The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-04-29

islative bill. As il came from the eau.
Gus there was an appropriation for de.
fraying the expenses OF the Supreme
Court, Circuit Courts and District
Courts OF the United States. provided
that certain sections OF the Revised
Statutes be repealed. He had always
understood that the Government was
divided into three distinct departments,
legislative, executive and Judicial. but
now the Legislative branch steps for
ward and says that IL the executive does
not sign the bills il offers. il will starve
the judiciary. This was carrying the
matter further than he had ever known
II to GO before. And besides staying
the Judiciary, the other side would re-
fuse 10 appropriate dollar for the eI-
penses OF the capitol building aud
grounds, for public printing, or for the
Congressional library. The Depart
ment OF State. OF which the country
had reason to be proud for Its conduct
OF our foreign affairs, was TO be dis
abled and our diplomatic relations
must close unless the President signs
these bills. The beacons and warning
lights on 1900 miles OF coast must go
out, the mints OF New Orleans, Denver,
San Francisco, and Philadelphia must
stop, the pension bureau must suspend
/ operations. All the executive conneo-
tions OF the government are taken by
\ the throat, in highwayman style, and
commanded to stand and deliver" in
the name OF the Democratic caucus.
A leading Democrat, an eloquent
man, who had courage, frankness sad
many good qualities. boasts publicly
that the Democrats are in power for
the drst time in Is years, aud that they
do not intend 10 stop until they have
wiped out every yestage OF the Repub.
lican war measures. FUrewarned 10
forearmed. The Democrats began
properly on measure signed by Abra-
ham Lincoln. The picture was strik-
ing one. A strange time had come,
when men fresh from the battlefield OF
rebellion took their seats here and pro-
posed TO repeal laws enacted while
they were trying 10 destroy the Union.
| The Vice President OF the Confederacy
had stated that for 60 or 20 years pre-.
ceding the rebellion, from the founda-
ton of the Government, the south,
though in a minority, had, by oombin.
ing with whst he termed the snti-cen-
tralists" in the north; ruled the coun-
try, and, in 1866, the same gentleman
said in a speech before the Georgia
Legislature that, by return to Con.
gress, the south might repeat the ex.
pertinent with some success. He
(Blaine) had read that speech at the
time of its delivery. and had little
thought he would live TO see the pro-
phecy fulfilled; but new we see those
measures matured in Democratic eau
ems in which the south has an over
whelming majority OF two.thirds in the
House and 80 out Of AZ Senators, % OF
whom. u positive and pronounced ma
ioriiy, participated in the war against
the Union, either in civil or military
situations, so that out legislation is
shaped and fashioned by caucus in
which the ex-Confederates have ma.
jority, aud Mr.. Stephens's prophecy is
realized. Very appropriately the Con-
gress controlled by the south says 10
the President, the remaining branch Of
the Government elected on Republican
principles in opposition TO the party
now IN power, that he shall not exer-
else his power 10 veto a bill
They ask il we call it revolutionary
continued Mr.. Blaine, to put amend
ments on Appropriation bills2 or
course not. There have been a great
many amendments put on such bills.
some misohisyous and some harmless,
but call il the audacity Of revolution
for any Senator or representative, or
any caucus Of Senators or Representa-
I 10 hot
will have certain legislation or stop the
departments OF the government. That
is revolutionary. don't think ii will
be q revolution. IL will be q revolu-
tion that will not revolve. 1t won't
work. Ii is n revolution il persisted in
IL must be backed out from ignomin-
iously, and the latter will probably be
the result.
Mr.. Blaine concluded as follows: 81
do not profess TO know, Mr.. President,
what the President OF tie United States
will do when these bills are presented
10 him, as I suppose, in due course,
they will be. ! certainly should never
speak a solitary word OF disrospect OF
the gentleman holding that exalted
position and hope / shall not speak
word unbefitting the dignity OF the Of
fee OF q Senator OF the United States,
but, as there has been speculation here
and there, on both sides, as TO what he
would do, il seems 10 me that the dead
heroes OF the Union would rise from
their graves il he should consent TO be
intimidated and outraged in his proper
constitutional powers by threats like
these. "All the war measures OF Abra-
ham Lincoln are 10 be wiped out" cay
leading Democrats. The Bourbons Of
France busied themselves, / believe,
after the Restoration. in moving every
trace Of NspoleOn's power and gran
deur, even chiseling the "N" from pub
lie monuments raised 10 perpetnste his
glory. But the dead mans hand from
st. Helena reached out and destroyed
them in their pride and in their glory.
And / tell the Senators on the other
side Of this chamber, / tell the Demo-
cratic party North and South, ihe
/ South in the lead and the North follow
I ing, that the "slow unmoying finger Of
scorn" from the tomb of the martyred
/ President on the prairies OF Illinois
will wither and destroy them. Though
dead he speaketh. Great applause
/ IN the Rhllefltel Nbtu you present
these bills with these threats TO living
President who bore the commission Of
/ Abraham Lincoln, and served with
honor in the army OF the Union which
Lincoln restored and preserved. can
think::only OF one appropriate response
from his lips or his pen. He should
say 10 YOU with the scorn BETTING his
station "ls thy servant dog that he
should do this thingp"
Mr.. Withers Dem, Va said that
the statement OF the Senator from
Maine Of so few soldiers found in the
states east OF the Mississippi was n
futile attempt TO divert attention from
acts lying al the foundation OF our in
stitutiOns. IL was not question TO be
decided whether there were soldiers
enough TO dominate and control the
elections, but whether under the opera
ton OF existing laws il was not posi-
ble for the Executive % distribute and
use the soldiery so as TO destroy the
| freedom Of elections. The Senator
from Maine stated that the issue the
Democrats made was false, slAnderous
and scandalous. He (Withers) would
simply say II was no false issue when
they proposed 10 repeal a law allowing
troops 20 be used in elections guarded
only by their commander. II was no
false issue 10 say that there could be
| M fraa alacfian in the preaeneo ~