The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-11-08
LAMAR ON SHERMAN.
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course of which he spoke at some length
IN indication of the Democratic party
and of the South, against the charges
made by John Sherman. We make the
following extracts from his speech:
And now, fellow-citizens, have to say some
thing upon subject which, If not graver in its
char cter than that which have discussed, 10
more difficult to treat with perfect unreserve.
public officer, whose position makes him
the representative of the national interests,
and whose dlty il is to respect and vindicate
the character of the whole people whom he
represents, hiss lately taken the field as an
open, and, ! believe, an ayowed, candidate for
the Presidency. His immense patronage and
his necessary influence with the great money
corporations Of the country are all 30 many
forces operating 10 give success to his aspi-
rations. Indecorous, in my opinion, as is this
attitude Of Cabinet officer holding such i'm
mense patronage; compromising to the
administration, of which he forms 80 con-
spicuous part, as is this open disregard of
the patriotic professions as to civil-service
reform made by the President-l would not
feel called on to follow mm in his popular cam
vases, but for one fact He has lately made,
published, and extensively circulated two
speeches Zone delivered at Portland, Me, the
other at Steubenyille, Ohio, which are bitter
and malignant misrepresentation of the whole
f.
and passion OF honest excitement, but cold,
calculating, venomous words, meant to stimu-
late honest and ignorant people to the exercise
OF sectional hatred
Before l read yon what he says, especially
about the South, lot me call your attention to
his charges against the national Democracy:
of felt at liberty to choose the theme most
important to you and to the whole people of
the United States, / would present the recent
revival by the Democratic party OF the south
ern doctrine OF States rights. This doctrine
has been the evil genius Of American politics.
1t was born of hostility to the Union. 1t was
the bulwark of American slavery. 1t poisoned
and estranged large section of the country.
Under tho name Of secession it led TO the late
rebellion, and aimed to destroy the Union by
an open armed conflict with the National Gov
eminent Every life that was sacrificed and
the treasur that was wasted in that wa were
the bitter fruits of this doctrine.
Now 1t takes the form OF nullliication--not
notification by State officers az when Gen.
Jackson throttled it, but notification by men,
bers of Congress, the sworn agents and officers
of the General Government These officers
would surrender essential powers Of
the National Goveln ment nullify its law
cripple il in executing its conceded pow ere
and make it a Confederate instead OF Ma
tional Government
Here is direct and a positive staten mt
that the Democratic party has revived and
committed itself to the Southern doctrine Of
State rights-not using the phrase to convey
that meaning which is acceptable 10 the minds
of all the people Of all the States both North
and South, but using it to convey that meaning
which is repugnant TO the Northern heart and
which the people Of the North regard AZ sub
versive of national security and the integrity
of the Union. He expressly saws: tsrhe
Southern doctrine of State riphts," involving
secession and qualification"
Now what was that Southern doctrine OF
State rights involving secession and nullifca-
ton, Of which Mr.. Sherman speaks? The gen
tleman knows well what the doctrine is, and he
knew equally well that neither the Democratic
party nor any member of Congress now main
tains it. or asserts it, or follows it.
He knows that the doctrine OF which he
spoke was claim that every State of the
United States had reserved in its own hands the
right to judge of the constitutionality of an act
CT Congress, and to pronounce it null and void
within its own limits.
Now, Mr.. Sherman knows, and knows we'll
that every Southern State has yielded up that
doctrine; yielded it up in good faith and for
ever; aye, more, has written its remuneration
in its organic law. He knows that nowhere in
this great Union is there ono State which sets
up any claim OF right to determine the limits Of
Federal authority, or claims any power over
the Federal Government or any department of
that Government What then, does the Secre-
tary mem by this reckless assertion? And
what is the impression which he in his
high and responsible position intends TO
produce? He knows what ideas and feelings
are associated with the ante betluna Southern
doctrine of State rights In the mind of the
people before whom he made that CHARGE that
is ito say, secession and slavery, rebellion,
notification and Acknowledgement of the Union.
Such are the impressions made upon their minds
aud such are the Impressions which he knew
would inevitably be produced when he made
this charge against great national party which
at the last election gave to its candidate
for the Presidency an overwhelming ma
jority of the popular vote of the United
states. Is it true that this great party has done
this thing? Not only is it not true, but .Secre-
tary sherman ought to know it to be not true.
citizens, do not believe that in all the
annals of party war are to be found assertions
more reckless of consequences, more destitute
OF foundation, more cunningly framed for the
production of erroneous impressions on the
popular mind than are those Of Mr.. Secretary
sherman. Nowhere throughout the extent of
the Union is there any conflict of State with
Federal authority, nor is there any possibility
OF such conflict for the future But says the
Secretary, "it takes the form Of nulllfcation,
not by State officers, as when Gen. Jackson
throttled il, but by members of Congress, the
sworn agents and officers Of the Federal Gov
eminent" Listening to this statement, wouldaDy
one OF acquainted with the Secretary's posi-
ton and necessities imagine that, in making 1T
as referring to act Of Legislation by the Con
gress OF the Uniled States? Would he not
rather imagine Cromwellian dissolution OF
Congress by the pike of q Gen. DeTrobriand
marching into legislative halls with fixed bsyo-
nets? Was ever the passage of a bill through
the House of Representatives and the Senate
character lied before this notification Of a
law of Congress? Is such language the utter
ance Of salesman? Knowing the meaning of
such language as we do know it, and seeing the
connection in which the Secretary has used it,
to what conclusion can we come save this:
either that the Secretary is ignorant Of that of
which he speaks land for such so en-
gagged to be this ignorant is crime), or that,
notbeing ignorant he has paraded before our
Northern brethren an impertinent and sense
less phrase to lead them into a delusion?
Does he mean to say that all or any of the
Democratic members of the last Congress
either openly advanced or covertly relied on
the d7tte-6elttaa doctrine of State rights as a
foundation upon which to rest measures an
tagonistic to the perpetuity and glory of the
Federal Government, or as an end to the at
tainment CT which such measures were to be
presented and justified? II So l assert it is
not true, either in letter or spirit, and l chal-
lenge him to specify the man, or the men, or
the time, or the measure, or the speeches, or
the votes. sssse ----~----- 1ssp- -
repeat, then, why did the Secretary use the
word notification when speaking of an or
derby, formal and ordinary act Of Congress to
repeal an existing law? The word has but one
II ne meaning in American politics, when used
in connection with State rights-that is, the as
serted right of State 10 interpose its authority
to invalidate an act of Congress. THE is the
meaning which the honest masses who
listened to Mr. Sherman would attach TO II;
and he used the term not for any pertinency it
had to the matters at issue, but with the
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