The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-01-24
PLAIN WORDS.
Governor Hubbard. of Connecticut Ut
tcrs Some Giant Truths I'm iIis Mcs-
sage Touching Military Interior
encc fn tho States.

From GOV. Hubbard's Message to the Con-
nsctieut Legislaturs.l
should be uniiithful to my best con-
viction OF duty were to close this COM
munication without calling your atten-
ton TO another subject Let me speak
freely and without oiIense. Nothing
which concerns any of the States in its
relations TO the Federal Government can
| he matter OF Indifference to any other
State, for the rights of all are bound in
one.
Power is naturally aggressive, and
tends to abuse aud Capitalization, espe-
cially il it have control Of standing ar
mics, The sovereign prerogatives re-
served 10 the States, especially that OF
home government, were intended under
our political system for the protection of
the peoples liberties against the usurpa-
tions of the central and war-making
power. And, as the General Govern
ment is, when duly administered, the
creature of popular suffrage, and as suf-
fragc has no existence under Federal
law, but is the product of State law
alone, know of no more dangerous en-
croachmsnt than that which should un.
dcrtake to ill the States in an electoral
campaign with Federal agents armed
with full quivers of warrants to arrest,
and surround the ballot-boxes, on which
the liberties and existence of the State
depend. with Federal soldiery. | know
of no more deadly exercise of power 10y
/ the national executive than that which
should presume to enter the Legislature
Of State 10y general OF the army, lay
hold of It's presiding officer and members
opposed to the Administration whose
seats were in dispute, and eject them by
files OF soldiery with fixed bayonets or
that which should assume to lend the
army TO an outgoing State executive,
himself n candidate for his own success
sion, for use in a contested election; take
midnight possession of the halls of leg
islation, and bar out 10y armed sentinels,
the political adversaries Of the admins
tration whose seats were in dispute, but
whose yrrima tdcic right had been adju>
dica,cd 10y the supreme judicial tribunal
Of the State, ohstruct the process of the
State courts ia the enforcement of their
Judgments against the officers of the
State toy multiplying orders OF n Federal
circnit judge, aud thus in effect suppress
the State and pack its Legislature with
the political followers Of II party. An
administration permitted TO exercise
these powers, or which can find in the
ruhser,icncy or political ambition Of a
State executive the preiext for their en-
ercise, Is master of the people, and
lacks nothing but the will to become 4
tyrant. 1t can elect Congressional rep
re~entatives, and thus control the ma
TONS purse; presidential electors, and
. mus HtNNlt ltS wv EANNSSclOh1 pAslst
Legislatures, and through them senators
in Congress. and thus diSarm the power
OF impeachment, il, indeed, that power
has not already been silenced. | do not
forget that the chief magistrate of a
State may borrow power from the ma
lional Government, but not in case OF
domestic violence merely, and only in
case of actual instruction against the
State beyond the power of the State to
control, nor even then when the Legisla.
ture OF the State can be convened, nor in
any case whatever, except the EXTREMIST
emergency of self,defense. The borrow
er is servant of the lender; and the ruler
of State who undertakes to borrow
power from the Federal ruler, and thus
stifie the domestic authority of his ow:;
State, will find excJtse for neither Dor
rover nor lender to accept in the strict
case provided for by law and in the ne
cessity, not of himself or of party can
vass, but of the State.
1t is in vain to say, even If 1t were true
that the military interference Of the Gov
eInment-wh;ch has been confined moi
TO single State, on the call OF its execu
tive, but has been practiced whenever
and wherever the Administration ha:
seen fit, in the heat of political canvass
to order its batallions-has wrought nc
harm, and that the troops have acted with
moderation and forbearance. Such in
strumentalities are unfit to be used in 8
free country even by good ruler, much
less by a bad one, for, unfortunately, the
use by the one becomes the precedent fol
the other. A standing army at the polls
J is, in the nature of things and on the uni
versal testimony of history. incompatible,
with free suffrage. Its presence there il
poisonous. The liberties of the peopl,
wither before it. Universal suffrage, an,
a standing army to control it, are modern
inventions for the attainment of absolute
power These inventions have twic
within the present century brought in i'm
perialism in France A hatred of militia
Z ry politics is hereditary with the sturd,
/ race from which we sprang A centur,
and half ago the Commons Of England
affronted by the spectacles of arms at tn
election polls Of Westminster, resolve