Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-10-14

position the Democrscv could make. As thew
gained power IN States which had already
ratified them, in impotent passion the farce
was enacted Of formally resembling and with
drawing the irrevocable assent which had been
finally given. This was done in Indiana and
New jersey. and Mr.. Tweed & q it IN New
York.
From first to last, the organs OF Democratic
doctrine have declared these amendments ille-
galy carried-.llegai, because Democratic
States that were out fighting were not in TO
vote. They never yet have said or admitted
that the amendments were legally adopted
They did say in national convention in 1872
that they opposed reopening the questions
settled by the amendments, and they did say
in 1875 that they would accept them but that
they We're legally valid, they never said.
These amendments are constantly and fla
GRAVITY defied in more than half the Demo-
cratic States, and have been for years. the
laws enacted under them have heen denounced
in every form, and denounced as null and
void, even since the Supreme Court has SOL
EMMY decided otherwise. Il was to get rid Of
these laws that the revolutionary plot was laid
last GEAR to stop the wheels Of government. to
close the courts and post-offiees and put out
the beacon lights on the sea and on the lakes
unless a repeal was Welded With thorough
bred Democratic President, whatever may
happen in form TO the amendments, they VIII
become more dead letter than a quckening
spirit, and the laws inside to enforce them will
be swept like leaves before gale. Should
these laws be swept away. and should the
spirit which assali5 them III the South and
which called them into being continue to rage,
nlildew will follow il the wake.
When Lincoln issued his proclamation of
eLaanc patton, men aud women in this city
we're madoened by being made to believe that
the slaves set free would swarm to the n 1rth
crowd out white labor, and cut down its
L., -, L.
this wicked, insane pretence Throughout
the North this was the appeal to the laborng
man, ana many members Of congress who had
supported Lincoln were defeated at the ensu-
| ing election. Vainly we pleaded for reason
We said no men do not fly from liberty they
| fly from slavery and wrong. Events have vim
dicated the logic OF freedom.
Once more repeat the argument and the
warning. Tne black man wants to remain by
the graves Of his fathers. but let prosecutions
go on, and the story Of Pharaoh and Of Egypt
will be repeated. An exodua not of q few
| desparing souls [applausel but a real exodus
Will begin. deprlving southern fields of the
hands that should and would till them, and
/ bringing to the North and West a population
not enured to northern 'climes. and not adapt
ed TO usefulness and advantage here which
/ fairly treated would come from them in the
South. [Applause.l
THE NATIONAL BANKS.
/ The National banking system is anyther eye
sore to the opposition. Their National conven-
tons have denied all power of Congress to
authorize banks. BY votes and speeches in
Congress, by declarations of conventions and
leaders. by elaborate amendments offered to
the bills under which the National banking
system has been struck wherever blow could
be put in. This fabric Of banking is now in
wrought not only in the business of the coun-
try, but with the maintenance Of specie pay
ments--it stands lion in the path Of fiat
money [applau.el, initiation, and all the long
train of financial heresies which possess the
Democratic mind, especially in the South
LApplau5e.l la unnumbered ways, direct and
indirect this vast interests constantly exposed
to the action of Congress.
The Cincinnati convention seems to have
felt the need of little caution on this point
when it nominated Mr.. English for vice Presi-
dent. He is PRECEDENT of National bank
They nominated Union general as a blind to
the soldiers, and bank officer 81 blind to the
bankers. [Applsuse.l Evidently it is thought
the Northern Democratic team drives better
with binders. tApplause. But even binders
do not always answer. In 1861, after solemnly
asserting, Just when the rebellion was gasping
its last, that the war for the Union was a fail
ure the Democratic convention at ins.ig stion
comir then from the sheltering refuge of the
! Canadian shore, the same instigation which
prompted ike eXpedient now, put mp q Union
general. Thet general did not issue Order No
40 III the midst Of lawlessness and butchery,
which civil authority could not arrest. No. he
issued orders arresting the Legislature Of Mary
land, a State which had not seeded, and he
issued orders prociaiming martial law and sus-
pending the habeas corpus at election time,
and placed soldiers as supervisor of the polls
But even with such Union general the dis
guise was too thin
SOUTHERN WAR CLAIMS.
Wer claims upon the treasury have been aud
VIII be subject fruitful of much agitation
/ am moved to refer to it by the wholly ground
less assertion in regard to it now going the
rounds of party journals. The fashion OF this
assertion seems to have been ret bv Mr.. Ran
dali. the Speaker Of the House Of Representa-
tives Mr.. Randall is one of the ablest and
most intelligent, as be is one of the most
courageous men Of his party, and 1 speak Of
him with much respect. Ia several speeches
he has taken up the matter Of Southern
claims, always to say that they are barred in
the fourt= enth amendment of the constitution.
1t pazzles me TO see how DISCERNING man csn
have fallen into such an error. The proceed
ings over which he presides constantly refute
the assertion.
In the fourteenth amendment stand these
words: Neither the United States nor any
State shall assume pay any debt or oblga-
ton incurred in aid OF resurrection or rebel
hon against the United States, or snv claim for
the loss OF emancipation of any slave; but all
such debts, Obligations and CLAIMS shall be
held illegal and void The claims which stand
in staggering totals in bills already before
Congress and in other bills said TO be waiting
are not touched by this section Of the consti-
tuition.
For example, it is insisted that tie direct
tax imposed by the Nation on all States IN
1861 should as to the seeded States be re-
funded. [Applause.l The amount claimed is
e, 1872, 10. Again. it is said the war tax laid
on cotton should be refunded. The argument
is that cotton, like wheat and corn, is a pro-
duct OF the earth, and that wheat and corn
were not taxed and therefore cotton should
not have been taxed. There is plausibilitv in
this; but petroleum is product Of the earth
also, and that was heavily taxed not only
during the war Int afterward, and yet Penn
syivania has never Il simed that the money
should be refunded. The amount of cotton
tex claimed is $40, $50, $40.
Again, buildings Were occupied, crops were
trampled, fences snd WOOD were burned, pro-
visions were consGmed, edifcss were dernol-
ished, and regions were laid waste by the arm
les OF the Union. The total OF such claims
dizzes arithmetic. These are rot ''debts or
Obligations incurred in aid o, instruction or
rebsiIon"- .dedly not III ed of rebellion.