The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-10-06
DANGERS OF GENERALIZATION
To the Country Exposed.
Distribution of the Governing Power
By the Constitution.
Speech Of Hon. HoratiO Seymour of \. 7.

= tA4C IAcBQpiAtdflSy anu lc OpcAEa viii IL
}. following quotation from recent speech
: Secretary Schurz:
q at must not be forgotten that this COY
! eminent is no longer the simple machiner
n 1t was in the early days of the Republic
The bucolic age of America is over. Tn
Interests the government has to deal wit
are no longer those of a small number @
agricultural communities, with here an
there a commercial town. They are the in
terests of nearly fifty millions of peopl
8 spread over an immense surface, with occu
patiOns, pursuits and industries of endles
variety and great magnitude; large cities
with elements of population scarcely known
here in the early days, aud all these pro
ducing aspirations and interests so pushing
powerful and complicated in their nature
and 50 constantly appealing to the govern.
ment rIghtfuly or wrongfully, that the re
quirements OF craftsmanship demanded in
this age are far different from those which
sufiieed a century ago"
These are not my words Continued the
lspeaker.) IF | had uttered them it would
be felt that | was making a harsh charge
against the administration. They are the
statements put forth by one of its officials,
"ho speaks from his experience as mem
Der Of the Cabinet, and as one who formerly
had a seat in the Senate This declaration
made by Mr.. Schurz is official in character.
| 1t will be so viewed in other countries, and
| will rejoice the enemies of our government,
| while it mortifies the American people. The
! speech from which this extract was taken,
| was made as a leading one in the canvass,
! with a view Of directing its discussions. 1t
| was received with applause by the journals
Of the Republican party, and by the leading
members of that organization. Its startling
! declarations force upon our minds the ques-
| ton:
| Are the disorders, the temptations and
| the confusion which press upon our govern
| ment due to its character and structure
TO the manner in which it is administered
No other subject so grave or 50 urgent is
involved in the pending contest. If it is
true that the difficulties in the way of an
honest conduct of our affairs are so great
that there must be other qualifications for
the Presidency of the United States than
those of intelligence, honesty and patriot
ism F.; if our government can only be carried
on by an exceptional man, who may not
always be at our command, than We have
undergone a revolution. When we are
told that a statesman is essential in the
condition of our affairs, it disturbs our
minds as when we are told that physician
of unusual skill is needed in our families.
1t means disease and danger. They are
usually the words we hear but little while
before the Grape upon our doors informs our
neighbors Of the sad result. If our govern
ment is so eneumbered with the confusion
grGE iEg ont of 10000, 600 of people and
their varied Interests and Eursuits, it is
clear that when that population, within the |
Iifatina &c many before me, shall have
grown to 100 900 U~, md the complicated
? of 1I,r c1Untr,, ara multiplied |
fourfold, that our government must be over /
whelmed or there must be marked reform |
in its conduct. This is not remote or /
uncertain danger. 1t is one that we must |
confront now; it already taxes our industry |
and endangers our prosperity Is this state
of affairs due to the structure of our gov
eminent, or to the way it has been admins
tered
Mr.. Seymour reviewed and analysed the
feeling which actuated the founders of the
Constitution in their distribution of power
between the national and State governments
and the various subdivisions Of the States,
and said must not look upon our Consti-
tuition merely an instrument devised at
the time OF its adoption, rs a means of
forming the Union, but as a result whose
roots had struck deep into our soil, as the
of living truths, and which now
exist in their full vigor, and which influence
the social and political action of our people
in a measure far beyond what is supposed
by those who have not studied the sources
and currents of public events. After
sketching the distribution of power as
provided for in the Constitution. Mr..
Seymour said, when questions arise as to
the authority of the general Government,
they should be decided by the letter of the ]
law. If this does not solve the problems {
they should be turned over to the State i
II they are competent to deal
with them Instead of this rule, we find t
disposition to disregard its spirit, and, if s
possible, to torture its language in ways to {
give power to Congress which is hurtful to s
he people, injurious to the morals of the |
legislators, corrupting officials, and, in the '
anguage of Mr.. Schurz, surrounding the I
capitol of the Union by call those produ- |
ing aspirations and interests, so pushing, I
powerful and complicated in their nature, \
md so constantly appealing to the govern |
nent, righttully or wrOngfUlly, that the re- '
IuirementS of craftsmanship demanded in 5
his age different from those which a
ufticed century ago. v
WHAT DO REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS PROPOSE i
As to the evils, corruptions and abuses +
Which are set forth by Mr.. Schurz, let us +
ee the positions held by leading republic =
ans with regard to them. What are those q
Ding 9ho have been intrusted with the du- a
les of administrator and who seek to hold Fl
,U-ar? We have seen that the methods Of Q
hose who have controlled public affairs and 0
OF the constitution of the .'''eo States a
ave caused the dangers which threaten us. | N
n the first place the candidate of the Re-
ublican party openly expressed his joy that
congress has thus enlarged its jurisdiction,
nd, to use his own phrase, he is glad ''that ;,
gravitates toward more power" He not -
My wishes the government to gain this, =
ut he is willing that it should do so by in "
ERECTION and subtle construction. He does s
OF say as he should do ifhe seeks change :
! the character Of our government that it -
lould be made by open and direct amend 81
lents, but he tries to bring it about by the :.
Sc of doubtful phrases. l speak particular :,
z about his position, as he IS now the expo !,
ent of the great party which has placed -
i'm in nomination for the Presidency. The ?,
aders in the canvass on that ticket are 8
nose that hold places as Senators or as Cabi- II
ct Ministers, or important positions under q .,
he present administration. All of them, :.
l fact, and in some form ask that their 20
over should be increased by taking from - -
lie people some of their home rights. They &c
~, in effect, give to us your rights OF max .,
lg laws for yourselves, We can take care of =.
our interests better than you can. -
Mr.. sHERMAN's VIEW. hi
Another member of the Cabinet-Mr. r
herman, Secretary of the Treasury-takes -
different view of the state of affairs from =.
lat given by the colleague. He dwells upon
lie business prosperity of our country. ~
overlooking the industry of the people, -
he favorable seasons that have re- y,
arded their labors with ample harvests, =
lie demands for our products from other Il,
,untries, he claims for the administration 4,
lie gratitude of our people for all their ~
essings. l have no unkindly feeling for T.