Year: 1879

or vote what IL docs not consent TO, IL viii
the power IN its hands to starve the Govern
rieut u death,


MI Davis-lt0w does the gentleman assume
that we are forcing sdne branch OF the Gov
ernment to do what u does not wish to dos
How do we know that, or how dogs the gen
tlepan know ~


Nj Qatheld--My reply to the gentleman
Ia, that I read 10 tbs outset OF my remarks
the declaration of his pdftt asserting that
this is its programme. In 1880, In Cincin-
natl, in the National Democratic Convention,
and still later in 1860, the National DemOc-
facs in the United states affirmed the right OF
the tetb as Rne NJ the sacred rights Ot our
Government, ana ncel8rsd that any law which
could not be passed over 4 Petb tiy 4 twU-thirds
vote had no right to become idw drd that
the only redress was an appeal from the veto
t8 tile people at the next election. That has
been TIE Democratic doctrine on that subject
from tile remdtest day--Ceftalnly from Gen
eral Jackson's tirie guttl now, What would
YOU have said in 1861 II thc Democratic ma
iority in the Senate. instead of taking the
course which It did, had simply said: we
will put an amendment on an appropriation
bill declaring the right of any State to
secede from the Union at pleasure, and
forbidding any officer tf the army or navy
81 the United States from Interfering with
any State in its purpose TO secGde" Sup,
pose Tic Democratic majority had said
then, "Put thai ON these appropriation
bills or we will refuse supplies TO the
Government Perhaps they c0uld have
killed the Government then by starvation
But In the madness OF that hour the leaders
1f tie Secession Government did not dream
that it wUuld be honorable TO put their fight
ON that ground, hut they walked out on their
plan Of battle and fought 1t out. But now,
In way which the Widest Of 5cCgasiOnists
fever dfeamed ul taking it is proposed to
make this metz assault ON the Vitals of the
Nation.


Gentlemen addressing the Democratic
side of the House,, we have tried to count
the cost. We did try to count it in 1861 be-
ftlre we picked uD the gage OF battle; and al
though n0 mun could then forecast the awful
loss in blood and treasure, YET having start
ed in we staid there to victory We simply
made the appeal to our sovereign, to that
great omnipOtent public opinion In America,
to determine whether the Union should be
shot to death. And now lawfully in our
right and III our place here, we pick up the
gage of battle whicn you have thrown down,
and will appeal to our common sovereign to
say whether you shall break down the prin-
clple of free consent in legislation at tile
price OF starving the Government to death.
We are ready to pacs these bills for the sup
port of the Government at any hour when
you will offer them in the ordinary way, and
If you offer these other measures as separate
measures, VIC will meet You in the spirit
of fair and fraternal debate. But you shall
not compel us--yOu shall not cOerce us--even
| to save this Government until the question
has gone to the sovereign to determine
whether it will consent tn break down anv of
its voluntary powers. And on that ground


we plant ourselves. We remind you, In con
clusion that this great zeal of yours in regard
| to keeping the officers OF the Government out
| of the States has not been always yours.
remember that only six years before the war
your law authorized Marshals Of the United
/ States to 60 through all our households and


hunt for fugitive slaves 1t did not only that


but it empowered marshals to call for posSt


cOnlitat,S and to call upon all the bystandert
| to join in the chase, and your Democratic


Attorney. General declared in an opinion in
| 1854 that Marshal of the United States


might call to his aid the whole posse, includ-


ing soldiers and sailors and marines of the
| United States, to Join in the chase and hunt


down the fugitive. Now, fellow members OF


the House, If, for the purpose of making


slavery eternal, you could send your Marshali


and could summon posses and use the armed


forces of the United States, by what face oil
! grace can you tell us that, in order to procure
| freedom in elections and peace at the polls
| YOU cannot use the same Marshal with hi


aarmad nassAs Rut refrain from Discussing
! the merits of the proposition. have triet
| in this hurried and unsatisfactory way tC
| give my ground of opposition to this legisla
| tiOn