The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-01-25

United s.es onposs and unlimited Iadhee
that the Federal government within the sphere
is supreme and sovereign and that Constitution the
governmen and What beoas 20 the one cannot beloae
the other Some imagine that il il wise strengthen
expense Of the S !. h. srue TsTs es bs No doaSs aS
but that the Republican party looks upon the State govern
mens with contempt and would abolish them alsogsther if
could Where them ask you, would be the liberties of the
of the people? The majority of the American people
this day composed Of who fulfill every day the decree
of their Maker and their bread by their
brows No portion Of population has greater
maintaining mild inexpensive and liberal government than
they have Here the humble and obscure have
which they could not have under any other
any other land Why is this? Because simplicity in govern
meu and division of its powers between the States the
United States has kept down that naughty spirit domination
which is be found under all systems grand pow
erfu establishments give rise privileged classes and ranks
e all Of which artificial distinctions degrade the
lower humber conditions little the
beasts of the field e Democratic party today doing
tie for the preservation Of that kind Of government which
alone the rights and uphold the dignity of the tong
of America 1t had right say what said in
its platform That the friend of the working man, and
would not be here uphoding its doctrines did believe
in my inmost heart that this is Depend upon it.
Democratic idea of is the only which live
side by side with the Constitutional system. The rights and
powers of the States essential the liberty and
security of the people, the existence OF the Union the
equality and freedom the States Our platform spoke
out favor OF home rule On this subject adversaes
lent But this silence surprises who understands genius
and object of the Republican party 1t easy deude the
thoughess with hghlycoored picture of grand and
eru government located at Washington and dispensing its
vos and patronage through thousands serve ocehod
who hold the simple institutions of the States contempt
But let the people reflect upon what they would be without
home rule
1t is the boast of the Republican party that taken
away from the States of their local powers and urisc
ons than any party that existed in this country This
true Before It's advent power neither soldier supery
United States Deputy Marshal heard
the polls at election of the people The citizens of each
State under its local laws all elective officers
both State and national and the hand of Federal
Every citizen then felt that it was his
duty preserve the nvoabity of the ballot because
it protected all his rights and part that domestic
system which was cherished like household god The era of
fraud began with the of Republican usurpation States
robbed ouly robbed of sacred right which, eighty
years of history had been questioned
pervsng and regulating them divided and
Federal officials The wise trainers of Constitution guarded
and the widest Fedest imagined that the
of the States and that of the Union could
same power the same subject at the time
The Constitution the Union declares that the qualifications
of for members Legislatures shall control in
the election of members of Congress That
were to prescribe the fitness and capacv of
eector who should for member of Congress- and such
the law to-day Still the Federal authorities all
the Union appointing supervisors and masha for the purpose
of sitting in Judgment upon the qualifications and rights of
under State laws If the States right to fix
qualifications of voters both for members of Congress
State Legislatures they unqu-stonably have is clear
and dangerous usupaon of power for the Federal
to exercise the authority of deciding whether
not the the qualifications which the govern
ment of the State has prescribed So long there dis
elimination to be found in the State laws against
of race COLOR condition. there nothing justify
Federal interference The Democratic party endeavored
peal the laws which the Republicans transferring
tmebonoed right of the people Of the States regulate their
elections General Government The effort was de-
for justification of action The only hope of preserving
genuine popular government this continent by upholng
admirable system of home rule and keeping the General
Government confined those external duties and powers which
the States are not competent to exercise
The fathers of Constitution knew very we'll that if all
were centered in Congress and an
a
would be beyond the control Of the people, IT. with the linn
tied functions which the Federal government now
would the people be overwhelmed mystery and con
sion respecting lis action, united with the powers of gen.
ea all the authority of local legislation The business of
your State close the people that its details
familiar every intelligent citizen But suppose that all
the and duties exercised by State
transferred to the Of the United States
What would you be able tell of the workings of such large
complicated and remote estabishmente Everything which
tends involve the operations of government mystery and
grandeur and goes decrease rsspon
sibty in office, adds the methods and by which
rupon shielded and lessons the importance and dignity of
the citizen by substituting his sentiments of savsh
aduation and Worship for that manly and confidence
which freedom of thought and intelligent insight into public
affairs never fail to inspire.
Any who will take the pains look proceed
ngs Of Congress during the past few years. will that the
preservation of the rights of the people the side and
the claims of centralized power the other The temptation
on the part OF the public rulers to increase and usurp official
power great that when any of the people found
conendng for elimination of his authority it ia ev
dence OF high public virtue
The Democratic Congress has been denounced all the
country because the House Of which the
only body that reflects the will of American people, in their
and for their interest claimed the right protect their
constituents by their power the public purse The Con-
stnton having wisely conferred upon this body the
originate money bills after the example Of the English Com
and feeling that the majority Of the people which
represented suffering grievances under existing egsa
ton demanded condition of supply leg
isaon should be repealed endorsed that demand
made and endorse the principle of it say
that important principle never existed IN free
Constitution than this and that without the people have
eectua safeguard for the protection Of their liberties
The Democrat. insisted that Army the creature
Congress for Constitution No appropriation for