River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-09-16

ganizing the rebel states, and they de-
clared that :" no legal state governments
exist in any of the states mentioned.
Under the reconstruction acts state con-
stitutions were formed and legislatures
elected. These legislatures voted on the
adoption of the thirteenth, fourteenth, and
tifteeth amendments to the constitution OF
the United States These amendments
were all opposed by the democrats in con
gress and out of congress, and in 1865 they
declared in their national platform that
these acts were revolutionary. unconsti-
tutional, and void. Now, docs Senator
Trumbull indorse this declaration by in
dorsing the present national democratic
platform, which pledges anew che democ-
racy to the constitutional doctrines here
before taught by their statesmen? Did
not their statesmen all announce the UNI
constitutionality of these reconstruction
acts ? And if they should get into power
what would be the result in this case
Would not a decision of the supreme court
of the United States, that these reconstruc-
ton acts were unconstitutional, overturn
the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth
amendments to the constitution. II these
acts are void, would not the legislatures
convened under and by virtue of them
which made up the quota of states neces-
sary to secure the adoption of these amend
ments, be illegal bodies, and their acts
void? Have not the democrats already
commenced this programme
The authority TO enforce the eonstltu-
tional amendments by congress has been
exercised IN the passage of various laws.
The act to enforce the right to vote, pro-
tect the ballot, etc, was passed May 81,
1871. This act was not only necessary in
the south, but in the large cities in the
north.
1t is well known fact that
FRAUDULENT VOTING
in New York had been reduced to science.
and it has only been since the enforcement
of those acts of congress that there has
been the semblance Of fair elections. Our
old friend Senator Trumbull, however,
since he has become a democrat, attacks
the modes even in New York of protecting
the ballot He finds in a list OF some 1900
duputy marshals some five or six men who
had been accused of some Otiense unknown
to the appointing power at the time of APP
pointment. He attacks the whole number,
as well as the law and the commissioner
Mr.. Davenport Senator Trumbull well
knows that democrotic committee have
been trying to throw mud on Mr.. Daven-
/
find ANYTHING by which they could pro-
cure his dismissal If democratic re-
peaters, thugs, blood-tubs, and gutter
snipes could commit indiscriminate frauds
| In that city, and carry it by any majority
to overthrow the majority of republic
can votes in the state outside of the city
Senator Trumbulfs political conscience
would be appeased. lie knows very well
that the only fair elections and fair ac-
counts obtained in New York for twenty
| five years have been under this law and
under the management of John /. ilaven-
| port. 1t amazes me To see from Senator
| Trumbull this covert defense of election
frauds in the City of New York, frauds
which find no parallel except in the demo-
cratic frauds in South Carolina. Missis-
sippi, and Alabama. am sorry Ia find
one of whom | have naught but kindly
feelings resort TO such misrepresentation.
| lie knows that these frauds in New York
and the expressions in the south required
| strong measures for redress.
THE KU-KLUN BILL
passed March Is, 1871. Could any one
! reasonably object to that law? 1t Wac sole
! " for the protection of the weak and the
punishment of the lawless, and wheh Sen
ator Trumbull stands up in this day at our
civilization and attacks the ku-kluX laws
and their execution he becomes thereby
the defender of ballot-box suffers. ku-
Klux raiders. White-Line murder. and
the entire shotgun policy of the south. If
a political leader in state which sent
| 10000 Union soldiers to the field can be
supported in teaching such doctrines,
doubts may be well entertained for the
safety of the republican institutions.
Senator Trumbull speaks of the election
laws by which, lac says, the republican
party tried TO perpetnate itself against the
will of the people. He fails to mention
one of the most important pieces of legis-
laton attempted by the democrats, which
was the attempted repeal of the statute en-
acted under Washington and amended
under Jefferson and Lincoln. BY virtue
of this law the bayonet rule complained of
was authorized. The important provision
of the acts of 1892, 1875, aud 1907, nodi-
! fed in terms from time TO time to adapt
! il to the existing emergency, remained in
! force until by an act approved by Iresl-
| dent Lincoln, July %, 1861 il was r. zen
acted substantially in the same language
in which it is now found in the Revised
Statutes, viz:
SEC, 520S. Whenever, by reason OF un-
! lawful distractions, combinations, or as
semblages of persons, or rebellion against
the authority of the government OF ihe
! United States, it shall become impraeti-
cable, in the judgme of the president, to
enforce, by the ordiI ny course of Judicial
proceedings, the laws Of the United States,
within any state or territory, it shall be
| lawful for the president to call forth the
militia of any or all the states and % en-
plov such parts of the land and naval
| forces of the United States as he may deem
necessary to enforce the faithful execu ion
of the laws of the United States or TO
suppress such rebellion in whatever state
or territory thereof the laws of the Unit
ed States may be forcibly opposed or the
execution thereof forcibly obstructed.'
WHY SHOULD TIE DEMOCRACY UNDERTAKE
to repeal this law? If there is insurrcc-
ton should not the national government
have power to put it down? In case oi
obstruction Of the laws Of the United
States, should not the executive have
power to enforce them? In case OF unlaN-
ful assemblages of persons and rebe llion,
shall we not enforce the laws against then
by all the power of the government?
SENATOR TRUMBULL MAKES A CoMPARIs9~
between the administration Of James
Buchanan and that of the first six years of
travagance and corruption, and, by inn
plication, prasing Buchanan's as honest
and economical. There was decided
difference in the two men and their adj
ministrations: Buchanan was in theory
secessionists and practically in conspiracy
with the South. Gen. Grant was loyal jn
word and deed. Buchanan said in h}s
last message that there was no power IN
the government to coerce a state. Grant
did under the orders of President LincolH
coerce eleven states, and unfurled the flag
once more over all of them. Will Sena-
tor Trumbull compare the tratorous al
ministration o. James Buchanan with that
Of any republican since? Has he not often
times denounced Buchanan for allowing
our armies to be disbanded, our navy to
he dispersed, our arms TO be stolen, our
treasury to he robbed, before Abraham
Lincoln could be inaugurated Our publiH
debt was increased from $9,9Ss, G2l76 Ia
S5y, 964, 402 Oh for 40 reason but to furnish
the robbers of our government support IL
their treason. Senator Trumbull here
employs sophistry by try Ing to show that
$40, 302, 325. 10, the average expenditure
during Grants administration was Il great
er increase over the $6J, 29l ,i52. 40 eXpend
ed under Buchanan than the increase Of
population would warrant. That may be
true, placing ii on such a basis. But will
any fair-minded man take such basis as
this for the time mentioned? Under Grant
was the extraordinary expense of recon
structing the states recently in democrat
rebellion against the Government
II HIS DEFENCE OF THE DEMOCRAT PLAT