The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-05-13

the United States iB at home on every foot
Of the territory OF this nation. II docs not
enter States II was there from the begin.
ning!ot the formation Of the Constitution.
tbs In every fiber OF the muscle OF every
man, | wish II were in the hearts Of MI
the men Of this Republic.
lcannot with patience reflect on the doc.
trine advanced In support OF, this Bill and
that Is embodied In Il, whatever men NAV
say, that this Government OF ours Al.
most o century old, hoary with honor
and with renown, should be, at last, after
1t has 80 often vindicated It's right to exist
on great and small occasions, treated as an
e1traneous neighbor, sometimes friend,
sometimes an enemy Of q State, and that
1t Is 70 enter or depart from STATED
ldenounce such doctrine, and re.
peat that the life OF this nation under the
Constitution circulates among all It's In.
habitants and In all It's Territories In the
same way and by the same potency in re-
sspect OF the objects for which Il was
formed rs does the life OF the government
Of each one Of the States; and II there be
any potency OF the notion that State for
It's seltexistence must on occasion exert It's
powers 10 protect itself and the due execu.
ton otits laws, ,is It not equally true that tho
nation, so existing and so being in every
State among the people Of every State,
may exert for the same purposes OF ia own
existence and the execution OF It's own
laws the same powers7 l take II 1t cannot
be doubted, tTTF n
Mr.. President, the agency by which the
Government Of the United States operates
upon the people Is the same agency as that
oy which the governments OF the States
operate upon the people, in kind, in
character, and in q large sense In degree.
u is the agency OF law. Its enforced by
the methods and processes provided by
law. It establishes courts OF justice in
and Of and by the people who reside in
the State. The judge and the Jury, the
parties, the witnesses, the marshal, all are
there. Why do we say then that
there is danger OF Federal in.
reference and entrance into States
II it exerts its authority in
any other respect, whether in the power OF
coercion or In the benefcence OF providing
means for suppressing the spread OF dis.
ease or improving rivers or harbors or
building public buildings, every one OF the
agencies and processes BY which it does It
Is at home among the people. They are
not foreign, they are not alien, they are
identical and they are homogeneous, each
acting directly with and by the consent Of
the people and through their own au-
thorfty.
Mr.. President, II you have laws, does it
not necessarily follow that you are
to provide, as the States do, for the exer-
ton OF and obedience to them2 And
what is the power OF the law when YOU
follow It to its ultimate consequence? It
is nothing less than coercion. There is no
law which regulates the administration
OF q government that does not speak CO.
ercively. You'may give money, you may
grant benefits, but when you enjoin the
performance OF duties and protect the ex-
ercise Of rights, there you are exerting
the power OF coercion; and when the
magistrate, be he President or Marshal,
or tax-collector, or Judge, takes one step
in the administration OF the respective de-
partments OF this Government, that step
Is either absolutely absurd, TOR st prgterea
nihil, orit carries with it the essential and
inseparable idea Of coercion; that is to
say, compulsory obedience, if willing obe-
dience be not accorded. What then is the
reason why it should not be provided, il it
were not so amply provided as tits, that
on days Of elections for national officers,
as on all other days, every law Of the Unit.
ed States that bearso on the question should
have peaceful sway against all opposers,
and thatif II be necessary to maintain that
peaceful sway the force OF the law by
arms, titneed be, should be opposed TO the
legal force OF armed and violent opposition.