Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-09
SENATOR THURMAN.
OPENING SPEECH At COLUMBUS.
An Elaborate and S,atesmanlise Argument
upon the Pending lssues-SyDOp-
sis Of His Remarks on the
-Four Great Topes.

Army at the polls, the Naturalization
and Election laws, and resumption.
Upon the latter subject he was brief,
but on the others he was long and ela-
borate. The more material parts Of his
speech will be found below. Speaking
upon State rights, he said:
State Rights.
"The purpose of the Radical lealers to
overthrow the rights of the States and
the people. and to vest in the General
Government all the substantial powers
of Government, is proved by act after
act Of Congress, by numerous party
platforms, 10y a multitude of speeches
daily delivered, and by their denuncia-
ton Of the plainest doctrines upon
which our system Is founded,
AMI which in the better DAYS OF
In. Republic were seldom il ever queS-
Toned bv any public man. Let Dem
oc-.It use the term sovereign State and
he Is forthwith denounced by the Rad
ical leaders and the Radical press as
nu'ltitr or a SeCeSSlOnlStS. Let him
sp,Ik Of the reserved rights Of the peO-
pie under the Federal Constitution, and
he is forthwith denounced rs aSSallrng
IN. lust powers of the Federal Govern
m.nt. Let Congress pass laws in plain
violation OF the Constitution, and the
nun who questions their authority is
assaulted as an enemy of the National
q lvrrnment and of the perpetuity Of
a. Ia. II .h1=NHF F4ae=HrN
i'm which 10 can be manifested, those
who govern the Radical party have
sh ,wn their intention TO reduce the
81 ties % the mere category OF counties
or townships, leaving them nOSOverelgn
powers whatever, that may not be over
thrown at the will of a majority of
Congress, thus etieCtUally destroying
what the founders OF our Govern
m,ut considered its greatest merit,
thr right of local self-gOyernment.
IL j. not, therefore, fear Of secession OF
of tine rr-establishment OF slavery that
prompts the Radical leaders 10 degrade
an drbaSc the states. The Cause lies far
deeper than that Ii grows out of the
lons and never-eudiug effort of ConsOii-
dat "A capital, seeking special privileges
by means of legislation; privileges that
the mass Of the people do not enjoy.
The holder of Government bonds de-
sir-S a strong national Government, I'M
the belief that such a aGOyernmeut would
give. greater security and value 10 hls
bonds. The mammoth railroad corpora
tiOn, running through many states, feels
rrStiye under what IL consider the an
nOvanceS Oi state legislation. IL would
greatly prefer % State charters OF State
licenses a national charter rendering 1t
independent of the States The national
bans interest, with its two thousand and
OF banks, destined, ii the system con-
tinup, tO be- tripled OF quadrupled
in number i'm no long period OF
time. looks with cOmplacency on the
legs alton of Congress that has destroy
ed ,hr banking institutions OF the States
AM given % the national system mo-
nopplv Of the issue and profits Of bank
paper money The high tariH prOtec-
ZION ,ts an q the seekers OF subsidies alike
desire a Government of almost unllmlt-
ei power % gratiiy their wishes and tos-
ter their schemes. In a word, almost or
quite every form concentrated wealth,
eXrep- real estate, desires by construc-
zion or otherwise tp add new powers to
the already tremendous powers possess
el bv the National Government"
From the question of state rights, Mr..
Thurman proceeded % consider the
matt e. Of the Use OF soldiers NJ the polls.
Spca sing OF the law IN relation To this,
he said:
Soldiers at the Polls.
There is no justification for this law
at all. 10 is I'm vain 20 say that II is
mere instrumeutality 10 preserve the
peic.. No such instrumentality is
needed. The people OF the States have
been able 20 preserve the peace ut elec-
tiou- ever since the Government was
formed a. well, nay better, than 1t has
ever been preserved IN any other coun-
try Ot popular institutions. The only
effect OF the law Is tO enable the Presl-
dent 20 Overawe the people who are op-
posed 10 his Administration.
The Democracy nj the last session OF
Congress dii all that was in their power
10 repeal the statutory provision author
izins the use of the army az the polls.
For that purpose We passed bill after
bill, but they were suCCesSlvely vetoed
bv the President and thereby defeated.
The General Appropriation bill Tor the
support Oi the army was thus vetoed,
the President, by defeating il, declaring
in effect that he would let the army 90
without support rather than lose the
right % Use % at the times and places OF
elections. Thus thwarted by an un-
plraIrled exercise IL the One-man pow
er, we had nothing lett for Us 20 do but
10 withhold appropriations from the
army when used al the polls. But this
remedy Is, IN It's nature, but temporary,
AMI may Dee too easily evaded by a hos
tile Executive 20 be securely relied up
on. Nothing short Of a repeal OF the
obnoxious provision will suffice, and
tn. question whether IL shall
be repealed is one ot the
great questions 10 be decided by the
people. This issue j. clearly made and
sharply defined The Republicans IN
Congress, aS well ~ the President, are
opposed % the repeal, as their speeches
and recorded votes amply show. The
Democrats and Nationals are % man
in favor of the repeal What say you?
III Won are tired OF freedom and wish
the hallot-bpx 10 be- interiered with by
the bavouct, vote to keep the law upon
the statute book. But Il YOU still cher
ish your liberties, and wish 10 east a
free and untrammelel vote, unawed by
military force, vote 10 repeal IL. And
do not imagine, my friends, that be-
cause YOU have never seen the polls i'm
Columbus surrounded by troops, there
fore these is no danger % be appre-
hendcd. To say nothing ot what has
occurred i'm the southern states 10 l. but
a few years since large bodies oI Federal
troops were masSed in New York city.
upon an election day, for the avOwed
purpose Of executing the law We seek 10
repeal
Upon the Naturalization and Election
laws Mr.. Thurman diSCOursed at some
length, which he compared 10 the Alien
and SeditiOn laws Of an earlier period.
lie said:
Naturalization and Election Laws.
"When the Republican party after
the first election OF President Grant had
the most absolute control Of the Govern
ment that any party ever possessed