James Blaine: “In truth it required no small degree of moral courage to take position in the ranks of that despised political sect…”

You can use force only to repel an assault on the public property and aid the Courts in the performance of their duty.

Without the exercise of those functions which belong exclusively to the civil service, the laws cannot be executed in any event, no matter what may be the physical strength which the Government has at its command.

Is any portion of the people bound to contribute their money or their blood to carry on a contest like that?

But what if the feeling in any State against the United States should become so universal that the Federal officers themselves (including judges, district attorneys, and marshals) would be reached by the same influences, and resign their…