The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-10-14


age OF the politician, or garlanded with
the rhetoric of the professional stump
speaker. These, with other considera-
tions, would have prompted me to de-
cline an invitation to break self-im-
posed silence on public affairs, I'M
der other circumstances, or on diff
ferent occasion. But, when solicited by
men who were themselves, in the past,
as well as those they represent, the pro-
motors of my political fortunes, and who
are now battling tor the success and
supremacy OF principles which are
alone compatible with the prosperity OF
our country, and the general welfare of
the generous people, with whom l have
always been identified, cannot with
hold from them full expression of my
sympathy in this great struggle. 4t
Gentlemen of the Democratic clu BIS -
You are engaged in a grand struggle
for the supremacy of the constitution,
as interpreted by the fathers, and for
the perpetd;ty of individual liberty. If
we are TO be a Nation, the American
Revolution, with its boosted results, was
a delusion and snare. The blood
spilled at Monmouth, Yorktown and
Saratoga was libation to false god
Bunker Hill was Il wicked massacre
The Cowpens and Kings Mountain
were fought in vain. And the cOnven-
ton that cemented the states into a con-
federacy under our Constitution, had
better have then followed the teachings
of Alexander Hamilton, who proposed
that the States should be mere depen-
denotes, powerless to elect their own
governors, or to make laws for the gov
eminent of their own domestic officers.
Sirs, this is not a nation. And, God
willing, the patriotism of the America n
people will never permit this once glo-
rious, and still powerful and prosperous
republic to be converted into nation
first, and an empire afterwards. The
end and aim of the Democratic party of
to-day is 20 protect this country from a
conspiracy of bold, am bilious and des-
perate men, banded together under the
lead of Garfield and Arthur, to convert
this government, ruled by the people
for more tnan century, from Il repub-
lie OF contcderated states, into nation
of centralized pOwer-a nation whose
seat of power shall be at Washington,
and whose mandates shall reach the
people by methods known only to mill
tary governments.
Is this not the purpose of the republic
can party? Look at the Chicago plat
form! Read the 2nd plank:
1.-The constitution of the United
States is supreme law and not a mere
contract. Out of confederate states, it
made a sovereign Lation."
The platform insall its parts carefully
avoids using the time-honored terms
"Republic," Federal Union,'' ETC., etc,
but maintains throughout the ominous
term nation" AMI the antecedents
and usages of this party throughout its
eventful reign of twenty dark years,
leaves no room TO doubt that it its rule
is perpet1ated, all power will be concen-
trated i'm the Government at Washing
ton, and that its edicts, however fla
grant, will be enforced by the army
and the navy.
The general government will appoint
YOUR governors Your judges will be
carpet-baggers from other states, hold
ing their offices for life. The laws
passed by your legislatures, instead of
being submitted to the people tor rati-
fication, must be approved by congress
or by the President before they can be
enfo ced. The controversies between
citizens will be adjudged by the United
States courts, sitting two or three hun
dred miles, perhaps, from the homes of
the parties. Criminal charges will be
cognizable by the same tribunal. And
the citizen, ii charged with crime,
whether innocent or guilty, must be
dragged from his friends and home and
tried by strangers.
Is this distorted prospect? Look at
their platform, and then read what they
have done in the pastl
Read what Gen. Garfield said to a SER
enading party in New York since his
nomination. He said Alexander Ham
ilton's plan of government is the best.
What is that plan? You will find it on
page 2U5, Volume 8, of Elliott's compi-
lation of the Madison papers, edition
of lS77.a I read literal extracts: -i
1.-The supreme Legislative power of the
United States of America to be vested
in two differ ent bodies of men, the one
to be called the assembly, and the other