The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-06-06

more than doubtful power, Of regarding
the rebel States as extinct, and their people
a lawless mob, without rights, and who
are again, by long sud odous pupilage
under national tuition, to graduate TO.
wards new State organizations, under dis
couraging and prejudicing embarrass-
ments, which, when fnally attained, will
10 nowise be more favorable 10 the peace
and prosperity OF the nation than would
have been those so uselessly discarded ?
In the name Of all manship. what is
10 be gained by ii? In the pursuit OF this
subject, l beg here TO offer a remark upon
another topic connected with it. 1t Is
habit peculiar 10 this sud another floor to |
deride ard decry and deny State rights.
We are sometimes given TO understand
there are no such things, and,n there are,
they are but hurlful elements Of mischief,
and that i, was in their delusive name
that was hatched the awful convulsions
we are passing through.
Sir, upon nothing does the safety ant
success Of our system more depend, than
on the strict observance and maintenance,
invoilable, Of all the rights ofthe States
So long as they move heslthlully within
their prescribed orbits, the whole vast and
complex scheme must accomplish its pur-
poses. But he who would strengthen The
General Government at the expense Of the
States, fatally disarranges the whole. The
General Government, 10 its scope and in.
strumentalities. was always strong enough.
1t was not through the inherent weakness
Of the national machinery that the present
huge evils came upon us, but wholly
through the wickedness OF those who
worked it at the time. The strongest
Governments on earth have been Often
overcome by rebellion. Mere strength
never furnished immunity against re.
belIon. 1t is. the nature Of power 10
8 draw power to il till it absorbs all power
= This characteristic is found in mans love
r OF dominion. The national Government,
t from weak and feeble enginery, has
grown 10 become formidable sovereign,
swaying a great continent, and shaking
, ihe earth with the tread OF its armies
n With immense patronage, its innumerabe
r places, its dazzling heights, its greaI
n power, with which 1t tempts and rewards
;, the ambition Of the talented and great, i
i has subsidized and drawn TO itself and il:
) service, has bound in its train OF follower,
- !, all the aspiring, restless. ambitious and
Il scheming Of the whole land. Who now
!. seeks the humber service of State, save
o as a training ground and portal to The
g imperial and dazzling service OF the SOY
d ereign? In the meantime, the States
70 from being acons,elation ofproud nations
!, !, second only to the one greater, have, ii
y. 70 her haugoty presence, shrunk and shriv
!. eled and skunk away to be mere rrov
ID inces and departments OF the empire
W until now it is boldly proposed to deciar
It. that seven or eight Of them have disap
peared from the map, and the places the
10 occupied are but thousands OF miles c
anarchic wastes, to bo by US erected int
10 - imperial provinces, aad placed under tn
of dominion Of the great proconsuls whor
, the President shall send forth in arme
OF pomp to sway over them. In the name {
m my people protest against this. TO m
%. the most astonishing and dangerou
OF scheme ever advocated on this floor.
" Sir,I know where my highest allegiauc
81
% os inconsistent with that obligation. But
ed love my State with strength that W
Mt. find expression only in life time
,al humble devotion. Her forests shelter,
'r: my infancy, when my mother, after
TO- weary pilgrimage OF SIX hundred mile
ITO laid me under their shade. There n
". father made his rude cabin home, al
~. W. there is bis grave. have seen th
nat State grow from feeble, scattered ar
Of rude hamlets of huts and clearngs. sh
ity ia by inlerminable forests, to a powerf
'n- nation, rich 10 all the grand and ennoblin
cir arts of refined Christian civilization.
nct have seen her leading her troops Of bea
,o VI tiful children along her broad and hume
we Gus ways of education, virtue and re
or. glou, to the worlds grest fields OF usefu
Igh ness and enterprise. l have heard h
on, whisper with the voice of inspiration al
in creation in the sealed-up ears. and tea
'ed The language Of praise and gratitude
ons 1 the iuarticuiating tongues Of her unhear
!" mutes. have seen her kindle the lig
oso % Of Joy and gladness in the darkened cav
"a a where CROPPED her unseeing ones, wh
If the unfortunate whose intellects We
hts smitten otGot sit at her feet, clothed a
ese in their right minds. She, like her sis,e
For has confronted this great catastrophe
the proportions equal to its demands. /
ave, self.elected ones have rushed to eve
Nd snJ danger their voices have swelled eve
tier battle shout; and their blood has be
by kneaded into the red mire Of every n
ht ? field. And every son of hers who blancl
oign there or here. will. by one throb Of her
'ple dguaut heart. oe hurled TO the infamy
be merits. speak Of her as the noble q
P1en; Pn brave men about me may truly speal
'V =" their own loved States and, when !
n il this threatened blow raised 10 annihil
Be- eight Of her sister States-parricidal II
mot tors though they are. in whose prese
ying all ordinary criminals look virtuo
can bIauched by horror into the pale sc
uni bIance Of iunocence-I tremble lest the
any coil of that fearful blow endsngers b
ali. ~ and therefore her name protest agsi
such a policy. and l know that my ,
lous leagues who differ from me most, will
into the most cordial TO unite with me in
ongs sentiment.
1t Tn nv Judgment, we NAV in no Z,