Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-10-10


organization of the federal government
ten articles of amendment 10 the consti.
tuition were adopted, every one Of which
was intended TO limit the powers or the
possible pretensions OF that government,
and the ninth and tenth articles of (which
expressly declare;
ARTICLES. The enumeration IN the constitu-
tiol OF certain rights snail not be construed 10
pie.
ARTICLE 10. The powers not delegated TO the
lnned States by the constitution, nor prohibited
by II 10 the states, are reserved to the states
specuyely, or 10 the people.
Now why were our forefathers so jeal-
Gus on this subject and so careful TO pre-
serve the rights of the states and of the
people! 1t was, among other things, be.
cause of all countries in the world,
America, for the preservation of the lib
critics and prosperity of the people, needs
local seltgovernment. Should con.
greSs continue successfully lis career
ofuSurpation until, practically speaking,
all the powers Of government should be
absorbed by it. What would DO the neces-
sary result? Then the laws that would
govern the people of Ohio in regard to
their domestic concerns, would be made
not by their own chosen representatives
in their own midst, but by congress in
which the state of Rhode Island has as
much weight in the senate AS the state of
Ohio; by congress in which the six
New England States would have six
times as much power in the senate in
framing q law relating to the domestic
affairs of our state as Ohio herself would
have. Let no one, my friends, imagine
that such state fittings can never come
10 pass. | myself do not believe that it
will come to pass; but the reason of my
belief is my faith in the power of the
principles of Democracy 10 prevent il.
Were it not for democratic opposition, it
might come TO pass. The forms of state
governments might remain. Your legis.
lature might sit from year to year, pass
ing laws and leyying taxes, but their leg
lslation would be met and controlled at
almost every step by the legislation of
the congress of the United States.
The forms of the Roman republic con-
tinued to exist long after every particle
of Roman liberty had been destroyed.
And so the forms of our state government
might continue to exist after every sub.
stantial exercise of local government
had been oycrthrown, Now mark it, my
friends, the doctrine of state rights, or,
in other words, local elf.government, for
which the democracy contend, is different
from the doctrines of notification or Sc.
cession. The democracy of the north
never believed in either of these doc
trines; they never believed in the right
OF notification or secession. And until
the breaking-out of the civil war l believe
II may be truly affirmed that large ma.
Jority of the people ofthe southern states
We're also opposed to those doctrines. 1t
is true that when the war broke out, al.
most every southern man took sides with
his section That was the natural conse.
quence OF such strife, which over.
whelmed for the time almost every die.
tate of sober reason. But whatever may
have been the opinions of the southern
people before the war, no candid man can
deny, no honest man will deny, that the
southern people have abandoned the doc
trines of notification and secession, and
forever. They have accepted the result
of the war as determining that no state
has a right 10 nullliy the valid laws Of
congress and no stale has a right to Sc.
cede from the union. 1t is therefore the
boldest hypocrisy or the most deplorablc
ignorance TO pre'end that there is any
danger of the tvival Of the doctrines Of
secession. One great cause that endaa.
gered the union, slavery, has ceased 10
exist. 10 re.catHblish il j. manifest
impossibility. No man, north or south,
imagines that it could he re. established.
The southern people would be among the
first aud the most earnest TO oppose such
measure. Their political power Is
largely increased by the emancipation of
the negro, and they are fast coming TO
the conclusion that their material pros
perity is likewise improved by the eman.
cipation. 1t is not, therefore, fear of
secession or the establishment Of slav-
cry that prompts the radical leaders to
degrade and debase the states. The cause
lies far deeper than that. 1t grows out Of
tine long and never.ending effort of con
solidated capital, seeking special privi-
lcges by means of neutrality-suspicious.
that the mass Of the people do not enjoy.
The holder OF government bonds desires
u strong, national government, IN the be
lief that such government would give
greater security and value to his bonds
The mammoth railroad corporation, run
ming through many states, feels FESTIVE
under what it considers the annoyances
Of state legislation. 1t would greatly
prefer to state charters or state licenses a
national charter rendering it independent
OF the states. The national bank interest,
with its two thousand and odd banks,
destined if the system continues, 10 be
tripled or quadrupled in number in no
long period of time, looks with complac.
ency ON the legislation Of congress that
has destroyed the banking institutions Of
the states, and given TO the national sys-
tenn monopoly OF the issus and profits
Of bank paper money. The high.tariif
protectionsts and the seekers of subsidies
alike desire government of almost un-
limited power u crafty their wishes and
foster their schemes. In word, almost
or quite every form Of concentrated
wealth, except real estate, desires by con-
struction or otherwise to add new powers
TO the already tremendous powers pos.
sessed by the general government. Do
not understand me as saying that every
man Of wealth desires the annihilation Of
the state governments or their practical
overthrow. There are thousands upon
thousands of such men who are intellI.
gent enough TO see that the preservation
of The rights Of the states is essential TO
he maintenance OF freedom and pros
periiy and is one Of the greatest safe.