The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-05-25
Senator David Davis.

Davis, and the manly .outspoken utterances
contained in his letter places him among
the first statesmen in the country. 1t
any doubt existed as to his true position,
the letter to Hon. o. FL. Browning of
Quincy, Ills, will set at rest all question
of the Senator's views. The correspond
ence is as follows;
MIR. BRowNING's INQUIRIES.
QUINCY, ILL.,, May 6. 1s8O.-MY DEAR
JUDGE: The approaching close of the
present session of congress will, it is to be
feared, leave questions unsettled which
are of large public interest, and which
materially affect the peace and the pros
perity of the union.
Many of your friends in this state, and
throughout the west, had hoped, and in
deed had expected, that an opportunity
would have been offered in the senate BY
which your views on these matters could
have been made known to the country.
Ii unfortunately happens. amidst the
distractions OF party and the strifes of
rival ambitions, that the voice of statess
manship is hushed too often, when wise
counsel is most needed This was never
more true than at the present time. The
country is just emerging from q long
period of trial and suffering. The people
seek rest from angry dlscords; and desire
to avoid repetition of the perils through
which they have passed. They crave good
government, stability, and perfect recon
Citation between the sections. The states
man who can achieve these great objects
will be blessed as public benefactor.
l have ventured to embody in the form
of inquiries appended to this letter some
of the subjects upon which your opinions
are desired. if it be agreeable to you to
comply with the request of large body of
voters and friends, without distinction of
party. Truly, your friend,
o. Ell. BROWNING.
Hon. David Davis. United States senate.
SENATOR DAVIS REPLY.
WASHINGTON. May IA, 1s80.-MY DEAR
SIR: / have had the pleasure to receive
your letter of the 9th inst. AS consti-
tuent, friend, and an honored citizen of
Illinois, you have perfect right to ask for
my views on public questions. and / have
no hesitation in expressing them, taking
the inquiries In the order presented.
PEACE IN THE UNION.
Permanent prosperity and fraternal fei-
loWship are only to be attained by silenc-
ing sectional strife. A faithful adherence
to the constitution and all the amend
msnts; strict observance of the laws in
conformity Herewith, and equal rights
and equal protection for every citizen In
every part of the republic, will soon end
the discor is that have too long yexed the
country and injured its material welfare.
The people are weary of agitation and
want peace.
GENERALIZATION.
The constitution wisely defines the
respective limits of the federal and state
governments, under happy and harmo.
NOUS system, wherein each is Independent
in its appropriate sphere and both operate
concurreDtly TO protect the integrity and
the stability of the union. An eDcroach
ment OF one on the distinctive domain of
the other necessarily dsloeates the
u achinery of the constitution. and involves
danger to the whole body polite In fact,
every departure from the great charter OF
liberty and law is attended with peril
The demand made by adhereDts of one
OF the great parties tor strong govern
ment means. substantially, a centralized
government destructive of home rule in
the states, and the very reverse of what
Mr.. Lincoln well described as govern
ment of the people. and for the people. !
Carried to its logical conclusion, such
change would finally overthrow the re-
public.
THE THIRD TERM.
An lnuOsStlOn upon the SAnCClueQ traQl- |
tions of the presidency. first established by
the example of Washington. is urgently
demanded by powerful interest in the
republican party. 1.-THE limitation of two
terms, heretofore universally accepted. be
destroyed, the way to self-perpetuating
presidency will be opened, by the use and
the abuse of the enormous public patron
age. Break down this barrier, and an end
OF the experiment. of republican govern
ment looms up dsrkly as the cost Of fatal
concession.
GREAT CORPORATIONS.
The rapid growth of corporate power
and the malign influence which il exerts
by combinations ON the national and the
state legislatures, is elI-grounded cause
of alarm. a struggle is impending in the
near future between this overgrown power
with. its vast manifestations all over the
union. and hard grip on much of the
political machinery on the one hand, and
the people In aD unorganized condition on
the other. for control of the government,
II Will be watched by. every patriot with
intense anxiety.
CIVIL SERVICE.
Neither law nor commissions created
an0er them will effsotually reform the