Year: 1870

constitution concerned themselves,
and they themselves changed it for
themselves. But how has it been
within the last five years? At the
close of the war the rebellious States
had constitutions, republican i'll form,
admittedly SO, and needed but few
words of change to adapt them TO the
changed circumstances. But Con-
gress, the first thing, compelled the
people OF those ten States to abrogate
those constitutions. Nay, more, they
compelled them to make new consti-
tutions to suit-not the people of those
States-but the majority of Congress,
and this when one-third of all the
States were not represented in that
Congress. Does not this look like
tendency to centralizatlon?


Before 1863 you got your bank
notes from banks authorized by the
States, goverened by the states, and
the whole matter under the control of
the people. State banks existed be-
fore the Federal Constitution, and
not until recently did any one dare
deny that the State had right to cre-
ate banks. But what have we seen?
The Radical party has taxed every
State bank out of existence for the
avowed purpose of establishing the
system of national banks. Now, if
You will take time to think, you will
see that when the general govern
ment takes into its hands the whole
control of the bank circulation, it
grasps almost unlimited power, and
approaches more nearly to despotism.
Does not this look as though State
rights are being ignored?


An unlimited right to construct
works of internal improvement in a
State or States without their consent,
is boldly declared and often acted up
on, while a power to regulate, by acts
of Congress, tolls and charges upon
every railroad and canal, and every
navigable river in the Republic, is
openly asserted in the halls of Con-
gress. Power to charge a higher rate
for transportation than their State
charters allow, has been conferred by
by Congress upon State corporations,
and to other corporations of the sort,
privileges and facilities have been
given by Congress that the States Gre
ating them refused to confer. The
State corporations are thus, on the
one haud, made superior to their cre-
ators, and enabled to set their char
ters at defiance; while, on the other
hand. their very existence is made de-
pendant on Congressional action, and
they may soon become the mere slaves
of Congressional will.


II have spoken of some State rights
which have been oyerthrown, but
some private rights have been treated
with the same kind of disregard. The
Federal Constitution provides that
the writ of habeas corpus can only be
suspended in State of insurrection,
invasion or war; yet within five years
we have seen eight million people in
ten States placed under martial law,
the habeas corpus writ suspended,
and subject to the will of little brig
adler general.


Is it for the welfare of this people
that this consolidation go on? Shall
all the material legislative power be
vested in congress? am opposed to
this centralization. glory in the ex-
istence of the general government, of
the Union of these States; but | am
utterly opposed to the overthrow of
the local political powers which be-
long to the States.


Again, in proportion as you re-
movea representative from his con-
stituents, do you give him opportu-
nifty to become corrupt, and if this
Capitalization is to SO on, it will not
be long ere congress will be the most
corrupt body in the world. There
never was greater mistake than to
suppose that one great despotic pow
er was necessary to govern great
country. The very reverse is nearer
the truth. Look at the history of the
great despotisms which appeared for
a time impossible to overthrow |!
How have they fallen and crumbled
awayl


On the 4th of March next it will
have been ten years since the Radical
party came into power, and IN that
time they have had full control of the
government. How have they exer-
cised that power? l have shown you
how they have exercised it in depriv-
ing the States of their rights. During
all this time they hafe used their
power to legislate money into their
pockets and into the pockets of their


friends. They began during the war.
The course of the Radicals in regard


to the national bonds was scathingly
reviewed at some length by the Sena.
tor, and the system of internal reve-
nue. taxation came IN for its share OF
denunciation, in the general and par
ticular exposition of the iniquitous
course of Congress since the party
now in power obtained supremacy
The land grabbing policy of the Rad
ical majority in Congress-over l3O,-
100000 acres of land stolen from the
people-was also shown up in all its
appalling proportions.


In regard to the public dept, sena-
tor Thurman said: The Radicals are
always comparing the public debt u1l-
der Johnson's administration and
Grants administration, but let it be
understood that if the unwritten as
well as written debt be taken into oons