The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-10-29
~ II H. L. & H
HON. j. r. CHALMERS
Delivered at COrInth, Oct. is, 1879.
From the New York World. !

From the New York World
CoRINTH, Mss, Oct If, 1879
General Chalmers deliv cred here tonight
a most important speech on the issues raised
by the extra session of Congress and their
true significance, sectional and national.
General Chalmers is a recognized leader of
the "solid South about which the stalwarts
are SO fond Of talking, and his speech es-
tablishes in the cearest imaginable manner
the absolute loyalty of the solid South to
the Constitution and the Union, not as they
were but as they are. The call of General
Chalmers for Union soldier devoted ''to
the preservation of the Union and not to
the destruction of the States" as the Dem
ocratic Presidential candidate in 1880
expresses the overwhelming preference of
the Southern people, from the Potomac to
the Rio Grande
General Chalmers began his speech by
pointing at the strange and ominous parallel
between the steps through which the repub-
lie Of old were gradually led TO ruin and
those which have been taken by the United
States under the blind leadership of parti-
sans since the outbreak of the civil war as
illuminated by the Investigations in Rhode
Island of the Senate Committee.
AMENDMENTS "FIXED" TO DIsFRANCHIsE
FOREIGNERS.
w men we examine the IOuTteenLn amend
meut we discover that when it speaks of
those TO be enumerated as basis of repre-
sentatlOn 1t uses the word persons ;"
when it denOunces penalty for the exclusion
OF voters it uses the words Citizens" All
free persons, excluding Indians not taxed,
are to be enumerated hence the Chinaman
in California and the foreigner in Rhode
Island are enumerated to swell the basis of
their representation. All persons born in
this country are declared to be citizens and
any State which excludes citizens from
voting must be reduced in representation
in proportion TO the number excluded.
Hence California excludes the Chinaman
and Rhode Island the foreigner and lose
nothing in representation, but every State
which excludes negro must suffer
ductiOn Representation. Senator Anthony
boosted that he fixed the amendments
that Rhode Island might exclude the
foreigner. This is but another exhibition
of the old Know-Knothing prescription
which was broken down by the
gallant old Democratic party, and it should
be remembered by every toreign-born cltl-
zen in the Union. By the amendments to
the Constitution and the reconstruction
laws it was believed that the Democracy of
the South would be forever suppressed.
But this was not sufficient.
THE DAVENPORT LAWS.
The Democracy of the North, compose d
largely Of foreign-born citizens in the great
cities of the North must be suppressed also
The Irshman was good enough to dig canals
and build railroads, the German good
enough TO till the soil and develop the
resources of the country, and every foreigner
was good enough for substitutes to meet
the rebel bullets and form Il breast-work
behind which the stalwart Republican could
speculate and grow rich, but they must not
vote the Democratic ticket. To prevent
this laws were enacted creating supervisors
and deputy marshal9 reflections aud giving
them authority in cities of 10000 lnhabl-
tants to determine who should vote and
power to call out the army and navy of the
United Ststes to support their arbitrary
construction of the law. These laws the
Democrats endeavored to repeal and were
only prevented by the veto of the President.
| make no war on the veto power. 1t Is one
of the checks and balances of the Constltu-
ton, no part of which can be destroyed
without endangering the destruction of our
liberty 1t is one of the bulwarks of the
States Rights party, but like all just power
it may be abused. And it is remarkable
that when Mr.. Calhoun made his unan-
swearable argument in favor OF the veto
power he pointed out one single instance IN
which it might be abused and toretold
exactly what Mr.. Hayes did under the
pressure of the stalwart leaders. Mr.
Calhoun said the veto power would be
abused whenever a President should use 1t
to prevent the passage "of an act intended
to repeal law calculated to increase his
power"
ONE LAW FOR THE CITY AND ANOTHER FOR
THE COUNTRY.
To understand the exact issue made up
between the parties in the extra session OF
Congress it is necessary to consider the 1ull
force and effect of the United states elec-
ton laws as thew now stand and how much
f+t,,o 81. reD6al
The election laws contain two entirely sep
arate and distinct systems-one made for
the rural districts and the other for cities OF
10000 inhabitants. These laws were con-
ceived and brought forth IN the Union
League Club of New York City, and the
reason for the great difference made between
the power given to election omcers In cities
of 10000 inhabitants and the rural districts
is at once apparent when we remember that
the law was framed with special reference
to the State of New York where the CITY
was Democratic and the rural districts he
publican. In the rural districts only
supervisors of election are provided Tor,
and it is expressly declared that they shall
have no power or authority except 70 De
present as witnesses at the holding OF the
election and the counting of the votes
In cities of 10000 inhabitants chiei
srnervisor and deputy marshal are created,
with express power to keep the peace at
the polls and protect the supervisors; to
superintend both the registration of voters
and the election to arrest and lmprlson
any voter who votes or offers to vote against
their challenge; to disregard State laws as
State officers, and to arrest State officers
even when acting under State laws, and to
call out the army and the navy of the
United States to.support them in their ar,
bitrary decisions These laws as they stand
upon the statute book and as they been
executed by Republican officials give C
United States officers complete control o.
State elections when they are held at the
same time as the election of members OF
Congress. In short these satraps at the
polls are authorized to seize without war
rant, any citizen they suspect or pretend to
suspect Of illegal voting, and in truth and
effect to determine who shall and who
shall not vote. The Democrats in Congress
in the extra session determined to repeal so
much Of these laws as created these CHIEF
supervisors and deputy marshals and gave
them this extraordinary power but we left
the supervisors in the cities the same Al
they now are In the rural DISTRICTS with az
power except to witness the election In
Guiding the counting Of the votes.