Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-05-13
Dailp 1icmcbct Journal.
Augusta, Tuesday MOrn'g, May ID, 1879
The Democratic Conspiracy.

national government, now fully manifested
by the recent debates in Congress. began
to develop at the close of the last session
when the appropriation bills were defeat
ed On the 4th of March the democrats
had majority in the Senate rs we'll as tn,
llouse-the first time for eighteen wears
Eighteen years ago they had a majority il
the Senate, but lost it by the secession o
the Southern States. BY treason they los
it then. and the first move they make up
on regaining control OF the Senate is Il
reasonable in intent rs was their act il
vacating it in 1861. They have begun
just where they left off when they went
into rebellion
The first step in the present conspiracy
was the lacking to the regular appropria-
ton bill of the repeal of the laws to pro-
mote fair elections This defeated the APP
preparation bills at the last session and
obliged the President to call the extra ses-
sion. Al the beginning of the extra ses-
sion began the rule Of the democratic ma
iority in the Senate BY this majority
they purposed and expected TO force
through the appropriation bills with the
repeal Of the election laws. They met in
caucus and resolved to stop the wheels of
government unless their demands We're
complied with. They threatened the Pres
ilnnt and L,,llxr r,,ipprit,
into acquiesccnce. Mr.. Beck of Kentucky
announced to the Senate that the democrat
ic caucus had determined to force the gov
ernment, assuming that the democratic
caucus was supreme, and that if its man
dates were not obcyed the government
should be starved until il surrendered. The
crack of the ext Confederate whip was
heard in the Senate Chamber. The evil
spirit of the rebellion was in the air. The
scenes of 1861 were wildly brought up
again. The insolent, naughty, audacious,
overbearing manners of the slaveocracy
of the South reappeared, with the cring-
ing. supple, servile meanness of the
northern dought;,ce. The conspiracy was
and is to undo all Legislation which grew
out of the rebellion and reconstruction, TO
give fraud and violence full sway at cleo
tons, and to establish by act of Congress
and the signature Of the President the
principle that the States are superior 10
the general goyernment-tne very princi-
Pile for which the rebels fought and which
it was supposed they surrendered when
their cause went down At AppomattoX.
But the Presidcn, di,rcgarlrd the
threats of the conspirators and sent in
prompt and vigorous veto message to
the first appropriation bill. This how
ever did not deter them from their purpose.
and now the President has before him a
second bill--a second attempt to compel
him to approve Il bill under threat that il
he does not no appropriation will be voted
for the support oi the government and its
wheels must stop. Though the objection
able matter which WAS attached to the or
iginal appropriation bill now comes
before the President for his signature on its
merits. nevertheless the threat OF stopping
the supplies unless he approves i, hangs
over his head, for the democrats declare
that unless he signs this bill the appropri-
alton bill to which it was formerly tackled
shall not be passed. But the bill in its
present shape contains the essence of the
State Rights doctrine. II has all the
poison Of the heresy Of John G. Calhoun
1t reduces the power Of the general gov
eminent in relation to national elections to
nullity and makes the State supreme
The President is required by existing laws
to protect voters in the exercise of their
rights. but this bill which he is asked to
approve would take away from him the
power to do what by law he is required to
do. "lf we, said Mr. Edmunds, sur
render at this time one thing esteemed to
be SO small by some, and so great by those
who seek to carry their scheme through,
we surrender all. If YOU follow the red
rag in the title of the bill, for fear the ppo-
pie will think that you are opposed to lib
erty unless you pass a bill prohibiting mil
tary Interference at elections. the capture
of power would be at very cheap rate. =
Weare assured President Hayes will again
exercise the veto power, and stamp this
attempt to cripple the power of the Exec
utive and reduce the national authority be.
low that of the States with the strong con.
demnation which it deserves. The flag Of
the rebellion must not be raised over The
Capitol. If the South persists in its mad
attempt there will be such rising in III,
North against il As ha, not been seen since
Sumpter was fired upon and the national
colors trampled in the dust under the feet
of traitors. Every patriotic man in the
North. let him be republican or democrat
is indignant al the outrage attempted upon
the national honor by the rebel, who hole
seats in Congress and their doughfacc al
lies. The coming elections must and vii
show these Confederate brgadicrs how
they are regarded at the North, and teacl
them that they had better not provoke