The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-05-18

members Of which have sworn to sup
port that constitution as he understood
it. 1 will venture here to say that
have heard Judge Douglass say that he
approved of General Jackson for that
act
WHAT HAS NOW BECOME OF ALL
THIS TRADE ABOUT RESISTANCE
TO THE SUPREME COURT?"
Would it be treason to wonder what
influence could cause patriotic (?) bank
ers and courts to conspire against con-
gress, the people and the constitutions
In the same speech, upon the gen.
eral intent Of the constitution touching
the equality of man, he said: .
Il should like to know, if taking this
old declaration of independence, which
declares that all men are equal upon
| principle, you begin making exceptions
| to it, where you will stop. If
that declaration is not the truth let us
get the statute book. and tear it out!
| (Cries of no! noD Let us stick to it,
then; let us stand by 1t then" GAP
| plause.)
This speech was closed with the fol-
| lowing admonition:
II leave you, hoping that the lamp
OF liberty will burn in your bosoms
until there shall be no longer a doubt
! that all men are created free and equal"
Writhing under the lashing they had
received, those who were attempting
| to overthrow the constitution, sought
by circuitous and ambiguous ways to
establish an appearance of their justi-
fication that instrument itself, en-
deavOring thus to escape the public
judgment of conspiracy and treason.
Again they met ignominious defeat
Lincoln, in his famous speech deliv-
cred at Cooper Institute, NJ Y, Feb.
q, 1860, showed how the constitution
had always been interpreted: how it's
signers had voted as members of con-
gress after its adoption, and made his
case SO completely that this speech is
accredited with giving him the nomi-
nation for the presidency. The people
saw clearly that the courts and officers
had REASONABLY conspired to secure
what they knew majority of the peo-
pie did not desire, and they recognized
} in Lincoln the needed champion of
freedom. And so it transpired that the
man who was the most active and
fOroof111 IN ~ Ac
holy attempt upon equal rights by
the monarchial branch of the govern
ment; the man who was most maligned
and abused; who stood in the front,
facing the "hot fire of disciplined,
proud and pampered enemy" became the
successful leader of the hosts of liberty.
After proving the position OF the
trainers of the constitution upon the
point at issue. and clearing away the
sophistries which had misled many of
the people, he exclaimed:
II go step further. 1 defy anyone
to show that any living man in the
whole world ever did, prior to the be-
ginning of the present century, and I
might almost say, prior to the begin
ming of the last half of the present con-
tury, declare that in his understanding
any proper division Of local or federal
authority or any part of the constitution
forbade the federal government to con-
troll as to slavery in the federal terri
tories. To those who so now declare
give not only our fathers who framed
the government under which we live,'
but with them all other living men with
in the century in which it was framed,
among whom to search, and they shall
not be able to find the evidence of a sim
gle man agreeing with them
He closes this speech with the follow
ing rallying cry for a crusade against
the conspirators:
Neither let us be slandered from our
duty by false accusations against us, nor
frightened from it by menace of destruc-
tion of the government, nor Of dungeons
to ourselves. Let us have faith that
right makes might, and in that faith let
us, to the end, dare do our duty as we
understand it."
In the present fight against the tyran-
ny of greed, these words come as a COM
mand and a benediction. AS Interpreted
by Lincoln's actions they mean to 20 to
the ballot box and make your demands,
and then enforce them as may need
be.
Upon the point of where the govern
ing power should rest, Lincoln was
equally explicit and emphatic. Govern
ment by venal courts or any other in
strument of plutocracy met with his un-
compromising opposition. Following are
some of his declarations touching this
point:
"In leaving the peoples business in
their hands we cannot go wrong"
"The representative is bound to carry
! out the known will of his constituents" !"
II fully recognize the full authority
of the people"
"Why should there not be a patient
confidence in the ultimate justice OF
the people? Is there any better or equal
hope in the world?"
"By the form of the government
| under which we live, this same people