Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-09-25
SPEECH OF '-'-
Hon, DANIEL w. VOORHEES,:

Hon, DANIEL w. VOORHEES,:
Delipered before the Great Democratic Meeting in
the City Of Columbus, On MOnddy, Sept. 2lst,
1868.
Mr.. Voorhees,, who, on being introduced, was
received with round after round Of applause,
said: ..... ..
One of the fret things that always occurs 10
me at these vast assemblies, after rising to ad-
dress the people, is feeling of wonder at the
vast multitudes assembled together; and If q
person had been abroad, in Europe for example,
and had Just returned without knowing the oc-
currences that had taken place In this country,
what wonder would seize his mind at these
overwhelming multithdes OF the people. II
would naturally be supposed that there was a
great Presidential election, or some important
contest, affecting q changein the Government,
that had brought those people together. But,
my fellow-citlzens, Ii Ia not a mere question as
to what individual shall succeed to thlspr that
Office, that has brought you together; but II is
the solemn conviction that has penetrated your
minds, that the liberties of your country are in
danger OF the hands of men you have placed in
power. Those who were your public servants
now seek to become your public masters. ap-
peal to each man before me, If, in the inmost
that conviction is all-pervading throughout the
country, that your personal liberties are in dan
ger. Your Union is the child Of love aud af-
feetion; the Union is entitled to our love and
our prayers, and we come together for ite res
toration. But If there is just one thing entitled
| TO more love and respect, and tor which one
ought to be willing to consent to die than for
| the Union, IL 10 our OWL LIBERTY, and the
rights of every being in this free country ehall
be preserved. That is the trouble 10 this coun-
try at this time. II ia this that sgitates the
people at the present time. The frs. great
question with ourselves 10 want Of confidence
on the part of the public in the rulers of the
people In this country. They are trying to re-
verse all the rules of government which your
fathers entertained. They are not willing to
trust you any more that your children are trust
cd In the affairs of the domestic circle. They
say to Jou, "You are no. to be trusted with
your own AFFAIRS" and that they must take your
affairs into their keeping.
| Why do cay this7 Bear with me few mo-
mants upon this issue, for 1t underlies your fu-
ture happiness, and Jour Government. whatever
It may be. It will affec. poateri.y for ell ages
Ito come. Lincoln, OF w Washington, aud all bic
minions Of power throughout tho land, say that
it ia wrong for you TO have this meeting here
to-day. Why do they say it ia wrong7 Let US
Hook at their reason. Because they cay "if the
people hear certain public speakers, they may
20 wrong, ard become deluded and turned astray
lby false reasoninglso or something Of that sort
1.-The consequence is, that Lincoln says, "It Ia
necessary for me to stop Il all, and prevent the
people from being deceived and betraS ~
liLAughter.l That 10 o piece Of kindness on
the part of Lincoln, that you do mob ssk him
for Yon are not afraid TO trust yourselves
\ You would not be afraid to hear Valandgham
J make a speech, il he were here to-day to do It,
and you would not be afraid that he would gel
YOU to do wrong. But Lincoln ia afraid 10 trust
YOU on these questions. Lincoln says In aa
many words, "I can net trust you; | will be-
come your guardian; l will take ou. letters oi
guardianship for this people and save them
from going wrong" Now, in my State, child
fourteen years of age 10 allowed to choose biz
own guardian, and you that are over that age
do you ask Lincoln to protect you from Val
cor any other mani" Laughter and cheers.
That is the whole argument. You want tt
heer certain speakers. Lincoln Gays he dOei
not intend You shall. The Constitution says NJ
law shall be passed to abrldge the freedom o
speech or Of the press; but Lincoln, without AM
law, says in his spaternAl kindness, TO protect th
lpeople, that he will not allow them to hea
decision involves. II involves the overthrow o
] YOUR Government; /. involves revolution ant
4 usufpationy It involves change of your Con
stitu,ion, from the very first to the last line o
it; for your Constitution says, In the very fire
lllne, that the people mako this Constitution fol
Their Government. You are the Government
You are the sovereign power. The people
j made the CONSTITUTION, through their dele
q gated I, and they hl6Re can change the Con
sAtution. Lincoln ia not your Govern
ment. He is simply q part Of your Gov
ernment lItis y6h;wbo make Presidents, ant
YOU may unmake them. You make Cabinets
and YOU unmake them. fYou mako Constitu
tiona, and 1t ia you alone who can unmake them
Mr.. Lincoln is not your Government. But n
President has this power. No public servan
has this power, and In assuming IL, they ar
. H revorsIne the right order of things. Publ
servants are now seeking to be public masters
Instead of obeyiog you, the President says yo
shall obey him. Instead bf recognizing you a
his msster, he says you must recognise him q
, Indiana, and are you going TO do 1t on the rio
iplains OF gallant Ohiof Loud cries of "No,
|. and cheers They come to you and say. "Oh
lDemocrats, you are not loyal to your Govern
Imsn." We may ask, what 10 our Government
: Show me o gray-haired Democrat, one Of th
Veterans Of Democracy, and say to him "whs
y is thy faith ID the Government and thy devo
"a tion TO It7' His reply would be, "my Gossrr
, ment Ia the written Constitution and the Law
I Uassed n pursuance thereof" You and /, m
:, friends, intend 20 obey them all. But Mr. LII
coin has violated sll. lAndyou and /, my friend
IL hereafter will make him obey the laws.-
I[Loud cheers, and cries, "Thats CO." No
"A this is no new issue that has been throw
upon the country. his very old one. II
~ tie issuo that has caused many bloody batil
to be fought for thousand years past; battli
In which the people have sRiven to inaintai
that power which gives laws 70 oil wise nnel
n land which have been placed In their hands &
sS lsslf-gpgernment, !whileY on the other sid
, II Kings, Psinces, tyrants. and usurpers, hay
I'd sought 70 do precisely what Mr. Lincoln 10 d,
d. Ing; that ID, get the power 10 himself, or
Ne leave yon none at all; leave you ct hls mere
leo do, his bidding, without the safeguard Of u
ICopatitutlon OF oil. II 10 not anew danger
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