Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-01-27
NR. fuckers SPEECH. J.

oPPooiF't' % tHe ON, ana SAID That 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 consideration. What was, proposed
to be celebrated thls.ceptennial year?
Was 1t proposed to have a material
exhibition only, or was it to be an ex
hibiiion worthy Of the great moral
principles that were to be illustrated
by the anniversary OF indcpendt nee? In
his view there were three great princi-
pies that underlay the Declaration; of
Independence. These were the nrfnci~
pie Of individual liberty, the principle
of local government in the struggle
against centralized power.and the prin-
clple iot the exemption OF American
destiny from the controlling influence of
European politics,
He would unite in celebrating the
centennial anniversary GA these three
principles. Let him see that the iber-
ty of the citizens was secure against
arbitrary power, that the freedom and
independeuce-what Chief Justice
Chase terms the anat,ny-of the
States was safe against the arbitrary
usurpation OF federal power, and thas
American destiny was TO be guided
alone by its own policy and be free
from the Interference of European policy.
Then there would be indeed centrn-
NAL anniversary. The spirit of the
centennial was obedience to the consti-
tuition. The greatest invention of
American genius had been left out Of
view entirely-and that was the abso-
lutte suboEdiaation ssof governmental
power to the rigid, ihfexible, unbend
ing rule of the constitution. Mr..
Tucker then proceeded to argue against
the constitutionality Of the pending
measure.
Mr.. Hoar, of Massachusetts. premis.
! ing that he had been very much inter-
ested in the gentleman's able and clear
statement, asked him whether, when
the constitution delegated to Congress
certain national powers, including the
! taking of a national attitude toward a
foreign nation, it did not intend that
such expenditures for ornament, for
national dignity, as were usual TO ma
tions welding those powers, should be
made by Congress And was not the
celebration of the centennial once in a
hundred years one of those property
attendant and implied expenditures
Mr.. Tucker asked the gentleman to
point out to him where the word ''na
tlonal' in respect to power, or any,
thing else occurred In the constitution,
and declared there was no such thing
i'll the constitution Gas claimed by Mr.
Hoa) to levy war; there is power to
declare war, and to raise and support
armies, In answer to the deelaratiot.
of Mr.. Lawrence that the word nation.
al was in the minds of the men who
made the constitution Mr.. Tucker said:
''The men did not make il, no one man
made it, and the federal convention did
not make it. If the gentleman wishes
to know who made it, say with great
empfasis) the States made it." Sensa-
ton.
In the further course Of his remarks,
speaking of George Washington, Mr..
Tucker remarked that George Wash-
ington was the first great rebel il the
country, and he ventured to say to The
gentleman from Ohio, (Mr. Garfeld,)
who spoke the other day about perjury,
that George Washington was in the
view of the law perjured rebel, for he
was an officer in his majesty's army,
and he (Ar Tucker) took it for grant
ed that he swore to support the crown
and then went into rebellion.
Mr. GarEeld-Did he hold a COM
mission in the British army at the
time of the revolution?
Mr.. Tucker.-No, sir.
Mr.. Garfield. Then l think he did
not commit perjury.
Mr. ucker.-Then yon claim that
his oath only lasted SO long as he held
his commission.
Mr. Garfield. 1t ceased when his
commission expired.
Mr.. Tucker.-But he resigned.
Mr.. Garfield He did not resign.
Mr.. Tucker He did resign.
Mr. Garfield. He was an officer at
the time.
Mr.. Tucker-Why the gentleman
does not know the history of his own
country, Laughter.
Mr.. Garfield Did he resign to take
service against the crown?
Mr.. Tucker. mo that is another
thing.
Mr.. Garfield He was trying to get
service in Great Britain before the war
and failed.
Mr.. Tucker-He resigned, and then
he took service in the rebellion. When
the gentleman was speaking of men of
the South the other day he spoke of
those who resigned and afterwards took
service on the Confederate side.
Mr.. Garfield did not speak of
those who, having resigned, took ser-
vice, but spoke of those who, being
still under their oath, contemptuously
violated it and struck against us.
Mr.. Tucker. If you had so qualified
your phraseology l should not have
interrupted you the other day, for l
know Of no such person. The reason
wtiyl interrupted the gentleman the
other dav was that I represent on this
floor district and little town where
sleeps the remsirs of one of the noblest
Americans who ever trod this soil
(meaning Robert E. Leg He sleeps
in death, and no dishonor can ever by
implication or expression be throw;, on
that honorable grave that the represene
tative from that district will not rise
here and repel. Sensation and some
applause
Mr. Tucker then proceeded with his