Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-06-14
Potter as a Secessionist.

Potter as Secessionist.
The person selected by Mr.. Tilden to
lead the Democrats of the country to
revolution and renew the flames of civil
war on a question of disputed success
sion to the Presidency is Mr.. Clarkson
N. Potter. He is no vulgar rough, Sc
lected from the ranks of Tammany; he
is not a representative of the voting
and fighting factions of New York city;
he is a representative of the wealthy
and aristocratic New York Democracy
that branch which purchases seats in
Congress, and honOrs" the paid re-
tainers by representing the districts.
Mr.. Potter is an experienced member
of Congress, and has always exercised
controlling influence in that body. In
1874 he electrified the House of Repre-
sentatives one day by declaring in a
speech that the present Government of
the United States was one of the great
est political absurdities in the world
that it was altogether a fraud upon the
the theory of popular government; and
that, in fact, it was centralized Gov
ernment controlled by minority. Mr..
Potter's present prominence recalls to
public attention this remarkable speech,
and we present some extracts from it. On
May 21, 1874, in debate in the House
on the bill to admit New Mexico as a
State, Mr.. Potter opposed the bill. He
placed his opposition on the ground
that the practice of admitting new States
with comparatively small populations
was an injustice to the larger States,
because it took from the latter the pro-
portionotU weight to Which the number
of their population entitled them. He
cited the fact that at that time the num-
Der of Senators was seventy-four, and
he claimed that sixteen of these Sena-
tors represented a majority of the
people and tifty-eight were appointed
by minority of the people. He added
to this statement:
The States of New York. PENNSYLVANIA, Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky with
Massachusetts, being eight States in all, hav-
ing, by the last census, population of 1890,
l55, having contiguous territory of not more
than POO or 400 miles one way by some 300
the other, now contain an actual majority of
the people of these thirty-seven States and
ten Territories; and not only majority of all
the people, but a very large majority of the
wealth, the industry and the trade of the
country.
Having thus stated his theory of ine-
quality, and located within designated
States the people who were outraged
and defrauded, he proceeded to assert
the remedy which in time it might be
necessary for the people of these States
thus ruled by a minority to adopt for
their protection. He said, page ABB,
Congressional Record, Forty-third Con-
gress, first session.
The theory Of equality among Statesis right.
was myself an extreme States right man.
am free to declare, what l presume few men
in the House would venture to admit, that, if
l was now to make Constitution for the fu-
ture government of rising States, | would put
provision in it Where6y a certain number or
proportion Of the States might 30 OUt Of their
Union wheneVer hey pleased; for l believe that
good government can in the long run only be
maintained by its being in accordance with
the interests of those who are under it. am
cORvinced ldt, aOheneger the real Interests Of a
great section prompt to 80 ont Of such Union,
Il should be dilOiCed to gO
Having expressed his opinion that
the principle of voluntary union, peace
able secession, and perpetual revolu-
ton, and especially the extinction of all
pretense to nationality, would be the
best thing for the American people,
Mr.. Potter thus expressed his Judgment
upon the absurd Government that is
in existence" He said:
The theory of this Government, the funda-
mental theory is that of a popular govern
ment, government TO preserve the rights
and represent the wishes of the people. But
We have gone on without regard to that fun
damental principle, until to-day we find our
selves In the condition | have stated, and all
the time 1t is spoken Of as popular govern
ment, As such, il is in this respect one OF the
most absurd GOUeynmeltts on tie face of The
earth, and gentlemen propose now to make 1t
more absurd by introducing Territories with
this mere handful of people, and giving them
the right to send two representatives each
into the Senate of the United States.
This absurd" form of government
he said would not last; a change would
have to come; the time had come when
the Federal Government must be linn
tied. Having pointed out that the right
of secession and of dissolving the Union,
and of destroying the nationality of the
United States, ought 10 be a constitu-
tional provision, Mr.. Potter declared
that, in the absence of the constitu-
tional right to secede, when the time
came such secession would take place,
and, when it took place, who, he asked,
was W 10 Mlldl nC
said:
Somebody said TO Inc this morning that a
change Of representation in the Senate could
only be brought about by revolution. II that
be so, what theni Does it not occur TO gem
tlemen that IN this little strip of eight con-
tguous States, Massachusetts TO Missouri,
lies "A majority OF the wealth and power Of the
Unionl II heB should take u into Their hsads 10
90 Om Of the Union, lolO can Keep them 6tl And
II reform in this growing abuse of control
by the minority over the majority could only
be secured by revolution, why, then, uhe't
they resolved on such reUolutOR, il iOO,ad be alike
short, successful, and peaceable
Here we have Mr.. Potter. in May,
1874, nine years after the war of the
rebellion, insisting in his place in the
House that the existing Constitution of
the United States was defective, be-
cause il did not contain provision Sc
curing TO the States the right to dis
solve the Union at pleasure, TO secede
whenever matters did not suit them,
and TO set up as many independent CON