National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-04-24
MODERN AND ANTE-BELLUM DEMoC-
RACY.

The men in the Senate and House who
call themselves Democrats pretend that
they belong to party that does not change
and that has existed for years. This is true
in part and false in part. To all the perni-
cious theories of State Rights, the dogmas of
secession, and the heresies of agrarianism
that were taught by the earlier Democrats,
the present ones are true; but in everything
else they have changed. Outside of their the
6ry of State Rights and dogma of secession
the Democrats, until within few years of
the rebellion, were generally patriotic, and
moreover, their representatives were usually
men Of ability, some of them, in fact, being
giants in intellect. Even in the times when
to fnr-seeing men the armed conflict over
the question Of any State having the right
to break up the Union was inevitable, many
Democrats held and expressed opinions that
their successors in Congress might at this
iuncture read with some advantage.
In 1856 the House OF Representatives at
tached the following to the army appropria-
ton bill, and thus it went TO the Scnate
Prorided, nevertheless, That no part of the mil.
itary force of the United States herein provided
for shall be employed in aid of the enforcement
of the enactments of the alleged Legislative
Assembly of the Territory of Kansas, recently
assembled at Shawnee Mission, until Congress
shall have enacted either that it was or was
not a valid Legislative Assembly, chosen in
conformity with the organic law, by the people
of said Territory: AHd prOrided, That until
Congress shall have passed upon the validity of
said Legislative Assembly Of Kansas, it shall
be the duty of the President to use the military
force in said Territory to preserve the peace,
suppress nsurreCtion, repel invasion, and pro.
tect persons and property therein, and upon the
national highways in the State of Missouri or
elsewhere, from unlawful seizures and searches.
This amendment was referred to the SEN
ate Finance Committee and reported back
by the Hon. r. NJ. r. HUNTER, of Virginia,
with q recommendation that il do not pass.
On this Mr. HUNTER said;
If the time should ever come. when, in re.
gard to Il subject Of Importance not connected
legitImately with the appropriations Of the
country, one House should determine to say to
the other, You must adopt our views, or else
the wheels of the Government must stop, -
then, sir, revolution is accomplished, no matter
which horn Of the dilemma it takes. II one
House yields its constitutional functions to the
other at It's demands, that Is revolution, be-
cause one House absorbs the power that be.
longs TO both. &" II Is revolution If you
force an independent or coordinate branch to
give up its functions or powers; or it is reyo.
luton it, in the event of falling to do that,
you intorposo to stop the wheels of Govern.
ment.
Senator BUTLER, Of South Carolina, said
The proposition which comes from tho House
Of Representatives, at this time is ono of rad
cal and revolutionary innovation. =
II not in purpose, its consequence is cOnstitu-
tiOnal suicide.
Senator STUART, Of Michigan, said "it
." IS unconstitutional ihctious and reyolu-
"tionary.'
Senator THOMPSON, Of Kentucky, the
Wing predecessor Of Senator BECK, said it
was revolution, though bloodless it be-"
These were the expressions of Senators
when an attempt was made by one branch
Of Congress 10 force the other to surrender
its convictions by attaching legislation not
germane or proper to an appropropriation
bill. Consider the words of Senator
HUNTER "It is revolution if you force an
independent or co-ordi mate branch to give
"upits functions or powers; or it is revolution
II, in the event Of failure 10 do that you
iuterpose to stop the wheels Of Govern
menl" The Senate is not by itself CO.
ordinate branch Of the Government but IL
is an independent one Both Houses OF
Congress form a coordinate branch, but not