Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-06-21

ior what we approve and support as for
what we suggest. have not tn; pre-
sumption to make any claim to bader-
ship here, but while not attempting to
lead it is my duty to know wh,re and
whom follow. and tor any vot which
| NAV cast here l shall never ndeavor
to shield myself from responsibility be-
hind any man or any party. L the pol
icy [ support is revolutionary am the
revolutlonist; if there is trelson in my
vote, am traitor.
But, sir, ask in all seriousness what
are the issues before the senate to which
such language is appropriate? l might
demand of senators on the 'ther side the
proof that any action of Ours was revo-
lutionary; l might open tie constitution
and. reading its precise and emphatic
definition of treason, ask who OF us is
..levying war against theU United States
or giving aid and comfort to their ene-
miles,: or what overt act f violence we
are proposing to commit? But do not
desire to make mere technical argu-
ment desire to meet ihe accnsatict
IN its spirit as we'll as in is iSsser. H.rat
are the issues before Us Let usfun-
derstand them distinctly But frs let
me say what are not The issues We are
discussing. To me there is no question,
there can be none. as to the proprety OF
making the appropriations necessary for
the support of the government In all its
departments. Upon this point there
shall be no misrepresentation of my POSI-
ton. By no vote of mine will the APP
preparations necessary for the efficient
maintenance of the army be refused.
1t is competent for congress to declsre
under what limitations and upon wiat
condition the appropriation Is to ,e
made The form in which this is done
| l regard as immaterial. In my juds-
ment it would have been best to adhep
to the usual form; but as it has beel
deemed advisable to make the necessar,
appropriations in another manner. .
shall, in order to secure unanimity, ac
quiesce in the decision of the majority
But in no event can / consent to aid il
disbanding the army or in lmpairIng it:
efficiency. 1t is the army OF the south
as well as of the north it is the army
of the whole country. In its history
from the days of the revolution through
its achievements of 1912 and the glorieI
of the Mexican war, have some reason
by right of birth and of blood, to b,
proud. In the late civil contest, O,
many a bloody field. l tested its valor
and no word nor act of mine shall de
preclate its value or lessen its useful
ness. But because 80 regard it no ac
OF mine shall tend to degrade its ranl
and file into police squad nor conver
its officers into detectives. will not 81
legislate that against its honorable in
stincts and traditions it shall be the in
strument of tyranny in the hands OF ,
factlous party or of an executive wit
might be SO unscrupulous as to use it an
lawfully. Nor shall consent. because
of any difference OF opinion upon mat
ters of legislation between the majority
and the minority or between the major
Ity and the president, to close the court
OF justice, stop the administration of tn
departments. and embarrass the neces
sary and orderly life of the government
The constitution, which l have not idl,
sworn to support. has provided tn
means by which an appeal to the coun
try can be taken, and it IS for the peopl
to decide whether the presidential vet
has been wisely and patriotically used
defeat the will OF this congress whlc
: represents vast majority OF the citizen
of the United States. My duty will hav
been performed when have used all tn
: power with which that constitution .ha
lntrusted me. The president and tn
minority in congress must be respons
BILE for the use of theirs. And Will
= these are my general views OF my duty
l certainly have no induccment no di.
position, to embarrass the present aG
ministration.
1t is source of profound regret to III
S that the president could not find himse
able to approve the bills he has vetoet
j To me they seem to embody but simpl
l declarations of constitutional principle
and to be IN entire conformity with tt
: policy, which he has announced repeate,
ly as the one that he would pursue. But
o am not disposed on account OF this dl
:. ference, grave though it be, to denount
s his action nor to impugn his motive
l am we'll aware that his position is n
Q easy nor his responsibility light. r
u member. and the people whom 1 repr
y sent remember, that in critical peric
e of our history. in disregard OF the pa
II sions and in opposition to the wishes
u the party who placed him ia his presel
e position, with doubt as to the result
u his independent action, moved, as | ho
IL estly believe. by his convictions of dut
o he withdrew the federal troops from Il
II state houses of South Carolina and Lo
% isiana, thus enabling the people of the
1t states to restore their local governmen
i. to those who represent the popular WI
: as well as the character, the intelligenc
% and the property of the two states. F
IL this action, wise and patriotic as l a
sure that history will record it. l for O.
'e am grateful. And while In the hone
N and necessary party differences whi
20 must arise in free country it will
10 my duty, with all the energy and abili
N l possess, to oppose the partisan poll
Of of which he is the representative, Il
II opposition shall not be captlous. N
d shall by bitter and acrimonious censu
'e drive him into dependence on those W
'r would in their selfish rush for pow
10 trample on him and on us. | tru
10 therefore, in what l have to say that
70 shall be able to speak with truth a
IS soberness.
~ What, then, let me ask again, are t
Q, issues before the country upon viii
ed any action of ours can be called revol
~ tionary or reasonable? If the repe
III ing acts which have been suggest
en- were passed to-day, we should slml
Us be remanded to the legislation unC
which the country has lived and NOV
20 and had its being for seventy-fve ye;
H. of its existence. Can such +
ny tOration be revolution or treaso
e. Surely not, unless the intervening W
It's has so changed our relations to ca
OF other that the old constitutional legis
he tion is no longer applicable to our &C
L. ditIon; and yet this is really wi
OF Senators on the other side would ha
ed the country believe. l ask, in all C,
ry dor. would such legislation as we NJ
e. seek to repeal have been conceived
ty defended by any statesman before t
es, late war? Would any President fir
ge 1889 to 1861 ever have dreamed of sci
IL ing the army of the United States
IA keep the peace at the polls or OF appoi
'te ing Federal supervisors and marsh
est to superintend the popular ballot?
IN not, then the necessity for the maint
en- ance OF this legislation arises fir
something new in the relations of
air states to the Union. Will any Sena
lth point out what that new element
be Ii any exists, what is the difference
ng the relations state holds to the I'm
to-day and those of the same state
fore the warp If there is none, an,
lie venture to say that none can be pom
ILL out, wherein consists the necessity
OF Snch IauiS1atipp fp-Iav ,yh iob ia ,,,+