Year: 1871

| passed the administration OF thS


South was largely in Republican


hands; that they could suppress dan.


gerous combinations by their OWL
authority, or by application to the


General Government in cOnstitu.


tional way. But the administration


was becoming unpopular. The peo-


pie were complaining more of the


administration than the conduct oil


the South. The Sumner affair, which


occurred about the San Domingo


business, in some respects most ex-


traordinary in our history, was on


hand. How, he asked, would have


Andrew johnson come out Of his i'm


peachment with such a case against
him? The elections of uncertain


issues were approaching, for the prepa-
ton of which they set about. They


would again make fight on the old


issue of the war, and so they got up


the Ku-Klux for the enforcement of


the Fourteenth amendment.


He then alluded, as a speciality, to


the part of the law that authorized


the President to employ the military
forces of the United States to suppress


instructions, domestic violence and
unlawful combinations under the


circumstances set forth, and to sus-
pend the writ of hdbeGS corpus under


the previous law, and it was made


criminal to deprive any person of any


constitutional right, and the offender


could be prosecuted in judicial pro-


ceedings, which was right and proper;


but in the case of this law it was not


a judicial proceeding, but a war. 1t


was the commander-in-chisf at the


head Of his army entering State, not
to make an arrest, but to cut down
and slay. State governments We're


pushed aside, the Courts were shut
aud were not wanted, the writ of


h06eas corpus was suspended, and the


Federal Government took absolute


and supreme command. Never before
could the general Government


march armies into a State on


account of any disturbances there


unless invited to do so. The


whole matter was left to q single man


to declare-he became judge and exc


cutioner; "behold, a despOtW The


State was under his heel; the writ


was in his hand, but the people never


placed it there. How carefully they
had tried to guard i'll It never should


be suspended unless when, in cases of


rebellion or invasion, public safety


may demand it, and even then it was


trusted to no one mans power, but to


Congress. one of whose duties was to


watch this one mans power. How


came this writ in one mans hand?
He said we were at peace with every


nation, all our land yet stands in


arms, and not one solitary being in


our lands in arms against the Federal


or State Government. He said each
State stood to expect military inva-
sion, and writ Of hGbedS corpus might
be suspended. We made a perma-
nent despot over us all to correct tenn
pOTary and local evils. and the State
was silencad. It had been said that
the President would not use this
power. A free people would trust no
one with this power. How violent,
dangerous and unnecessary was such
legislstiOnl The war was over, but
the spirit was upon us. The sword
was everywhere. The old-fsshioned
way of getting places was dying out,
and the practices of despotism were
taking its place. He would admit
that there was disorder and bad ad-
ministratiOn in the States recently in
rebellion. This should be corrected, |
and all the rights of every
inhabitant should be enforced
and respected; but there was
better remedies for these evils than
the sword, and before we used the
latter, we should try the other, and |
whatever we did, we should be sure
that we did not violate the COnstitu-
tion.


he alluded to the condition of
the South and intimated that nothing |
else than bad administration could be |
looked for. A large part of the popu-
lation but yesterday were slaves, to- |
day they were rulers. The Fourteenth |
amendment cut of from participation |
in the administration of the govern
ment. number which had been esti.
mated at not less than one hundred |
thousand, who were in every way |
qualified to render good service. |
The conscience and administration of |
all their States was handed over to |
those who are without education or |
experience; to strangers from the |
North, who, in a majority of cases
had failed and who were regarded uu-
worthy of any responsible trust. |
Fifty of about eighty members of the /
last Legislature of South Carolina, he /
averred, could not read or writes The /
total increase of the debt in these
States was estimated at one hundred |
millions, and these States had little or
to show for it. The mis-
in New York is COM
mented on everywhere, and those re-
sponsible held up for public eondenl-
nation. This was right, but had we
to say of the mismanagement
over nearly One-third of the Union,
and OF the policy that had
brought upon these States this
heavy calamity. The only remedy for
these evils was amnesty; vengeance
was only destructive. It cured and
restored nothing. Amnesty was OBJ
liviOn of the past and restoration to
full citizenship, with all privileges;
amnesty was kindness, and kindness
was wisdom and always the best
craftsmanship. He was not there a
for them; they would
not allow him to supplicate for them.
They, prior to the recent war, served
9rs, and were never deficient in any
service. They were, in no respect,
his hearers interiors. They were
their equals as manly, proud, gifted
and intelligent people; and would
you. he asked, have them less. He
touched on the financial policy OF the
party in power, saying that the recent
placed US all on a dead
evel Of equality of rights, privileges
and immunities, so that taxation
sould be impartial; there should be
no fayOritism or determinations all
should bear its Just burden;
exception Of some was discrimination
against others. An immunity was an
exemption of the charge of duty or
tax; we were equal in immunities,
yet the wealth, equal to the entire
valuation of all real and personal
property of Ohio, was in bonds of the
General Government, and not taxed.
This, though the Government had a
,lear right to tax it, was pressing the
people very heavily for the means to
meet its liabilities and maintain itself
rom day TO day. Take another in.
stance: we have large debt; we must I
honor it; TO repudiate it, would dis
yraee the Government and dishOnor us
Our only means Of honor ,
ng this debt was by taxation, which
'hould be imposed only for the pur- {
bose Of revenue, and yet we had a
ariff framed, in many places, to de-
eat this purpose, and to enrich the 1
ew at the expense of the many. He
lid not now refer to it as a CONNER
.ial measure, in which sense a prohib-
tory or protective tariff was unworthy
If this age. He spoke of it only in
with this doctrine of rights,
privileges and immunities. In all leg !
station of this kind, our first duty is :
n frorr,a ff oO that ~ obar,l1 non, v,,r-,I \