Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-10-16
FINANCIAL FACTS.
Speech OF Hon. John Sherman at
Portland, Me.
Following is the able address delivered
by Hon. John Sherman at Portland, Me-,
on July Odd:

Wy lioH. ooun SucImaH dt TOTLlanQ, Me-,
on July 23d:
FELLOW CITIZENS / accepted the invitation of
your distinguished senator to speak in the state
| of Maine during my brief vacation from official
duties, mainly that might present to you the
mode by which, in spite of much opposition
United States notes have been advanced to par In
coin, and some reasons why these notes ought
hereafter to beredeemed in coin at the demand of
the holder, instead of being, as formerly ire
dee naple, deprecia. ed, and dishonored. You will
naturally expees me, as public officer, TO speak
mainly on this.and kiiidred financial topics CON
Lnected with my official duties.
But before doing so, permit me to say that there
are questions inyolvedin political contest this
fall m re important than those of hard money or
soft money, lreenbacks or bank-notes.
REVIVAL OF GID ISSUES.
IT felt at liberty to choose the theme most i'm
partant TO you and to the whole people of the
United States | would present tbs recent revival
by the Democratic party of the southern doctrine
OF states rights. This doc .rine has been the evil
genius OF American politics. 1t was born of hos
tility to the U lion. 1t was the bulwark of Amer
lcan slavery. 1t poisoned and estranged large
section of the country. Under the name of seces
sion, it led to the late rebellion, and aimed to
destroy the Union by an open armed conflict with
the national government. Every life was sacrificed
and the treasure tn It was wasted in that war were
the bitter fruits of this doctrine
Now 1t takes the form OF nullifi cation not nul-
fication by state officers as when General jackson
throtled it, but notification by members Of con-
gIess the sworn agents and Off eers of the general
government. These officers would surrender
essential powers of the national government
nullihy It's laws, cripple it in executing
it's conceded powers, and make it con-
federate instead of national government. In the
arrogance OF their power one OF their leaders de-
Cared that it was their fixed purpose TO wipe out
every stige of war legislation
Their chief effort in the last two sessions of con-
gress has been to nullify law of congress proyid
ing for an honest election OF members of congress
"a law passed in pursuance of plain provision of
the constitution, declared by Mr.. Madison to be
essential TO the preservation of the government;
law which has been sanctioned by eight years of
practical execution, which has been appealed to
by both parties, whose constitution aity has never
been disputed in the courts. and which is the only
guard provided by congress to protect citizens CT
the United States in tbs elective franchise. The
movement for multiplying this law was made posi-
bic by united SOUTH" united by terror, vio-
ience and fraud, and by crimes that disgrace our
civilization Over the white men of the south,
who were willing to acqu'escs in the results o. the
war, the united ssuth " practiced social osra-
clslE and violence. Over the poor blacks, whose
rights were granted, and as We foolishly thought
sufficiently secured by the constitution, it tramp
led with midnight murder and masquerade, ana
last year it capped the climax by eli ction frauds
more shameful than the ballot box stufiing and
repeating of Tweed ard his infamous ring in 1868.
Several members of congress who were confess
sedy elected by tissue ballot box stuffing, the
meanest form of crime against the elective fran
chise, participated in refusing the neces-
sary appropriations for the support of the gov
eminent unless the president would app rove the
repeal of the election laws. When, by the firm
ness of the president, they failed in their main
object, they sought by conditions in appropriation
bills to compel him to agree to nullify laws in vlo
laton OF his oath of Office.
When the president again defeated this scheme
by his veto they refused to appropriate money to
enforce the Judicial mandates of the government,
and the United States courts are now powerless to
enforce their DEGREES, to serve process, or to
keep the peace, unless the marshals serve thout
the pay fixed by law. In this way ma jority of
either house may nullify any Law and destroy the
government. We thought all Ct such doemas were
overthrown by the amendments to the constitution
Such policy, if sanctioned, will nulify the
amendment, and is more dangerous than secession
state null hcation. 1t is revolution and anarchy
The evident purpose of those now dominating
in the Democratic party is to belittle ana
degrade the national government, to
elevate provincalism above nationalism, to
weaken the tie that binds this vast com
try into a nation, SO that the winds and waves of
faction may best upon it and shatter it. General
Wade Hampton is reported to have said that he
does not care whether the candidates are hard
money or softmoney, so they are Democrats. A
few Democrats from ths north, elected upon any
false issue or artifce whatever, give them, with
the solid south, the control of the electoral college
and of the senate and house. Through the caucus,
conducted in secret, and controlled always by the
violent men, in which the solid south has the
majority, they hope to rule this whole country
and p and mine all the strong foua dations of the