Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-04-17

Limitation being put upon this debate.
" we cannot stand upon an issue 30
broad, 80 constitutional. 20 catholic. 90
tair, 30 free ss this, then tell me in
heavens name where are there battle
ments strong enough for US To get be.
bindf Let IL 60 the country that one
party asserts that tho nanacleg shall
fall from the limbs Of the citizen. and
that the army shall hold it's mailed hand
At the throat Of the sovereign. and that
the other refuses to release the throt-
Ting grasp, and declares that IT, will
block the wheels Of the Government
and bring it 10 starvation.
am willing. aud those with Nbom /
stand are willing, TO accept this issue,
and We go further, we tender il. We
are the ones 10 make the issue and We
are ready for you TO accept il. Plant.
ing Ourselves upon this broad ground.
we welcome controversy. We geek no
quarrel with you, but for the first time
IN cigteen years past the Democracy are
back ia power ia both branches Of the
Legislature, and she proposes 70 signal.
izc her return TO power; Ehe proposes
To celebrate her recovery OF her long
lost heritage bY tearing off these de.
ing the machinery OF a corrupt and
partisan legislation.
We do not intend to stop until we
have stricken the last yesiige Of our
war measures from the statute book,
which like these were born OF the pas.
s!ons incident TO civil strife and looked
10 the abrIdgement Of the liberty OF the
citizen.
We demand an untrammeled cleo
ton no supervising Of the ballot by
the army. Free, absolutely free right
to the citizen in the deposit Of his bal.
lot as condition precedent 70 the pass.
age OF your bills.
Now, sir, If the gentleman from Ohio
is To be excused, for surely he cannot
he justified, IL he is to be excused for
phTading before this House the threat,
the argvmenr0n N icrrorcm OF veto that
Is already cut and dried to be placed
upon bill that is not yet passed ii he
i % be pardoned for warning this
House that the Executive branch of this.
Government will never yield its assent
TO this measure in its present form, may
! not be warranted and justified in en-.
ploying equal candor, and may not az.
sure that gentleman and his associates
that the dominant party Of this Con-
gress, the ruling element Of this body,
Is so equally determined that until
their just demands are satisfied, de-
msnds sanctioned by all laws, human
and divine, protected and bedged
around by pTecedents without number,
demanded 10y the people OF this land
without regard 10 section, who are
clAmoring for free, uuirammeled bal
lot mot for the South, beg you 20 re-
member, for If there be Eeciionality in
this issue / cannot discover III: for
Philadelphia H. well as for New Orleans.
for San Franciso and Boston az well as
for Charleston and SAvsnnah-that this
side OF the chamber. which has demon
strsted its power, never means 10 yield
or surrender until this Congress shall
have died by virtue Of its limitation.
Applause on tho Democratic side.
We Fill not yield. A principle cannot
be compromised. 1t may be surrend.
cred, but that can only be done by its
advocates giving proof to the world that
they are cravens and towards, lacking
the courage Of their own conviction.
We cannot yield and will not surrender.
let me assure my friend, and il is
upon with pleasure. that this IL the res
toration 10 power Of a party as old a. our
Government itself, which for almost
hundred years has stood the boldcst,
fairest, freest exponent and champion
and defender Of the doctrine Of consti.
tutional limitations against the doctrine
of the aggrandiEement Of power. 1t il
this organization that has come back to
rule, that means TO rule, and means 10
rule in obedience to law.
Now, sir, the issue is laid down, the
gage Of battle is delivered. Lift il when
you please; we are willing to appeal 10
that sovereign arbiter that the gentle.
man 70 Handsomely Landed, the Ameri.
can people. 10 decide between us.
Standing upon such grounds, we in.
tend 10 deny TO the President Of this
Republic the right TO exercise such I'M
con stitutionsl power. We do notsnean
TO pitch this contest upon ground Of
objection 10 him who happens, If not
by the grace of God. vet by the run of
luck. % be administering that Office.
tell you here that IL from yonder
canvas (pointing to the picture Of Wash.
ingtonl the frat President of this Re-
public should step down and resume
tho-s powers that the grateful people Of
an infant Republic conferred upon him
AZ their first Chief Magistrate, IL he
were here fred by that patriotic ardor
that moved him in the earlier and bet
Ter days Of this Republic, TO him we
would never consent To yield such dan
Rerous and unwsFranted powers, to rest
the liberties Of the citizen upon any
one mans discrptinn nor would he 70.
ceive IL.
IL was not for the earlier but for the
later Executives of this Government to
grasp and seek TO retain such question.
able prerogatives. You cannot have ID.
The issue is made: IL is made upon
principle, not upon policy. IL cannot
be abandoned Ii will not be surrend.
cred. Standing upon such ground.
clothed in such panoply. resting this
case upon the broadest principles Of
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