The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1877-01-18
HON. ". A. PHILLIPS.
His Speech Delivered in the House Of
representatives a Short
Time Ago.
Sentiments Which Will be Emphatic
ally Erdorsed---A Brilliant
Effort.


| aIlv Endnrsad..A RriIIianf
|
Effart.
|
|
Mr. PHILLIPS, Of Kansas. Mr.. Chair
man, ever since this session began there has
been disposition TO eferyesce the momf Mt
| a q estion touching in the most remote de-
gree The late Presidential election came up.
| We are admonished By the beiligerent spirit
| manifested By many On this floor that the
| political mind il in an unhealthy condition
rude ideas OF the powers Of this House
over the subject are entertained; theories
| hastily jumped al are wildly expressed
theories generally utterly at variance with
our history and fundamental Law. One
of the political parties in the country, long
out oil power, but which has succeeded In
gaining possession OF one branch OF Con-
gEess, make haste 10 arrogale to IL all the
powers OF Government, legislative, execu-
tive, and judicial. Even men whose whole
| lives have been devoted to rigid construc-
tons Of the Constitution st.rtle US by seem
| ing TO keep in countenance schemes which
do not find a particle Of color in that doc
| umeu,, theories obnoxious 10 its trainers
| diametrically opposed to cur earlier, better
| history.
| / do not hesitate 10 pronounce these mis-
| chievous and revolutionary sentiments
| And 90 are all the plans for compromise
| bargain. or adjustment, other than the plain
| and simple methods pointed ont by the
| Constitution. Nor do | hold in much high
er estimation the numerous propo-itions 10
remodel the Constitution or add 10 II an
amendment 10 be hurrieGIy adopted as a
Temporary expsdient or used 10 bridge a
real or imaginary emergency. II ia not
necessary to assume that the Constitution
is fsultless. Our experience has demon
| strated that there are several desirable
notifications and a necessity for clearer
definition of details, whether these can be
adopted or not. Yet every man of sagacity
must feel that TO take such steps for spe-
| cial purpose, 10 meet q special case. above
| all TO intervene between the verdict Of the
people, expressed under the forms of Con-
stitution and law, and the mere declaration
| OF the result according 10 the mode pre-
| scribed under the existing Constitution, is
| obnoxious on principle and dangerous as
precedent. As mere practical question,
| every man knows that il cannot be done in
| time, even If it were a proper thing to do.
| All such propositions, therefore, SO far as
| they are designed TO affect this case, are
| simply disturbing elements. They affect to
admit that which is not necessary to admit,
and only add flames to that political ex-
element which il should be the aim of
every patriotic citizen TO discourage. Meth
er can amendments TO the Constitution be
wisely undertaken under circumstances and
| at a time when partisan interests and par
tissn bitterness must deny them that i'm
| partial consideration which alone can con-
fer on them utility and GROWING glory.
| Ii is, therefore, an unhappy circumstance
that makes it appear "a if many of our
public men had lost their balance OF were
endeayoring to feed themselves with ideas
| impregnated with anarchy and revolution.
| Ii has been the pride OF our Government
and the hope OF the lovers of Republican
| ism every where that we are not as the South
| American republics. Indeed, | cannot for
one moment admit that there is even IN this
| House a majority who Will sustain any
proposition to elect a President by any 9th
er means than the constitutional forms.
| These latter may not go into all the detail.
We could wish, but their purpose is suffi.
GENTLY clear to answer the necessity. \
departure from them at such a time is
| simply revolution, and | will not believe
that this House will present itself 10 the
country in an attitude so humiliating until
partisan folly leaves Us 10 alternative.
Ii there l. any tendency toward political
disease OF this sort among X preventative
| how is il with the people? IL is undoubted
Is true that profound interest ia mani
Tested on the subject in the press and
throughout the country. 1t is not fair or
true TO assume that The thousand and one
scnemes and theories announced make any
serious impression on the public mind. In
fact, it may be safely believed that the
stability Of character and purpose which
has been the great pride of our Government
and our people rests, ike deep and mighty
ga, beneath the light and frothy foam that
tickle winds drive across its surface. The
dOctFiHaire and the enthusiast are always on
the sklrmlsh line, and, whether their prop
osltloi's De wise or otherwise, II Is not safe
10 Judge society by them' When We hear
mat lie" oil the lawyers OF one city meet
and speak ana resolve mat the times are
parious ana mat II Is necessary Tor them
TO put heir spoke IN the same wheel OF
Government, or that a few dozen OF men
calling themselves the business men OF the
country, and who are probably better poll |
licians than business men, meet and resolve |
that 1T u Crisis and that they have a |
panaoea Tor II, we are remihded OF the con- |
resoIutions eve the nao,Ia Of FoaI.nJ ~
and they also remind everv tbint;ng ms,
tho, their s,nd;as in noli,;c.I s,;anoe -
not taurbt th-m the dancers Of revoIr,;or-
arv ;,nov,,ion Nor car II bs .dm;,,aa
tbst tho null, ,oi,5 : 80 s;soaS.J IL,
IL conIJ Tolerate lie more v;o,ory of r.rtv
M r,.t,er bow ;IIrst-ions IL 80 800
he at the e,cr;f;ca Of the Stabilize g ~
Gnvarn,,ert or Tho nubIio tr,,o,,;I;,r
40 nor DEM that I sbonId IooL, No. ,ba
election of Mr. TiIJe, .pd tba ,,;,,r,,,L g
a rs.c,io,.-y n,r,v a. ora., oaiap,;,
I'm, not half go ga, 90 Re aioo,;oa -
p-os;Jo.t bv til o- ,aroI,,;or
csos;ra,
pie. While more than two candidates were
in the field no third or fourth candidate
received single State or electoral vote.
Hayes or Ii'den received them all, and as
the electoral vote cannot be evenly divided
one Of them was of course elected. III the
electoral vote could have been. and had
been, equally divided there would have
been no election, and the election OF Presi-
dent would have gone TO the House. But
one Of them was elected under the forms of
the Constitution.
7, rb. b.-. loo, so.;..b,,
r,a;,r;,r abon,a :. 49,, h., :, VIC. Wv.