Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-02-04
CROPPING OUT.

Mr.. Tucker OF Virginia, in speech de-
livcred in the House of Representatives on
Wednesday, in opposition to an nppropria-
tion for the Philadelphia Exposition, cx-
pressed his love and admiration for the
Constitution as he understands it. In the
course of the debate il appeared that, in
Mr.. fuckers opinion, the war settled moth
ing, except the physical superiority Of the
National Government over the so-called
rebel Cunicderacy. The idea that this is
not nation, hut Il union of States, which
amy Stat, has a right to withdraw from,
was boldly proclaimed. TAis was pre-
ci5ey the ground taken by the reb-
els in 1861 when several of the
Southern States attempted to scccde from
the Union. Mr.. Buchanan, then Presi-
dent, took the same ground, and informed
Congress that the government had no right
to co2rce n State. Had the theory ad-
vanced by Mr.. Buchanan, and asserted by
the representatives OF the Southern States,
been adopted by the government, the I'm
ion would have been dissolved, and instead
of nation, we should have two, or, per-
haps, half a dozon cOnfcderacics, each held
90 thcr hy u rope Of sand. But it was
not adopted, aud war for the Union was
the result. That war was supposed to
h I'VE settled the disputed question; and
the rebels in accepting the situation were
supposed to have asscnted to the PROPOSE
ton that this is Nation, and that no State
has a right to secedc. But Mr.. Tucker ac-
| ccpts nothing Of the kind. lie stands now
where he and his party stood in 1851, claim
ing that any State has constitutional
| right to sccede, and that any citizen wheth-
er member of Congress, a soldier, or in
private life, may hOnOrably or legally side
with his State, and take mp arms agains'
tie government for the avOwed purpose OF
dissolving the Union.
This Is where Mr. Tucker stands in this
year Of grace, 1876, and in the eleventh
! year after the close of the war.
| Mr.. fuckers speech is spoken Of by
| Democrats as indiscreCt. Why indiscreet
| Democrats had an opportunity to combat
| Mr.. Tncker's theory, but they did not do il
| Why not? IL it not the theory Of the
| Democratic party? IL was indiscrect, be-
cause it does not suit the party to have the
theory proclaimed until they shall have
obtained control Of the government; but il
was an honest declaration, that will prove
valuable 10 the country. Ii Mr.. Tucker
docs not fairly represent the Democratic
|
can say 80. The freedom Of debate il moi
restricted in the House of Representatives
There is nothing to prevcnt Mr.. Randall
or NJ. Cox, or Mr.. Morrison, or Mr. Kerr
or Mr.. Wood, from saying, in plain lang
uage, that this is Nation, and that nc
State has right to seccde from the Union
but they do not choose 10 say so, and w
p:esum they agree with Mr.. Tucker il
everything except as to the propriety of ut
tcring his sentiments at this time.
II is further TO be remarked that nearly
all the prominent candidates for the Presi
dcncy ON the Democratic sile opposed thC
war for the Union on the same ground thR
Mr.. Tucker now advocates, and it is saf,
| 10 predict that no man can be nominated
on the Democratic side who favored thu
war. Put this aud that together, and tn,
main issue is made mp.
There will be other Issues in the ap
preaching contest, but this one which
Southern Democrats are making prOminen
is bound to be controlling ONE Cineia
| ndh Gazette.
] -1-