National Republican., 1880-03-18
OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW.
GeneraI Garfield's Rebuke to the
NuIIifiers.
a No Loss Dangerous Issue than the Las
Session-C n-Constitutionnliiy OF tho Eiec-
tion Laws Now Settled cd-Demoorntio
Statesmen Setting the Example
oTDcfauce 20 the statutes
and the Result.
Tho Fedcrnl Islectinn Laws.

Ihc FoucrnI ELECTION LAWS
In tho House yesterday, in tho course Of
speech upon tho Special Deficiency bill Gen.
ernl Garfield, in reply to Mr.. McMahOn's
d - tIration that the Democratic party would
not appropriate money for the pay of special
deputies, said:
"Mr. Chairman when I took my seat rs II
Member of this House, took it with all the
responsibilities which the place brought upon
me- and among others was my duty to keep
the obligations of tho law. Where the law
speaks in mandatory terms to everybody else
aud then to me, | should deem II cowardly and
dishomorablo If should skulS behind my
legislative privileges for the purpose of dis
obeying aud breaking the supreme law Of the
lHnd. [Applausc.l
"Tho issue now made is somewhat different
from that Of the last session, but, in my judg-
ment, it is not less significant and dangerous.
| would gladly waive any party advantage
which this controversy might give for the sake
of that calm aud settled peace which would
reign In this hall IL we all Obcyod tho law.
But il tho leaders on tho other side are still
determined to rush upon their fate by forcing
upon the country this last issuo-that because
the Democratic party happen not to like law
they will not obey t-bocause they happen
not to approve of tho spirit and character of a
law thcy will not let it be eSecutcd-I say to
gentlemen OH tho other sidu ii you are deter
mined to make such an issuc IT is high time
that the American people should know It.
Here Is the volume OF our laws More
sacred than the twelve tables of Rome, this
rock Of tho law rises in monumental grandeur
alike above the people and tho President,
above tho courts, above Congress, command.
Ing everywhere reverence and obedience to
its supreme authority. Yet the dominant
party in this House virtually declares that
any part of this volume that we do not like
and cannot repeal we will disoboy. We have
tried to repeal these election laws; we have
failed because we had not the constitutional
power TO destroy them; tho Constitution says
| they shall stand IN their authority and power;
bnt we the Demo ratio party, in deiirnCo of
the Constitution, declare that if we cinnOt
destroy them outright by repeal, thoy shall
| be left to crunble into ruin by wantOn and
| lawloss neglect
"Mr. Chairman, l ask gentlemen on the other
| side whether they wish to m Iintain this atti-
| tn le In regard to the legislation of tho couu-
try? Are they willing to start on hunt
| through the statutes and determine for them.
selves what they will obey aud what they will
disobey? That is tho moaning of my col.
leagues speech. If it means anything it
means that. lIo is not an old Brauchburgh
elector but an elcctor in this novel and mol
| ern sense that he will elect what laws hp will
| obey and what ho will di3Oboy, and in 80 far
~ his powor can go, he will infect with his
spirit OF disobedicnoe all the good people Of
| this country who trust him,
| ~ ask, gentlemen, whether this is a tins
when 1t is safe to disregard aud weaken of
law In all quarters the civil society of this
country is becoming houeycombed through
and through by disnte2rating lorces-in some
States by the violation 0f contracts and the
population of debts in others by open resist
anca aud defiance; in still others by the reck-
| loss overturning of constitutions and letting
the rcd fool.fury OF tho Seine run riot among
our peoplo aud build its blazing affairs to tho
strange gods of ruin and misrulo. All these
| things are shaking tho good order of so 'ety
| aud threatening the foundations of our Gov
| crument and our peace. In time like
| this, more than ever before, this country needs
body of law-givcr5 clothed and in their
right minds, who have laid their hands upon
| the altar of tho law MS its defenders, not its
destroyers and yet now in the namo of party,
for somo supposed party advantage, my col
league from Ohio announces, aud no ono on
his side has said him nay, that they not only
have not in the past Obeyed but in the future
they will not obey this law Of the land which
the Supreme Court has just crowned with tho
authority of its sanction. II my colleague
chooses to meet that issue, If he chooses to 90
to the country with that plea, ! shall regret 1t
deeply for my cOuntry's sake but If | looked
only to my party's interest il would give me
joy to engage in such II struggle.
THE contest Of last autumn made the pGo.
pie understand the tendencies Of gentlemen
on the other side. Now this cool, calm, delb-
crate assassination OF tho law will not be toll
Grated. We have had n winter to freeze ont
our passion, wc have had summer to thaw out
our Indifference, We have had the changing OF
circles of the year to bring us around to order
and cnlmuess, and yet all the tiory courses Of
the stars seem to have shed their influence
on my colleague to fire him with moro des-
perato madness and drive his party on to u
still sadder fate. [Applausc on the Republi-
can side,
II trust and believe that We may yet tiud
somo response from the other side of the
House that will prevent this course OF pro.
cedure. If We do, | will gladly give away
any party advantage for the sake OF strength
ening tho foundations Of law and good order,
And | therefore appeal to gen ntIemen on tho
other side 10 prevent disaster which their
party leaders are preparing not for them
selves alone but for our common country
hopo before this day Is over We may see such
! u vote in this chamber upon this bill rs will
put an end TO this miserable business, and
cast out of these halls the dregs of that un.
fortunate and crazy extra session." [Applguse
on the Republican sdo