Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-22
Senator Conkling's Speech.

them with his own peculiar force ana NlgOr he
spoke for nearly two hours in the Academy OF
Music to densely packed audience representing
the different classes of society and the complex
business interests Of the great metropolis We
are able to publish only the following extracts
POWER or THE BALLoT-Box.
Whoever is given greeting and audience In such
n presence, ought indeed to have something
worthy-something fit and wise to say. made
quate In all, save only grateful and respectful APP
preciaton must be my return. We are citizens
Of a republic. We govern ourselves Here no
pomp OF eager array in chambers of royalty
awaits the birth of boy or girl to WELD an hered-
itary scepter whenever death or revolution pours
on the oil OF coronation. We know no scepter
save n maiorty's constitutional will. To WELD
that scepter in equal share is the duty and the
right, nay, the birthright, Of every citizen. The
supreme, the final, the only peaceful arbiter here
is the balot-box; and in that urn should be gath
cred, and from Il should be sacredy recorded,
the conscience the Judgment, the intelligence of
all. The right Of free self-goyernment has been
in all ages the bright dream OF oppressed human
ity-the sighed-for privileges TO which thrones,
dynasties and power have so long blocked the
way France seeks II by forced marches and
daring strides. Mr. Foster, secretary for Ireland
tells the peerage Of England 1t must take heed
lest II fall; and Westminster and England ring
with dread echoes Of applause But in the full
ness Of freedom the republic OF America is alone
blessings; alone in its promises and possibilities,
and therefore alone in the devotion due from its
citizens The time has come when law duty and
interest require the nation to determine for at
least four years its policy in many things
THE GENERAL ISSUE A SECTIONAL ONE.
The general issue confronting us is in itself and
in its bearings sectional. would, and you would,
il were not so, but 1t is So II in one portion Of
the country one party outnumbers the other even
by overwhelming odds, the fact need not be blam-
able nor proof of sectional aggression But II
in any section party gains and keeps control,
not by numbers, not by honesty and law, and
then sitting free discussion and action, attempts
to grasp the government OF the whole country,
the proceeding is sectional, guilty and monstrous
In twelve states Of the Union the approaching
election is to be no more than farce, UNLESS as
has sometimes happened, 1t be turned into a trag-
edy. There is to be no free debate, no equal
rights, true expression in these states; and in
several states the clear majority is to have no de
Gliding power-not even chance in rattle such
as that in which lots were cast and the booty di-
vded the other day between Tammany hall and
the upper air and solar walk reform Democracy.
Senator Hampton largely promises 1000 Demo-
cratic majority in South Carolina, where the ac-
tual majority is 10000 the other way. In several
southern states there IL large, wel-known, Of
ten ascertaned Republican majority, but all
southern states alike, without exception or donbt,
are relied upon to count on the Democratic side,
and to score 13S electoral votes-lacking but forty
seven of a majority OF ALL The causes OF such a
condition, and the consequences IL 1t succeeds,
are matters which no sane intelligent man can
put out of view, and yet he who discusses them
must be told in the coarse parlance of the day
that he waves the bloody shirt" II Is a relief
to remember that this phrase and the thing it
means is no invention of our politics 1t dates
back to Scotland three centuries ago. After a
massacre in Glenfrun not so savage as has
stained our annals, 90 widows rode on white
palfreys to Sterling towers bearing each on a
Iar k,,.k a,If CHI - rha
walked Scotland's sumbering sword, and out
awry and the block made the name OF Glenfruin
terrible to victorious Clan Alpine even to the
third and fourth generation. am not going to
recite horrors, nor to allnde to them nor to the
chapter of cruelty they fill nor to retry the is
sues Of the war. My purpose is quite different.
1t is to show, II can, what is actually at stake
now, who and what the contending forces are,
how much the result may mean, and which way
prudence and wisdom point.
NEW STATES OUT OF TEXAS
The resolution admitting Texas to the Union in
1915 provided for erecting out Of Texas four addi
tional states. The area and population are both
population million and a half Such proceed
ing would add eight to the number of southern
senator's and add to the southern power in the
electoral college From New Mexico and other
territories, whose traditions and prejudices have
descended from slave-holdiDg Influences several
new states may also be made Schemes exist,
not in embroyo but far advanced, to obtain "a
slice of Mexico" Cattle-steaing on the Rio
Grande border has been and is fruitful occasion
for incursions into Mexico Special cavalry reg
iments Of unusual size have been raised and sta
toned on the Texan frontier. Itis an open secret
that not long ago much exertion and alertness
were needed to keep us out of another Mexican
war Without violating the constitution or tran
scending the usages Of the republic at least
new states could be brought in, and in the case of
some OF them very plausible case could be made.
