The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-07-17
asrfsld's Letter Of Acceptance.

I EA& 1NAf WAtbttA y tttt|A VI aNNSttANNti
as exhibiting any grea. amount Of ability.
Il is more common place than statesman
like, and deals with topics not pertinent to
the campaign, and which are unimportant
For instance, he says that the safety Of
the navigation Of the Mississippi River is
of such vital importance that il requires
exceptional consideration, and further on
dds--"Fortunately for the interests Of
commerce, there Is no longeraSy formida-
bic opposition to appropriations for the i'm
provement Of our harbors and great nayi-
gable rivers, provided that the expendi.
lures for that purpose arc strictly limited
to works Of national Importance. Then
it such be the case, why allude to the
subject. The question Of the improve
ment Of the navigation of the Mississippi
is a question for Congress to determine,
and not one for candidate for the Presi-
dency to dwell upon, to the exclusion Of
important issues.
Ga the custom laws there is now no
strict party issue, yet Gen. Garfield de-
votes portion of his letter to their dis.
cussion. The tariff laws are also con-
gressioual question, and Democrats and
Republicans are divided among themselves
upon them.
10 reference to the currency question he
says nothing definite, aud what he does
say can be construed to suit the paper ad.
yecates of the West as well as The hard
money men Of the East
Thus Gen. Garfield proceeds through
the whole letter, touching lightly aud vague
ly upon unimportant questions. Upon
one point, only, does he give decisive ex-
preston to his views, and that is where he
declares this government. nation IL is
given as conviction merely, and no au-
thOrity for the opinion 5 quoted. The
Republican platform, which he cordially"
endorses, declares that the nation has Ger.
tain rights aud the States have others,
those Of the latter being determined BY
national tribunals. In the constitution,
which Mr.. Garfield now seems SO much to
reverence, the powers of the general gov
ernment are clearly defined, aud the pow |
ers prohibited to the States are also dis
tiactly set forth, all other rights and pow.
ers resting wholly with the States or with
the people. 1t Is question in this cam.
paign whether we shall hereafter have a
union OF States or consolidated govern
ment with absolute powers, aud Gen. Gar
field had here iine opportunity to discuss
the question from constitutional stand
point. He could have given evidence as
to his ability as a constitutional expounder,
and it would have been interesting at this
political juncture for him to have defined,
according to his understanding of the con.
stitntion, what powers arc delegated to the
general government and what are reserved
to the States. Ii is living issue whether
the states have no rights which the gov.
ernment should respect, as the Republi.
cans have administered the government,
aud 1t is the paramount issue In that
question many issues are included. Upon
il hangs the right Of States to administer
their own laws, hold their own courts, regu-
late their own elections and to administer
theirafiairs generally without federal super
vision. Formerly States held congressional
elections aud voted for pr isidents as they Sc.
leetcd their own officials, but now the gov.
erument has undertaken to supervise all
these forthem. States formerly prescribed
qualifications for jurors aud the manner of
their selection, but the federal government
has decided that federal laws, interpreted
BY PARTISAN supreme court, must govern
in snch matters. States formerly tried
persons for offences against State laws, but
the federal government, through its courts,
has seriously interfered with several States
10 the exercise Of this right. States form
erly were able to maintain the rights and
privileges Of their citizens, but the federal
government has undertaken to generally
supervise aud guard the interest Of one class
(negroes) in every State, regardless Of
State authority 10 this one question of
the powers Of the federal government and
the rights Of the States, the great fraud Of
1876 is also included 1t is the only liv.
ing question Of importance touched upon
by Gen. Garfield, aud he has contented
himself with merely utsering weary plati-
tudes
To state that this Union is a nation. and
then to profess reverence for the constitu.
ton, is indicative Of ignorance Of the pro.
visions Of that instrument or is a willful
intention to deceive. Where 10 the con-
stitutiou is the authority for the appoint
ment Of deputy marshals to supervise reg.
istrations and clections7 Where 10 the
constitution is the authority for United (
States Court to take from State Court /
aud try person for an offense against !
State law? Where in tho constitution is {
there a sentence or word that justiies the
assertion that this Union is a nation?
Whilst protesting devotion to the constitu- !
ton the Republican party has steadily been
overriding State authority and centrsliz-
ing all power in the general government. ]
This has been done under various pretexts,
but the main object has been to maintain
Republican Supremacy. The army and
navy and the hosts OF deputy marshals !
have been used simply aud solely to uphold I
The power Of The Republican party. Let
the people endorse Garfield and the Re. /,
publican platform and We will have a ma I
ton indeed State lines and State author |
ity viii exist only on paper, aud nothing |
short Of revolution win restore the gov I
i. -. ~s....A =. II a L.