The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1879-07-17

dress of their grievances by stopping
the supplies for the support OF the GOV
enment- unless our views on the SUD
jects to which the approprlaelSons iei1ee
are carried out. / say TO gentlemen Oh
the other side and to the country, ehaC
so long as the Democratic party Is III
majority in this House, II VIII heNer
surrender that grand healthIul power
which more than any other maue Eng
land a free nation, and which was put
into our Constitution in order thaI the
Legislative authority might nave
wholesome method of controlling exec
utive power.
Mr. Chairman, this extra session has
made up the issue between the TWO par
ties. The Democratic party declare
that the army shall be kept from the
polls; that juries shall be lmpartlally
drawn; that the test oatf snail De re-
pealed, and that the Federal authority
shall not interfere in elections WITHIN
the states. Upon that question the ne
publican party takes Issue win US
Confidently appealing only TO the pa
triOtism of the country, the Dellool 9Il0
party goes into this contest Never, IN
all the history of this land, have MOI
important questions been submitted 10
the American people for their deterinl-
nation. They relate to the pure admin
stration of justice; they concern the
gravest questions OF constitutional law
they affect the fundamental principles
of civil liberty. Every man VINO runs
for any state, and every citizen VINO
goes to the polls to deposit his ballot,
is interested. The whole method OF as
certaining the popular will in the Re
public is involved in the issue. So far
reaching are these principles that, II
upon this issue the Republican party
shall be successful, then AL the power
over the elections in states would be
drawn to the central Government.
The states would lose their places in the
federatiYe system, and whether the
army shall be used at the polls or not
would be question not of right and OF
constitutional law, bus of Executive
discretion. Such result means the
end of the Republic and the uplifting OF
empire. Can there be any doubt as to
| a controversy like his? In Russia,
where absolute despo5ism silences indi-
vidual opinion, it might be doubtful.
In Germany, where imperial power
sustains itself by an immense standing
army, it might be doubtful. In France,
where the people under manarchs and
emperors for ages have slumbered, 1t
might be doubtful. Bat here in free
America, with the trad tions of our En-
glish ancestors and with the sacrifices
and triumphs of our American forefa-
theirs in behalf of civil liberty, it cannot
be poubtful. [Applause.] Shall civil
| liberty perish upon lis own threshold
and by its own fireside? Shall the bea-
con light which has shone from our
shores for the encouragement of strug-
Cling freemen everywhere flicker in its
socket and go out even as they are gaz-
ing upon it? Shall the sun of free
government in this continent, ere it
reaches the meridian, sink into night ?
Shall the shadow and the cloud of the
army darken our free fields, and free
rivers, and free lakes, and free prairies,
and pollute the air so that freeman
cannot breathe it? The century of tri-
umph just ended protests; the bright
prospects of our future protest; the
hopes of the world protest; and, what is
practically of more yalle, the Demo-
cratic party, with its majority of half a
million of American people, protests.
Gentlemen, the contest will soon be-
gin. Aye, it has already begun. l
hear the whispering of American inqul-
ry. / hear the mutterings of Anglo
Saxon resolve 1 hear the tread of the
legions forming, with thebanner of civ
il liberty above them. The contest has
already begun, and God give victory to
freedom and the right! Loud applauseI