Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-10-31
AN ELOQUENT SPEECH.
Ex-Mayor Butler of Milwaukee Before
the Great Meeting ut Madison
October 18th.
Plain. Candid and Forcible State
ment of the Present Polit-
ical Issues.

phTlIes Of tho Counuy ho beticu "nu
ended.
Slavery on this continent is wiped on,
forever, thank God, and the freedman
stands before the law n citizen, clothed
with all tho rights OF citixenship-an
elector whose ballot Is as potent as yours
or mine; and there Is no disposition any.
where to disturb this state Of things
which resulted logically from the war
Thers is no question Of finance that
can enter into canvass between the
parties; no question Of tariff.
We agree, with our republican friends
that slavery IL ended and shall never be
Reconstructed on this continent; that II
shall never again seek TO subject any por.
ton OF our territory TO its baleful infiu.
euccs shall never again strike u blow at
The heart Of the republic.
We agree that the currency OF the
country shall rest on basis OF gold and
silver.
We hava no differences with our friends
AS to high or low tariff.
But there are questions which tho
American people must meet and dispose
Of, equally important with any OF these,
upon the decision Of which depends tho
prosperity of tho country, ifnot the very
existence Of the government Itself
l. Whether we shall have centralized
government, exercising for the people OF
tho United States all governmental pow.
ers, and annlhilate the powers OF tho
state governments aud tho states them
selves.
The question Is not whether VIC arc n
nation. Our citizen soldiery settled that
question In the terrible conflict OF tho re-
bellion; tho verdict was sealed on every
battle field Of the war, Ia the best blood
of tho country, and is recorded not
alone on earth, but In letters Of living
light In Heaven
We are nation but we arc nation
made up of separate states, bound To-
gether by tho indissolublc bonds Of tho
constitution
Tho powers OF tho general government
arc clearly defined and marked out In
that instrument, and by It's express terms
"tho powers not delegated TO The United
States, nor prohibited TO tho states, hro
reserved 10 Tho states respectively, or to
tho people
The tendencies OF the republican party
are 10 Capitalization and consolidation of
powers in the general government, and
the absorption of tho state governments.
Taking advantage OF tho necessities Of
Tho war which justified measures that
would not have been tolerated, for mo.
mont, by nny Of our people, In time OF
peace, to leaders OF that party arc now
seeking 10 impress on the public mind
that u strong, central government Is es.
bential TO the preservation OF our liber.
ties, and that the doctrine oil state rights
which rests in the letter and spirit Of tho
constitution, has boon recognized by both
parties from tho foundation of tho gov
crnmcnt down to the present time, and Ia
entirely consistent with tho exercise by
tho general government, OF all tho pow
ers necessary To It's preservation In peace
or In war; that that doctrine Is akin to
the doctrine OF secession; and, playing
on tba prejudlces Of tho people, they
will, Ii this question Ii not met and resist
ted mt the treshold, revolulonlzc the gov.
ernmont, and forever destroy the hopes
Of untold millions,
Under tho pretcxt that tho exer.
ciso OF tho elective franchise may DO In.
terIcrcd with, these party leaders In con,
gross have been guilty of tho plainest
usurpallon Estate powers and authority
Section 4, OF article |, Of tho constltu.
tion provides that "thc times, places and
manner of holding elections for senators
and representatives shall BIO prescribed,
In each state, by tho Legislature thereof;
but tho congress may, at any time, by
law, make or alter such regulations, ex-
ccpt as TO tho places OF choosing scna-
tors.
On the face OF this section, 1t Is mani.
fest that 1t was intended TO impose on tho
legislatures of the several states tho duty
nE ,Vtl al a,,A
ner of holding such elections, and 10 en-
power congress TO make such regulations
IN case the states should fail to do so.
But we are not left to the interprcta.
ton Of the language Of the section which
seems very plain on Its face.
Mr.. Madison, In his minutes, adds the
explanation that the power OF congress
10 make regulations was supplied, In
order to enable them TO regulate the cleo.
lions, II the states should fail or refuse
10 do 50. v Elliot, 400
Under this section congress has All
thorized the appointment OF supervisors
OF election, and deputy marShals, in all
cities of 10000 inhabitants who are re
quired TO attend 10 the registration OF
voters, and al all places Of helding cleo
tons of representatives or delegates In
congress, and are empowered 10 arrest
with or without process, all persons who
shall oirend against the election laws, or
who shall commit, or offer 10 commit
any OF the acts prohibited by the act Of
congress.
Thus the absolute control Of the
elections is placed In the hands Of these
officers who may arrest, Mt the polls, on
the day Of election, without process, o
sufficient number OF electors 10 change
the result of the election.
submit That, II 1t be conceded that
this power is conferred on congress, II Is
apower the exercise of which IL mimi.
cal to the liberty Of the citizen.
The ballot must be absolutely free, or
the foundation Of our liberties Is gone
The summary interference with the
elective franchise which the act, In ques
ton, authorities Is blow at civil liber.
~ which must be resisted at the thrcsh.
old. but insist that the power does not
exist in congress, or any other branch OF
the federal government and ought not 10
exist any where outside OF the state coy
eminent.
It's said,by the advocates Of ccntralza
ton. that III tna nnwnr dops mot exist In