The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-04-03
DANGER AHEAD


recent speech IN the L. 5. Senate on the Porter
case with these words:
"A careful observer of the tendency of the
times cannN fail to see that on every hand, and
in every branch of the Government we are
rapidly advancing toward consolidation and
naturalization of power IS against the States
This Impressive utterance had no reference
to the strong government" argument put
forth by the immediate champions of the Grant
boom, for Senator Carpenter is himself sup.
porter of Grant but it had reference to a ten
dency in the direction indicated on the part of
the whole republican party. As Gen. Palmer
Iapty remarked in his recent speech at Spring
field SO far as tins tendency towards consoli
daton and Capitalization is concerned 1t Is OF
small consequence whether Grant, Sherman,
Blame or Washburn is the republican noml-
nee, for any one of them Will represent the
same dangerous theories, and the election OF
any one of them will go far to their permanent
Judgement in our political system.
Blu. especial point just now is given to these
impressive declarations by the recent political
States. The cases are known as the Virginia
jury cases and the Maryland and Ohio cleo
ton cases All of them involve the same one
great principle covering the question Of the
autonomy and independence Of the states un-
der the constitution, or expressed in PLAIN
words, whether the states are hereafter to have
any rights which the federal government is
bound to respect.
The Virginia cases were substantially as FOL.
lows: BY the laws of Virginia all male citizens
OF the age of 81, who are entitled to vote and
hold office, without regard to color, &c, are
liable to serve as jurors, and the judge of each
court is required to prepare annually list of
not less than 100 and not more than 300 of
such persons as he shall think well qualified
TO serve as jurors" j. ID. Coles IS the Judge
of the County Court of Pittsylvania county,
Va, and in strict accordance with the laws Of
the state he made up his list of jurors, but
happened to place upon it, as well qualified
10 serve as jurors" no negro voters of his
county. For this oilensc he was indicted in
l =,
of the civil rights blll which says that mo
citizen possessing all other qualifications shall
be disqualified tor service as grand or petit ju.
ror in any L. s. or state court on account of
race, Color" &c. The indictment named no
negroes duly qualified, &c, whose names had
been omitted-indeed no pretcnce was made
that any negroes in the county were better
qualified than, or as well qualified as, the white
men that were selected. The indictment went
on the simple assumption that whites and ne
groes ought TO have been selected indscrimi-
nately without regard to the legal requirement
as to qualification, but with regard only to-
relative numbers. And this indictment the
Supreme Court of the L. s. sustains as prop.
er one and OIL which the Judge IN question was
ordered to be brought to trial
The Ohio and Maryland election cases In.
volvcd the simple point that state election OF.
fiCers, for infractons of state election laws at
elections where congressman are voted for, are
indictable for such offenses in the U. s. courts
The leading principle involved in all the de
cisions is the same. II reverses the doctrine
hitherto regarded as fundamental in our sys-
tenn that 1.-The federal government has no pow.
err under the constitution, to impose on a state
officer AZ such, any duty whatever and compel
him to perform it," In accordance with that
doctrine, if II is absolutely necessary for the
general welfare" of the United States that ju.
ries in Virginia shall be made up half and half
of negroes and white men, the L. s. Govern.
mcnt must appoint its own officers TO select the
jurors; and if, to conduct the national cleo
tions properly, the state officers are not TO be
trusted with the faithful execution of state
laws, the United States must pass election laws
of its own and execute them by its own Off
GERS.
But II this Is all to he reversed, and the
broad doctrine announced by the Supreme
Court is to prevail, that under the constitution
al clause which charges the general govern.
mcnt with the duty of providing for the secu.
rlty OF the citizen in his person and property
and to provide for the general welfare, the fed.
eral government Is vested with tall power to-
legIslatc on all these subjects, and to compel
state ms well as national machinery to obey
its behests, then the autonomy and indcpend
encc of the states Is gone, and they sink To the
grade of counties and municipal corporations.
----------------,
There was one baleful practice fastened on
our political system by Grantism that it will
take years Of the most rigid democratic virtue
To eradicate and that is 20 shield from punish.
ment any delinquent, no matter what his