Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-08-15
Ben Hill and the Extra Session.

A w washington telegram reports Ben
Hill as saying that "he was glad of the
extra session because it had clearly de-
fined the issues between the two parties.
He regarded this fight as precisely of
the same character as that of 1776-the
right of elf-goternment. The Repub-
licans first timidly advocated but are
now decided in favor of policy of
wiping out State lines" In what Re-
publican platform or other Geliverance
bold declaration of this policy is to
be found Mr.. Hill omitted to state. He
is reported as speaking of the :" boldness
gans and speakers now talk of abolish
ing all OTaGe liues, ana 1o sHylng that
Republican leaders in Congress have
been led on to declare their real pur-
pose "until now they talk of wiping
out the States and openly advocate CEN
tralization of power" But Mr.. Hill
dUesn't mention any of these leaders,
organs or speakers, nor does he state
Just what they have said.
Another Washington telegram of the
same date affords curious commentary
upon Mr.. Ben Hills preposterous as
sertions. The telegram gives the text
of an opinion issued by the Treasury
Department, and signed by John b.
Hawley, assistant secretary, as to the
power and duty of the department in
matters connected with the quarantine.
The opinion has special reference to the
recent proclamation of Governor Mich
oils, establishing quarantine through
out the State of Louisiana, and affect
ing a most extensive commerce, and ap-
parently etfecting sweeping proscrip-
ton of the same. The matter was re-
ferred to the Treasury Department
by Secretary Evarts, whose atten-
ton had been called to the
proclamation by the British and Mexi-
can Ministers at Washington, who
seemed to think that the General Gov
ernment had jurisdiction over matters
relating to foreign commerce. Mr..
Hawley says; al am compelled TO the
conclusion that the right of the States
to establish quarantine and health laws
has always been fully recognized by
Congress, and that the customs officers
of the United States are made subordi-
nate to State authorities in such mat
ters." In support of this opinion Mr..
Hawley quotes section 4,792 of the Re-
vised Statutes, as follows:
"The quarantine and other restraints estab-
lished by the health laws of any State, re-
specting any vessels arriving in or bound to
any port or district thereof shall be duly OBJ
served by the officers of the customs revenue
of the United States, by the masters and crews
of the several revenue cutters and by the mil
itary officers commanding In any port or sta
tion upon the seacoast; and all such officers
OF the United States shall faithfully aid In the
execution of such quarantine and health laws,
according to their respective power and with
in their respective precincts, and as they shall
be directed from time to time by the Secretary
of the Treasury"
That doesn't look much like wiping
out State lines or abolishing State rights.
The only recent progress in that direc-
tion was made by the present Demo-
cratic Congress at its recent extra ses-
sion. Mr.. Hawley calls attention to
the fact that Congress, by its recent
legislation, has assumed power with
reference to establishing quarantine
regulations which has not before been
exercised" True, it has not assumed
exclusive power with reference to such
regulations, but it has assumed more
power than ever before, and it is Con-
gress controlled by Mr.. Ben Hills po-
litical friends that has done this thing.
1t would seem, therefore, that his party
is quite as much "party of Gentrali-
zation of despotism" as the Republic
an party is.
But there is no need of seriously dis
cussing this matter. To speak the
truth plainly, MIR. Hill is trying to
raise false issue. He knows or ought
to know, that there is no party in this
country that thinks of such thing as
wiping out State lines, or establishing
" government of force" or combin~
ing in the General Government every
element of power" That is all moon
shine, as Mr.. Hill undoubtedly knows
as we'll as anybody. The communists
want TO centralize power; but they are
not the Republican party. The Green
hackers, and in some States the Demo.
Gratis, want to eentralize in the General
Government the power to issue some
thousands of millions of irredeemable
legal-tender fiat scrip-the power to
impair the obligation of every contract
and change the value of every item, of
property in every State-but they are
not the Republican party. 1t is arrant
nonsense to say that the mission of
the Republican party is to destroy this
Government, and they have been
forced now to occupy that position"
and if Mr.. Hill doesn't known it he is u