Year: 1866

UAACu thSlE cuaIVSTS nave cApIcSSiy Uc-
MED to them, and to deprive insurance
companies of the rights which the States
have assured to them.


AS if legislative action we're too slow. or
too regular, We have Federal ofhcers-the
subordinates of the President-some inn
peding the action Of the State courts, not
only by refusing to obey writs which they
pretended we're suspended, but by rescu-
ing criminals from their custody and lib
Grating prisoners under their Indictment;
others - freedmen s-bureau-men -estab-
fishing and enforcing-entirely without
authority of law-rules for the business
intercourse of white men and negroes
making, breaking or establishing con-
tracts for thenl-and even assuming to
declare what persons the owners shall be
compelled to entertain on their farms,
under the penalties of confscatlon. Sure
ly, if our fellow-citizens of New England
must convert this Government into a
great eleemosynary institution-if they
must deprive four millions of people of
their homes to satisfy their craving to
make these people the "wards of the ma
ton they ought to be ashamed of the
niggardliness which seeks to support them
at other peoples expense, and to quarter
them upon those who have been deprived
of their services.


And far above all these agencies, en-
tering overy State and county and town.
ship and family-touching every interest,
commercial, mechanical and agricultural
seeking every avenue of trade, every
branch of industry, every profession and
oceupstion-holding in their grasp every
man and woman and child, whether they
labor for bread in the factory or at the
plow, or for amusement at counting their
income; permeating every artery and
vein, tracing every nerve and sinew and
fibre Of the body polite, and subjugating
every influence to their domination, are
the systems of Federal finance and taxa
ton.


This new programme is not the system
of the Government. It is not the system
of the Constitution. 1t is the centraliza-
tion of all Governmental forces, of the
supervision of all social interests at one
point. These thus concentrated cannot
be efficiently exercised unless by the In
spiration of one heart under the direction
of one head, with the vlgor of one will,
backed by the powers of many men, ac-
eustomed by the rigors of discipline or by
the hopes of reward to obey blindly one
master These conditions are ineompati-
BILE with republican government-nay,
they are the very essence and definition
of despotism.


Gentlemen, we have grave duty to
perform This is the time to assert true
principles. Physical force has accom-
plished its work. Legislative and Ad-
ministrative action are at their task. Both
have passed beyond their limits. Both
have usnfped powers under the pfetense
of necessity, and now claim them as OF
right. Both are directed with vigor but
often without authority or reason. Both
should be made to renounce their preten-
sions before we yield them commendation.
The condition of war, and the results Of
our var, both conduce to aid the progress
of this consolidation. They have accus-
toned the mind to the exhibition of, and
obedience to, the assumption of Federal
power.


Let us see to it that we be, at least,
blameless. Let US by voice and vOte-by
precept and by practice, each one in his
sphere-resi this perversion of this sys-
tenn of government. Let US hold fast to
the Constitution; let us hold fast to the
doctrine of State Rights. It is the es-
sential life of the Constitution. It is
derided and despised now. It has been
the glory of our polity-it will be its
salvation. Let rs guard it as of old the
vestal fires were guarded. Let us guard
it as of old the ark of the covenant was
guarded, against whose pollution by pro-
fame touch the dread penalties Of the
Almighty were thundered.