The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-24
THE FIRST BOOM FOR 1880.
Speech Of IOhn Sherman at Portland,
Me-, Yesterday.

t aSSStNsIs
Americas Great FlnanOler and SUGGEST
RssumptlOnlst Reviews the Field Of His
Great Work, which hushes The
J Slanderlnu Tongue Of
Democracy,
PORTLAND, Me-, July 2S.-An immenl
audience greeted Secretary Sherman t,
night at City Hall. Long before o'cloc
every available seat was taken, and a
standingroom occupied. Ashe mounted tb
platform he was warmly received, an,
when Mr.. Blaine came up soon after, tn
applause was long continued. The Chair
man, Ex-Governor Washburne, made
brief address, and feliCitously introduce,
Mr.. Sherman, who was received with
storm Of applause, and said that Il h
could have foreseen this immense audi
ence, this sea OF upturned faces, he nigh
have declined the urgent invitation of ou
junior Senator to address them. Mr.. Sher
man said:
Fellow CITlzESss i accepted the invita-
ton OF your distinguished Senator 10 speal
in the State OF Maine during my briet va
cation from official duties, mainly that
might present to you the mode by which
in spite Of much opposition, United State
notes have been advanced to par In coin
aud some reasons why these notes ough
hereafter to be redeemed in coin at the de
mand OF the holder, instead OF being, q!
formerly, irredeemable, deprecated anC
dishonored. You will naturally expec
me, as a public officer, to speak mainly or
this and kindred financial topics ConnecteC
with my official duties.
But before doing so, permit me TO say
that there are questions involved in oul
political contest this fall more importan
than those of hard money or soft money
greenbacks or bank notes.
REVIVAL OF OLD ISSUES.
If felt at liberty to choose the theme
most important TO you and TO the whole
people OF the United States, | would pre-.
sent the recent revival by the Democratic
party OF the Southern 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 bull
wark Of American slavery. II poisoned
and estranged large section Of the coun
try. Under the name of secession, it led
to the late rebellion, and aimed to destroy
the Union by an open armed conflict with
the National Government. Every life that
was sacrificed, and the treasure that was
wasted in that war, were the bitter fruits
OF this doctrine.
Now it takes tho form OF notification by
State officers as when General Jackson
throttled II, but nulliflcation by members
OF Congress, the sworn agents and officers
OF the General Government. These Off
GERS would surrender essential power Of
the National Government, nullifv its law,
cripple it in executing its conceded pow
ers, and make it n Confederate instead OF a
National Government. In the arrogance
OF their power one OF their leaders declar.
ed that it was their fixed purpose to wipe
out every vestige o! war legislation.
Their chief effort III the last two sessions
OF Congress has been TO nullify law ot
Congress providing for an honest election
Of members OF Congress q law passed in
pursuance OF plain provision oi the Com
stitution, declared by Mr.. Madison to be
essential to the preservation OF the Gov
ernment; law which has been sanction
ed by eight years Of practical execution,
which has been appealed to by both par.
ties, whose constitutionaIity has never
been disputed in the Courts, and which
is the only guard provided by Congress to
protect citizens OF the United States in the
elective franchise. The movement for
multiplying this law was made possible by
a united South" united by terror, VIC.
lence and fraud, and by crimes that dis
grace our civilization. Over the white
men OF the South, who " ere willing to nc.
quiesce in the results Of the war, the
"united South" practlced social ostracism
and violence. Over the poor blacks, whose
rights were granted, and, as We foolishly
thought, sufficiently secured by the Con-
stitution, 1t trampled with midnight mur.
der and masquerade, and last year it
capped the climax by election frauds more
shameful than the ballot-box stutEing and
repeating OF Tweed and his infamous ring
in 1885,,
Several members Of Congress who were
coniessedly elected by tissue ballot.box
stuffing, the meanest form Of crime against
the elective franchise, participated In re-
fusing the necessary appropriations for
the support OF the Government unless the
President would approve the repeal OF the
election laws. When, by the frmness of
the President, they failed in their main
object, they sought by condition in appro.
priation bills to compel him to agree to
nullify laws in violation Of his oath OF
Office.
When the President again defeated this
scheme by his veto they refused to appro-
pirate money to enforce the judicial man
dates OF the Government, and the United
States Courts are now powerless TO on.
force their DEGREES, or TO serve process, or
10 keep the peace, unless the Marshals
serve without the pay fixed by law. In
this way majority OF either House may
nullily any law and destroy the Govern.
ment. We thought all such dogmas were
overthrown by the amendments to the
Constitution. Such a policy, II sanction.
ed, will nullify the amendments, and il
more dangerous than secession or State
notification. 1t isrevolntion and anarchy
The evident purpose Of those nov
dominating in the Democratic party Is t.
belittle and degrade the National Govern
met, TO elevate provincialism above ma
tionalism, to weaken the tie that bind
this vast country Into nation, so that thu
winds and the waves OF faction may bea
upon it and shatter it, Gen. Wade Hamp
ton is reported to have said that he doe
not care whether the candidates arc hare
money or soft money, so they are Demo
Gratis. Afew Democrats from the North
elected upon any false issue or artifce what
ever, give them, with the Solid South, th
control OF the Electoral College and OF tn
Senate and House. Through the caucus
conducted in secret and controlled lway
by the most violent men, in which tn,
Solid South has the majority, they hope /
rule this whole country, and sap and min
all the strong foundations Of the powe
and authority upon which the Nations
Government rests. .4r;ls
/ 4. Z "A u! 4 /. &.