Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-07-28
Democratic Schemes.

1t has often been stated in these col
umns that, should the Democratic party
succeed to power, all the fruits of the war
would be lost; that the plans of the South
would then be fully carried out, and that
one OF those plans Is to wipe out every
vestige of the war legislation. Mr.. PoR.
TER, the Republican candidate for Gov.
ernor of Indiana, in his speech at Indian
apolis on the 18th inst, set forth some of
these Democratic plans in so pointed and
clear manner that we give an extract
from his remarks. He said:
Suppose they get into power; they will
have Solid South and thus secure three
fourths of the Democratic members of
the House. They will divide Texas into
FIVE States, according to provision in
the act of admission, and thus secure
eight in place of two Senators. They
will admit Utah with the institution of
polyagmy untouched, and secure two
more. They will organize the Indian
Territory into a State and secure two
more. That Territory was disloyal dur
ing the war, and maintained slavery
Thus they will push all their claims
through Congress, payment of which is
not forbidden by the constitutional
amendments. But they will not stop
here. The validity of these amendments
can't be maintained if the reconstruction
acts shall be held void. The votes of
the Legislatures of the reconstructed
States were essential to their adoption
One of the Democratic National plat
forms pronounced all the Reconstruction
40 70 ho lat;
and void. In the case of these amend
ments the Legislatures of two of the
States voted to withdraw their assent be-
fore the proclamation of their adoption
was made. The withdrawal was treated
as Intellectual, but the consent of these
two States was essential to their adoption.
In relation to the Fourteenth, the consent
of Indiana was essential to its adoption
You know the circumstances. The Demo.
cratic members resigned to prevent its
passage, but Morton was at the party
helm. He was not spirit used to defeat.
His spirit rose to the transcendent hight
of the occasion. The State rights and
slavery alliance had Withdrawn from the
Legislature, but the Legislature yet re-
NAMED. The loyal men who rem aimed at
their posts, they were the Legislature
Such was the decision, and thus the
amendment was passed. Now, 1t might
be easy enough for court composed of
men believing IN the doctrine of State
rights to hold, without violation of their
| consciences, that all these amendments are
void. We know from sad experience in
| our own State how easily constitutional
amendments, as we believe validity passed,
| and sustained by an overwhelming ma
jority OF the people, may be Cverthrown
to meet seemingly even the small ext
gencles OF party. Now see how easily
these amendments may be overthrown to
meet the overwhelming demand of a
| section. The way is already prepared. A
bill is now pending to increase the num-
| Der OF the Judges Of the Supreme Court
| to twenty-three. The pretext is that the
| business OF the Court requires the in
crease, and 1t Is plausible. Let that bill
pass, and the South will require that
these Judges shall at least three-tourths
be appointed from the South. 1t fur.
nishes more than three-fourths of the
effective strength of the party. The Cab
| met, three-fourths Southern, well know
| how to select men whose sentiments are
known beforehand on questioes so vital.
The way will then be prepared upon
some agreed case Qike the case in this
State) to have a decision, and all the
amendments may be declared, in the Ian
guage OF the Democratic plattormaon the
| reconstruction acts, "unconstltutional, re-
| volutionary and void"