Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-14
Daily Asnnebet sournal.
Augusta, Friday MOrn'g, Feb. IA, 1879.
From the Boston Advertiser.
An Extra Session.


Notwithstanding the current reports
from Washington of the probability of an
extra session of Congress being forced by
the democratic party, it is hard to believe
that such foolishness will be attempted.
But il is unsafe ever 10 trust either the
patriotism or the common sense of the
democracy. Self-seeking partisans, hun
CRY for spoils and reckless of every inter
est but their own, have for twenty years
forced the more sober-minded to submit
to their dictation, and do so vet.
Since the fall elections few men have
asserted that the democrats. because they
would have a majority in both houses
after the 4th of March, would force an extra
session; but the most believed it impossi-
BILE. After Congress met the wiser demo-
Gratis all said ii would not happen. But
they seem TO have been overpOwcrcd, As
they always are. by an mwise majority,
and the action of their caucus Monday
makes ii almost certain that the extra SEES
sion. which every business interest and
verypatriotic interest breads, will be held.
There is absolutely no national reason for
it. Every appropriation bill can easily be
passed and every necessary public meas
nre properly disposed Of An extra scs-
sion is to be forced on purely partisan
issue.
What is the nature of that issue? What
is the first use the democracy propose Ia
make of their control of the nation
al Legislature Nothing less than
the repeal of the Legislation of the
enforcement of the amendments TO
the Constitution, by which that
party has been compelled. against its
will, to pay some degree of respect to the
political rights of the people who do not
vote with it. The democratic caucus-al-
most unanimously, we are told-has voted
TO insist on an amendment repeating these
laws TO be attached to the legislative APP
propiation bill, contrary to the rules of
the House, well knowing that the repub-
appropriation bill will consequently fail,
making an extra session necessary. So
hot are the democracy to enter npon the
work of making the amendments dead
letter, that they cannot bide the time to
begin with decency, but must needs naunt
their purpose while yet they are power
less, and with an offensive impertnencc
which may Justly alarm all conservative
citizens.
Senator Edmunds has compelled the
democratic party in Congress to throw off
its DISCUSSES. In the debate on his resolu-
tons its Senator'S, Northern as well rs
Southern, renewed their submission to the
pernicious heresy of State sovereignty, by
which notification and secession were de-
Tended as right in the past, and are now
defended as right. They all, without eX-
ception, took the groud that State might
make the provisions of the Constitution
null by neglecting to enforce them, and
the nation could not help itself, nor enforce
in such State fundamental law And now,
going a step farther, the democratic party
proclaims its purpose to repeal all statutes
enacted to secure the rights guaranteed by
the amended Constitution.
Let us be grateful to the democracy for
the promptness with which, as they obtain
a semblance of authority, they are unde-
ceiving the great body of patriotic citizens
who were beguiled by the professions they
made when soliciting confidence in their
intentions, and are indicating the judy
ment of those who always believed their
professions were insincere and delusiye.
The doctrines of the resolutions of 90 are
no more acceptable to the majority of the
people now than they were to the genera
ton which made and adopted the constitu-
ton. or to the generation of Webster. Jack
son and Calhoun. If in spite of the war and
its sacrifices. the democratic party persist
in it, devotion 10 the dogma that the Union
is nothing but a compact Of sovereign
States, the republican party, believing that
it is Union Of the people in sovereign
nation. to which every citizen of every
State owes first and supreme allegiance.
and of which every citizen may demand
the protection of his constitutional rights.
whether jeopardized by the oppression of
State government or the failure of II State
government to secure him against its evil
disposed citizens, will not hesitate to re-
new the struggle, and has no fear OF the
issue
The Sprague Estate.
Mr.. Zachariah Chaffee, Trustee Of the
Snra0ue estate has m afn an irtrrn..i. Il. ......