Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-04-25

the governor. not to the President, there
fore the federal government had nothing to
do with their election. L. Is s.ats al Gir.
The mission of the democratic party, was
to restore the supremacy OF the civil over
military power, and set up again the boun-
dares between the prerogatives Of the state
and national governments which had been
thrown down. The war had freed the ne
gr0es and demonstrated that majority Of
the people were determined that the Union
should be perpetuatsd Beyond this they
gave the government no new right nor took
any away from the states.
Jones. of Florida, said persons had be
come so accustomed to charge revolution
airy purposes on the democratic party, that
they had lost sight Of the import o. the
word. The southern people were anxious
to cooperate with other sections Of the
country in restoring complete peacs and
prosperity everywhere. The law proposed
De amended so a. to prohibit the presence
of troops at the polls was mainly directed
against the white people Of the south AMI
in behalf OF the domination OF an inferior
race. but repeal of the law was desired
not for the benefit of the South alone. b..
also for the benefit Of the entire earnsry
and to save from danger their llh.rEles, al
ways endangered by military power. Tia
stated that company OF troops Was march
ed from Florida TO Mariana, in 1877, to
attend an election, and after the election be-
saw an officer in his own town remain with
the state officers until the returns from the
voting polls were eanyassed. There was
no necessity for troops at the poiis. Ttere
was no indication whatever OF trouble and
none was apprehenled and when there was
so much interest everywhere concerning the
electoral vote OF Florida troops were present
to sustain the yill3rT al tbs returning board,
which def-suded the people Of their Presi-
dsai. Jones spoke Of the improved cond-
ton OF the south under democratic rule
ROUSE.
WASHINGTON, Aprii a3.-l9be=on said
1t had been stated on the republican side
that they would vote for repeal of those
laws, provided the repeal was presented in
an independent section. That declaration
had been perverted to mean that they we're
wiling 10 vote Tor an amendment If IL were
presented as separate proposition. That
was egaciy the opposite proposition. Robe
son remarked that the gentlemen on the
other side argue that the people Of this
country were living not under the e0nstitu-
ilon oil the United States but under the con-
iederacy o. separate soyereignlies, whereas
be thought they were members of gov
eminent established for the governments OF
the people and not of the states,-
government that had all the
attributes OF government. including
sovereignty. aud that acted directly on
people On taeir rights aed on their proper
". such he argued was this design c! the
founders OF the government. Hs admitted
that all the powers OF the federal govern
ment must be found within the wrisson
constitution. 1t there were any powers in
the laws of the land which could not
legitImarely nationally and regularly
be enforced from the powers provisions
OF the constitution, they should DO
swept from the statute book but Il there
were powers which were Necessary for the
maintenance of tho government itself,
necessary for ia security and its preserys-
ton, ald if those powers vera clearly
derivable from the constitution itself, ID was
jus: asmuch a violation of the constitution 20
miscOnstru9 or deny them as if it was sought
to enlarge the powers of the government to
the injury OF the people, He said-L,t ms
ask you whether or not the question OF
whether the laws of the United States shall
be enforced against whatever resistance
comes, was not the very question submitted
W tuO VI tdkt!t huA uthuGE
Its declsial is not written in letters OF liy-
lag lire, on pages as grand and splendid as
any IN the history Of the world Applause
on the republican side Do you not under
stand that when you take position that
there is no ''reace FOR the United States" to
be obtained you are re-opening the whole
question?
Davis, OF North Carolina asked HIM II be
claimed that under the constitutional duty
to gee that the laws were enforced, the
President had right to send troops into
the States.
Robson replied that when there Is OF
the statute book law passsd By Congress
and authorized oy the constitution. it is
the duty Of The President to see that that
Law Is enforced and executed against every
obstacle; that when that time came there
would be at the call Of the executive in
either section a million of men rising
in arms (it need bel to maintain
the supremacy Of the laws OF the United
States. Applause lie believed his friends
on the other side. many Of whom had en-
tered into resistance OF the laws before,
would be tolld ranging themselves on the
sita CT tbs constitutional government and
OF ,he power Of tie national authority
He commended the course of President
jackson in putting down threatened
resistance IN South Carolina, and quoted the
law passed by Congress on that occasion.
authorizing shs president TO issues his
proclamation and tif not obeyedl to use
the whole force of the United States to en-
force tbs laws OF the United States. Robe
aon concluded with reitera.ing tina, the
United States is government OF limited
powers, delegated to it by the constitution.
but limited only N number and noi
in quality. The powers Of the government
are the supreme law Of the land.
when organ ID in the form OF law by the
national legislature. and when they are so
organised they must be enforced By all the
powers Of the government. or the govern
ment itself will fall to pieces and be des-
troYed, and remain olly derision to the
enemies of free government throughout the
world. Applause and hearty eOngrstuia-
tons from the republican members
Robson held the floor nearly two hours
and was listened to throughout with close
and uuhsgging interest.