The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1877-11-16

Two HrSw ~ fess~~ F~ve~'
The logical inference from the COu
rier Journals articles in lie issue o
Saturday last concerning the debat
in Congress upon the army question
is, that the editor. while he has M
the csndor to explicitly avow u, "a
vors the increase Of the standing a.
my and its employment for "polic
purposes" His real wishes are. II
true, somewhat obscured by such ex
pressions as these: There Is but on
sentiment on that subject, and that Is
that there must he more available
force in government Il may be ia
the National, the State or the Munici
pal gov ernment-but il must he some
where" But In the light Of other re
marks occurring in the same connec
ton, it is not difficult TO determine
where the editor stands on the subject.
Among these may be mentioned his
declaration that at IL the duty Of Con
gress to do something towards prevent
ing the recurrence of the mob violence
of last July" and that "law-abiding
citizens need guarantees OF security,
and il has been demonstrated, and the
country everywhere is acting thereon,
that such guarantee can be given only
through an increase Of the military
power in city, State, or National gov
eminent" The argument that fa-
vors such an increase Of force in the
National government finds its force
in the circumstance that regular
troops are more available &c.
Here, under . thin vail, is the ex.
preston Of preference, with an ar
gument to support ii, for increased
National force for police purposes.
How else can his utterances be con.
struedl What does he mean by say
ing il is the 1uty Of Congress to do
something to prevent the repetition
of the scenes of last Summer IL he
does not mean that the army should
he augmented for that purpose? What
else could Congress do to effect the OBJ
ject? He certainly does not mean to
suggest that Congress should take nc.
ton to compel the States or the cities
to strengthen their military and police
forces. He surely would not offer to
Congress advice so absurd as that.
Then why does he mention the States
and municipalities in connection with
the matter at all, If it is not for the
purpose Of Disgusting and sugar-coat-
ing the real medicine which is propos-
ed to be administered
But he does not stop at expressing
a preference for q National force and
one of increased strength for police
purposes, but he goes farther. and I'M
dertakes to show that II is q duty Of
Congress. prescribed BY the Constitu.
ton. to provide and constantly keep
forces for such purposes; and to sus-
tain this view he refers to the provis-
ion of that instrument which requires
the United States to protect each
State against domestic violence.
Now it is admitted that II that was
the only provision Of the Constitution
on the subject, such construction OF it
would not be without plausibility. for
the obligation to protect implies the
obligation to prepare to protect. But
no fair-mindsd man will take single,
isolated provision Of any instrument
and couslrue Il without relsrenoe to
its other provisioas upon the same
subject; much less will he give it .
construction which puts il in conflict
with the other provisions.
The section relied on by those who
advocate the National police policy
reads as follows
The U. States shall guarantee to every
State in this Union . republican form Of
government, and shall protect each Of them
against invasion, and on application Of the
Legislature or Of the Executive, when the
Legislature cannot be convened, against
domestic violence."
II takes very little sense to under
stand that the intent and meaning Of
this section is to confer power upon the
general government to protect a State
against domestic violence when she
cannot protect herself. and under no
other state Of case. Ii Is q power to
be exercised only in extreme cases and
as a last resort. II is the right and
duty Of each State to control her own
domestic affairs; but, when overpow-
cred by the lawless violence OF her
citizens. she may call for and obtain
assistance and protection from the
United States.
OF course the means Of protection
% be employed under this section is
force. What kind of force is meant
that of the regular army, or Of the
militia Of the Statesf Let the Con.
answer: Congress shall
nave power to provide for calling