Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-02-05
.frsssch Of Speech Hipeicatsa.
S p e E G H
HON. J. R. GIDDINGS.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
OF OHIO,


MIR SPEAKER No people ever stood
more. firmly in the maintenance of popular
rights than did our Saxon and American
ancestors. Since the time when the sturdy
barons of England extorted from King
John the aMagna Chartap Of British free
dom, this great subject of the rights of the
people against political power has never
ceased to occupy the popular mind-some-
times to greater extent than at Others,
but at all times it has maintained its grasp
upon the public conscience. The great
question which has thus agitated the civil
lied world for thirty generations is not
likely to be brought to q sudden termina-
ton. During that period, the rights of
the people have been gradually enlarged,
and the powers of Kings and Governments
over the liberties of mankind have dimin-
ished in proportion.
Our American ancestors of the Revolu-
ton made a far greater advance than had
been made by any previous generation
They possessed advantages which no for
mer age had enjoyed. They had the past
history of our race before them. They
seized upon the wisdom, the experience of
mankind in all former times, and shaped
the new Government according to the die
tates of that intelligence. ~
Casting from them, the control Of the
mother country, they demanded a position
among the nations of the earth. And as
they entered upon that mighty struggle of
seven years of war and bloodshed, they
felt it due to mankind that they should de-
clare the, reasons which impelled them to
engage in that momentous conflict.
The inspired pen of Jefferson was en-
ployed to express the reasons which
prompted them to meet the armies of
Britain in those death-struggles where
British and American blood flowed in the
same pool, upon the soil of an hundred
battle-fields. When those reasons were
placed before the convocation of patriots,
for their consideration and approval, New
York and Virginia, North Carolina and
Connecticut, South Carolina and Massa-
chusetts, with the other thirteen Colonies,
examined, discussed, and unanimously
placed them before the world, as the sol
emnly-ayowed doctrines, the "selfevident
truths" on which they based their vindica-
ton for appealing to the dread tribunal Of
arms. F & .
To the nations of the earth and to pos
terity they declared that all men are en-
dowed bv their Creator ciM the andlsenG-
Die right to life, liberty, and the pursuit Q,
happiness This was the fundamental
principle, the seminal truth, which they
regarded as the foundation, the chief ccr.
ner-stone, of our Republic. The next
great Truth which they uttered was, '4ha'
Governments are constituted among men,
to secure these rights" These are the
rights of all men, and these the objects fol
which this Federal Government was found.
ed. True, the objects of Government may
be defeated by those who administer it
but the right to life and liberty peltains te
every human being. The murderer, the
pirate, enemies Of mankind, may by crimes
deprive US of their enjoyment, but the
rights will remain forever. 1t is glorious
truth, that the meanest slave that bow
beneath the lash of his tyraat master
holds from Heaven the same right to lib
erty which is possessed by the proudest po
tentate who sways the sceptre Of civil pow
er; Is the member from South Carolina
VINO mas Just resumed his seat, Mr.. KEIrT,
now ready and willing to maintain thes'
truths on which bis predecessors and min,
then united, making their solemn appea
to the Supreme Judge of the Universe 70
the rectitude of their intentions? will