The project would become high party measure.
Its success would assure complete Democratic
tendency in the nation for generation at least
1t would put the government not merely in the
hands of the Democratic party, but OF the south
ern Democratic party. Why should not this be
done? Who and what is to prevent 1t II the Dem
ocratc party is elected? The northern wing
could never resist the southern wing in congress
were these new states brought forward for admis
sion. The northern wing never could, never will,
and never can withstand the pressure of the far
stronger south wing Gravtation and arithmetic
make such resstancy impossible, just as pound
cannot outweigh a ton, just as one man cannot
outnumber a regiment. The past is pitiful in its
warnings in this behalf. Despite pledges and
northern Indignation, northern Democrats In con-
gress united in voting down the Wmot proviso
in order to make California slave state united
in voting for the fugitive slave law; united in the
mighty pertidy which overthrow the Missouri
compromise in order to fasten slavery on Kansas
and other states, and united in defeating the
homestead RIVAL at tine DeneSt OF tne southern
majority. Mr.. Van Buren, at last like Macbeth,
would go no further in this bloody business"
and political destruction was his reward. Mr..
Douglas at last made brave stand against sec
tonal aggression, and he was hunted to his grave
Caucus is king, and the avengng angel IL hardly
more memorable in decree or more unerring in ret
ribution.
ASSAULT ON THE JUDICIARY
One Of the main bulwarks of the republic is
the Judiciary. The courts OF justice are umpire,
conseryator, citadel. The supreme court is the
final arbiter of many momentous controversies.
This great tribunal is very obnoxious to southern
leaders in congress aud out. 1t is in their way.
1t does not always decide as they think The
halls OF congress rang last year with assertions,
uttered with passionate vehemence that the laws
for protecting elections are unconstitutional.
Soon afterward case on the docket of the SUI
preme court, involving the validity Of these laws,
was reached, and the court decided them valid,
A register in bankruptcy not long ago overrued
the chief justice on the construction of statute,
and so 1t often happens that the court is not able
or reconcile enough to get at the true inward
ness - and profound depths Of the law as under
stood on the hustings where the moonshinel
thrives and the fire-eater reigns. Mutterings
deep and loud, breathings OF dire longings to "gc
Tor the court, have for years been gathering In
volume. In the house of representatives for two
or three years this feeling has now and agar
found harsh voice In unseemly, sinister words
Not only Kentucky, through the chairman of til,
judiciary committee, Mr.. Knott but Missouri
North Carolina and other states assisted, | regre
to say, by representive from this city, have ut
tered language gross and calumnious Of the court
aspersng its integrity and its decisions. Mer
drivel, >" plausible sophistry,' packed, part
san and demoralized," -" packed tribunal decis
ions to be observed pro tempore" only, dirt
work OF It's masters" "m made political decision
to order fiery indignation of an infamed pee
ple'-these are some of the buffetngs to b
found in the Congressional Record, delivers
sometimes from carefully written speeches, an
sometimes received, the Record says, with " lou
applause To what does all this pave the way
The Congressional Record will inform you D
the 10Th day OF January, 1880, Mr.. Manning c
Mississippi-a state well known TO be jealonsl
sensitive to the pure administration OF Justice an
the rigorous punishment OF crimes, especial
hideous, cowardly murder and massacre-intr,
dueed a bill to place twelve new additions
Judges on the supreme bench What an easy, Q
fectual and withal plausible disposition tn
would make OF the court Increased bushes
would be such an innocant excuse-the cour
could sit by sevens for some purposes, and me,
in banque for all large purposes when state so
ereignty and state rights amendments to the col
stitution, and cotton taxes and the like are
stake. The bill passed to second reading an
was referred TO a committee whose chairman
few days afterward came into the house and d
nounced the court, and said majority OF Il
present judges were hopelessy lost in fog
For the present It would be premature and bun
ling to pass such bill a veto would spoil IL, al
II might spoil the result In some close noIthel
state. But let the Democrats elect their pre-.
dent, or rather their party-for the party is ru
nng-and who will say that this bill will not fiji
its way to the statute-book You can all 81
what sort OF judges the twelve new ones won
be. But no new law Is needed; natures la
and the statutary limit OF age at which judg
may retire, will during the next four years, v
cate mt least fOur seats on the aunreu1a hane