Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-05-12
DEMOCRATIC USIoNIsal.

DEMOCRATIC uSIoNIsM.
United States Senator Ransom Of
North Carolina. while on . visit 10 Phil
ndslphia q few weeks aeo. declared in
the presence Of several gentlemen.
members OF either Hsuss Of Congress.
In cluding some prominent Republicans.
that the Southern States must b con-
trollsd in the interests Of only n polid-
cal party. The Senator asserted that the
Democratic organization was the only
n that would Be tolerated By the
white people Of his section and
that the negro vote must b sub
iectsd to this determination. Objsc-
ton was Of couns made TO these
declarations. and one Representative
remarked that the policy 90 presented
was the main reason Why capital would
not 60 to the South. and prosperity
failed to return to that section. The
reply TO this was that the Democracy
would govern so well that public secu-
rity would be assured. Senator Ransom
Was tsld that such . policy - be advo-
Gated would necessarily unite the North
ern States in q solid body ; that the
Democratic party could not carry n
Northern State while IL was controlled
by a sectional policy. and while Southern
politicians Of that party urged intolsr-
nee as their rule. Tho Confederate
Senator could not see II In this light,
and again frankly avowed that 1t was
both III. right and policy Of himself and.
associates in the South to prevent free
political action. prohibit fair discussion,
and to make the negro a political ssrf.
under the control Of the Democracy.
Mr.. Ransom's logic was founded upon
the true ideas Of the people whom he
represented. lie. as well a. they. fought
rs soldiers for those very principles and
sentiments which should govern his ideal
commonwealth. and the same results are
still sought to 10 accomplished in = diff
fsrcnt way.
The existence Of the great American
Republic az q Union Of States rests upon
the intelligence and patriotism OF its
citizens. There must be . subordina-
ton Of particular interests for the COM
mon welfare Of the whole. The National
Government must receive q practical
respect which shall lift II out OF all
chance Of collision with the assumed
rights Of States. and be certain Of obe-
dience In the exercise Of its authority.
History shows that from the ascsndancy
OF the slave power the Union was al
ways exposed to peril. Ssldsh and an
s~crupulous. IL armysd itself against the
idea Of nationality. and by its pervsrse
intolerance aud eeaselsss sslf.assertion
il actually prevented the capitalization
Of the people into . nation until the re-
bellion was put down. Slavery In q
free republic was out Of place. While
a slave trod American soil under
amy sort Of legal protection the master
class was a destructive element, which
could be rsprssssd only by force or
fear. II was that elass that kept up the
utterancs Of threats to destroy the
Union ; that had q civilization based
upon ignorance and idle luxury /; that
abhorred freedom. not because II WAS q
reproaeh to that which gave zsst to the
life Of q slave-owner. but because II
recognized the rights Of man which the
slave-ownsr denied. The power was
restless under Federal authority. and
sowed the seeds Of discord in the
South. This power became dominant
from the worst passions Of our common
nature. II is founded upon the CON-
b;ned principles Of s~elhshnsss and
greed. and the degradation that ii
wrought in a republic founded - the
exponent Of the equality Of men before
the law. and his right to the pursuit Of
his own business and pleasure without
being interfersd with by others, IL he
violates no Law. could be seen in the
slave-owner holding black men and
women in ignorant bondage. that lie
might live in luxury on the profits OF
their labor.
One Of the most sublimely impudent
claims Of the slave power was that the
Federal Government had no right to in
tsrpret the Constitution. although IL ex-
listed under and was governed by the
provisions Of that instrument. This
marvellous doctrine Was maintained in
the Senate Of the United States by Mr..
Hayne. in January, 1880. in his ~rejoin.
der TO Mr. Web ter on the constitutional
question. to which Mr.. Webster rspliei:
"a few words. Mr.. President. ON this
constitutional argument which the honor
able gentleman has labored to reconstruct.
Ills argument consists Of two proposi-
lions aud an inference. His proportions
are:
4. That the Constitution is . compact
between the States. -.
2. That q compact between two. with
authority reserved In one 10 interpret Its
,.rm. would BE- q surrender 30 that u OF
all power whatever.
8. Therefore. (sueh Is tho i%nisrencel the
General Government docs not possess the
authority TO construe It's ~ powsn."
Mr.. Webster soon showed the absurd
ity Of the position. but the doctrine sur
yi,.d. and is actively influential in the
arnnestied South. and with the Bour-
bons Of the Democratic party. Aud the
spifit AZ tina slave mower survives ~ \