Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-07-21
WHAT DEMOCRATIC SUCCESS
MEANS.

Mr.. Porter, the republican candidate
for governor in Indiana, on his arrival
home at Indianapolis the other evening,
was serenaded and responded in an adj
mirable speech. We clip therefrom that
portion in which he depicted the results
which will follow the success of the demo-
Gratis in the coming election. He said:
Suppose they get into power, they will have
solid south and thus secure three -fonrth of the
democratic members of the house. They will
divide Texas into five states according to pro-
vision in the act of admission and thus secure
eight in place of two senators. They will admit
Utah with the institution fpolygramyuntouched
and secure two more. They will organize the
Indian Territory into state and secure two
more. That territory was disloyal during the
war, and maintained slavery Thus they will
push all their claims through congress, payment
of which is not forbidden by the constitutional a
mendments. 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 reconstruct
ed states were essential of their adoption. One
of the democratic national platforms pronounced
all the reconstruction acts to be unconsttution
al, revolutionary and void. In the case of these
amendments the legislatures of two of the states
voted to withdraw their assent before the pro-.
clamation of their adoption was made The
withdrawal was treated 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 IFS adODtiOu
You know the circumstances. The democratic
members resigned to prevent its passage, but
Morton was at the party helm. He was not a
spirit used to defeat His spirit arose to the
transcendent height of the occasion. The state
rights and slavery alliance had withdrawn from
the legislature but the legislature yet remain
ed. The loyal men who remained at their posts,
they were the legislature Such was the deci-
sion, and thus the amendment was passed. Now
it might be easy enough for a 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 be-
lieve validity passed and sustained by an over
whelming majority of the people, may be over
thrown 10 meet Sc0mlItSIy cNSu Ulc SIndll eAl-
gencies of party. Now see how easily those
amendments may be overthrown to meet the
overwhelming demand of a section. The way is
already prepared A bill is now pending to in
crease the number efjudges ofthe supreme court
to twenty-one. The pretext is that the business
of the court requires the increase and it is plau-
sible. Let that bill pass and the south will re-
qure that these judges shall at least three-fourths
be appointed from the south. 1t furnishes more
than three-fourths of the effective strength ofthe
party. The cabinet, three fourths southern, will
know how to select men whose sentiments are
known beforehand on questions so vital. The
way will then be prepared upon some agreed
case (ize the case in this state to have decision
and all the amendments may be declared, in the
language of the democratic platform on the re-
construction acts unconstitutional, revolution
ary and void"