II
President and Congress should persist In
their mad scheme, under all the circum-
stances, we do not see how q collision be-
tween North and South could be avoided.
Then we would have that condition OF affairs
which Ben Hill declared, In q speech ut At
lauta, the Democrats intended to bring
about-a rebellion against national authority
with the South at the head Of the Govern
ment. "Then,'' said he, ''the cases will
be reversed; the Northerners will he the
rebels. and the South will be the loyalists."
That is what he STYLED ~''hghting the battles
Of the South within the Union.'
The picture we have painted Is not over.
colored. Such contingencies lie in the near
future. They may be promoted by voting
fur Tilden and Hendricks; they may be
blotted out Of the possibilities Of the coming
years by electing Hayes and Wheeler.