The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-24

SGJSSt VIZ SiSNhiou VI Inv . abo w aOCl
er, in utter disregard of right withou
the sembIance of law or authority, nulh
fed the popular will by rejecting tn,
votes OF 1900 voters in that State. Tn,
act was wanton, vicious, and wholly in
excusable, and yet partisan majority o
the Electoral Commission sanctioned the
fraud and approved the wrong. Thi:
try Will appreciate and applaud when If
repudisted and condemned that erroneous
and putrsgeou: decision
l regard the present as the most crit
icsl and dangerous period in
the couD,ry's history. Never be-
fore have our republican institutions
been put to as great test as they are now
undergoing. Never before have they
been SO boldly menanced. Gentlemen
may sugar-cost the pill as they please;
they may present the issue in any form,
dressed in any garb that may suit their
taste, but the truth is not to be disguised
that this is con fict between constitu.
tionsl liberty and centrslnm. We can
not, if we would, shut our eyes TO the
fact that there is in this country 8
powerful party who seek the overthrow
OF cur institutions. We see the eviden-
ces Of it on every hand. Prominent
members of the ReptblIcsn party have
foreshsdowed that policy by various reso-
lntions in this House and in the Senate
during the present Co.'s ress. They have
even Migrated the idea in the Cincinnati
platform upon which Governor Hayes
stands and 10 which he is committed.
1t is but I, few years since newspaper
styled the Imperiatist, as l remember,
was published IN the city of New York.
It's title fully explains its hostility 10
our present form of government. The
projectors of the scheme, finding the
people Lot in q frame of mind to join
in the proposed conspiracy against the
government, withdrew it from circuls-
ton. Yet notwithstanding its with
drswsl, the policy it proclaimed contin-
ues TO have advocates, and to-day has
the sanction of the leaders of the Re-
publican party OF the country.
So much has been written and SAID
upon TIL. subject by various gentlemen
thst l cannot refer TO all in the limited
time allotted to me, but must content
myself with mentioning few OF the
most remarkable uttersnces. l hold in
my hand q published letter by William
Giles Dix, Of Massachusetts, TO President
Grant in the year 1875, in which the
Language is used:
"You became President in consequence
OF the national victory in which you bore
q share so honorable and eminenti but,
Mr.. President let me entreat you TO
consider that it WAS national, not
federal, victory you won, and that ns-
.ionsl victory signified the defeat of the
Federal Constitution"
Here We have the declaration of
gentleman OF scholarly attachments, who
svows his hostility to federalism. He
names the issue fairly and discusses it
ably. But quote another and more
significant passage from the same letter:
Mr.. President, since You will not
lead, l challenge you to follow. II you
will not accept the challenge, then if l
shall live | will do all that honorsbly
and earnestly l can TO make national
Government and national Constitution
me wstchwords of triumphant national
party ST. the next Presidential election"
| do not know how far Mr.. Dix was
to speak for the Republican
party, but l; is evident that by this let.
Ter ne fores asdowed its policy. The Gin
,innsti Convention. by which Governor
Hayes was nominated, announces, among
other things, thst-
The United States of America is
nation, not u league.
This was the first time, so far as | have
been able 10 ascertain, that any one OF
All the various parties ever existing in
his country had the temerity to declare
hat this government was not q league.
W hat is league?
II is an alliance or confederation be-
.ween sovereign states. That is what
he fathers and founders of this govern
nent intended and claimed 10 have
established. and their work rs such has
,iuce received the sanction OF mankind
md excited the admiration Of the world
Intil the Republican party rejected it.
The Distinguishing feature OF this Gov
eminent is that il is government of
,hecks and balances; that 1t is q union Of
States, not union Of the people. The
Constitution was adopted by msjority
IF Ststes IN convention assem- led, and
not by majority of the popular VOTE
and 20 each one Of these States is guar
,n,eed Republican form ofgovernment,
with the power 70 regulate and control
Is own affairs in its own way, provided
always they do nothing to violate the
Federal Constitution.
Mr.. Speaker, what Is the object OF this
iepar .ure? Il is the overthrow Of our
oressu. form of governments that and
lothing else.
these are the features Of our govern
nent that have excited the deadly hos
illty o! the leading spirits OF the Re.
,ubicsn party. They are jealous of the
srge liberty and sovereign power the
people exercise. They see that the only
hope they can hsve OF retaining control
IF the government i 10 withdraw from
he people their sovereignty, to obIiter-
.te state lines, abolish local government
md to ,entrslize power in the hands Of
he rulers, by whatever name they may
be called. Already have they commenced
The agitation of TIL: question. The SG-
,ionoi Republican. the organ Of The eI-
rene wing of the Republican party, IN
Is issue of the % of February, referring
70 the ste war, holds the following Ian
susge:
But since tha. day there has been s
marked change in the sentiment Of the
people ia this respect, and it may be
safely asserted that there IL low large
nsiori,y in favor Of s strong Nstiorsl
Goveru nent. with powers setting direct
IL upon ID. people, without regard 10
State lines and limits, whose Jurisdiction
shall extend 70 the control of every int.
rest Of rational character, unimpeded
and unaffected By considerations srising
from claims OF State sovereignty--s thing
which cannot exist IN the way OF the
common welfare, but must yield 70 the
will of The true sovereign.
A :, v;ayr oFthe sad eIperierce OF