Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-10-08
MIR. HURD,s STATES RIGHTS.

Two weeks ago we republished an able
article from the Chicago Tribune, reviewing
Mr.. Hurd's States Rights speech at the
close of the extra session of Congress last
year. We reproduce below the first and
last paragraph of column and half ar
ticle from the Chicago Times, (Democra-
tic, in review OF the same speech. All who
heard Mr.. Hurd's speech here two weeks
ago tonight will remember that he said
he had been accused OF being a States rights
man by Judge Richie, that he did not de
ny it, and said that lie had been raised
from the cradle up in that belief Read
the Tunes opinion of Mr.. Hurd's pet theo-
ry OF this as National government, which
lie uses on every opportunity offered to Sc
cure the applause of the Southern Briga-
deis, then pause and see if he is the kind
Of man you want to make National laws
for you:
Mr.. Frank Hurd, the member for Tole-
do, gained much applause from the south
ern brigadiers, the other day, by a declam-
isic notions Of the national constitution.
Apparently Mr.. Hurd was good deal
worried by some statements made by Mr..
| Garfield, who had affirmed that "the un-
ion had been ordained and established by
the only sovereign Of the country, the su
perior Of both the states and the union, the
| people themselves" lie also affirmed that
the union Of states was Older than the
states and instead OF having been created
! by them, had created them. These declar-
alions Mr.. Hurd did not like. They were
not in accordance with his pet theory OF
the creation, formation or manufacture
OF" the union, and hesaid so with empha.
sis. lie said he had never before heard
such preachment OF consolidation" The
extraordinary assertion that the union wa,
before the States shocked and astonisheC
him. 1t was abatement of untruth, ,as WA,
proved by the seventh artic'e e of the consl
tuition, which provided that the constitu
ton should not go in O effect until ratified
by nine states.
1t is consistent with Mr.. Hurds drol
idea that there Is no American Nation only
u lot OF different and distinct nations, pro
duced somehow by spontaneous generation
and cOniedeTaled in sort Of Amphictyon
ic league, in which every political orgal
Is boss of all the rest, that he should de
clare there is no such thing Ms a nationa
elector or national election, a nuliona
legislature or national government.
is not worth while TO combat this prepos
ferrous hallucination wherewilh the membe
for Toledo bambooLles himself. 1t is 10
absurd for anything. It implies that th
American peoEle-lhe greater part of then
were such hopeless and irreclaimabl
idiots as TO prosecute the most costly an
destructive war Of the century TO maintai
- constitution which contains no power 4
self preservation, aud is in reality nothin
bnt miserable rope OF sand" Even IN
Confederate Brigadiers, whose Calhouni
tic notions the member for To'edo 80 va
inntly champions, were not such fools as
propose n practical application OF The Ca
+ hunn hypothesis in the southern Uiopii
A In The cOns' 'ituliOn of their coniederat
states" they provided that "no person
loreign birth, not a ciliB'n Of ibe eoniede
= ate Elatea, shall be allowed to vote for an
= officer, state o. IedeTul" Here was an a
sumption Of federal power asd authoril
over ihe qualification. of electors, not onl
for nHIiunal but for all local elections
power involving complete regululiye col
n troll over all elections by the general go'
o ernment. Yet their over zea lOns champio
, OF Toledo denies TO the national eOnsliil
ton they sought to oyerurn, even so niue
p as Jegnlauve power over The election Of II
e national lawmakers II is case of on
= lleroding lierod on very small ground I,
- hope OF reward in the smiles Of uerolia
daughter.