Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-09-23

Seventy-seven years ago to-day, the
American Constitution was born. 1t came
from the spirit and city OF Brotherly Love.
Thirty eight years ago, Geo. B. Mcclellan
was born In the same city. The coincidence
is agreeable, and it will become more so,
when he shall become the chief defender Of
the Constitution.
Those who, during tho summon of 1897,
sat in Independence Hall, were the giants
of those days; in heart great, in intellect
great, in patriotism great. They framed a
system of government which is SO match
less in form and so perfect in its adaptation
to our national and local needs, that but for
the passion of men, it would have banded
the continent in circle of according States,
all keeping time to the advancement Of civ
iliZation. The Randolphs, the Wilson's, the
Rutledges the Masons the Shermans the
Franklins, the Washingtons of that day, laid
the foundation of this Government; COM
mon interests and common charities of our
nature, cemented its parts, by the spirit of
concession and Cancellation. One thing they
did not provide against in their written in
strument. While they made many clauses
intended for the conservation of the Consti
tuition, they did not foresee the inordinate
rise of that sectionalism which has whelmed
our land in blood and misery. They did
not, and could not, provide against that rev.
olution which the mad zealots of the North
and South have made; although they did
provide revolution by another instrument
tality, which they imagined would save the
land from discomfort, and the people from
unjust rulers.
The people of the United States are now
preparing for that bloodless revolution, ev-
cry four years, appointed by the Constitu-
ton, for change OF rulers. Never i'll any
.n1 hoe hnnt, in CO hI.inf n
cycle as the past four years, so momentous
history. A nation of over thirty States,
each standing as pillars in grand political
colonnade, equal in their rank, has in that
time been mutilated. The majesty of its
proportions has been marred by the insdi-
Gus mining of sedition and the violent eX-
plosions Of war. What has taken nearly
eighty years to perfect, has in the course of
one-twentieth of that time been shattered
and broken. The events connected with
such an awful tragedy, whose every act has
been ensanguined, furnish the reasons from
which the Judgment of the nation is to be
expressed in November.
This stupendous contest is not between
contending armies; but contending ideas
marshaled by contending parties. 1t is not
by wager of battle, but by wager Of ballot.
God grant that our conflict may not be red
dened by the blush of shame or the blood
of violence but that the old-fashioned and
tried system of pure and free American
| election may determine these great issues in
| tranquility and wisdom.
The issue on which hang so many of the
issues of human life itself, is made between
those in power and those who seek power
between those who have occasioned civil
war, without policy to prevent or con-
clude it, and those who would have averted
war, and whose policy would end it; be-
tween those who would administer the old
Government, perfected and signed by
Washington seventy-seven years ago, with
its complex machinery of Federal delegat-
| ed powers, and ungranted and inherent
State independence, and those, who, fol
social reforms-deemed by them wise-have
disturbed these fixed relations, and threaten
by absorbing and usurping powers to de-
stroy the Government itself, with all its
muniments of public and personal freedom
| In deciding this issue the people will eX-
anime calmly:
1st. What those in power have done or
failed to do that they should deserve to be
continued in power.
I'd. What their opponents propose to do,
by which they are more worthy OF public
trust.
Perhaps it is hardly fair to complain of
the Republican people, individually, for
dividing the Union. True it has been done
since their accession to power. True, that
accession has been made the preteXt for
Southern extremists to aid in the work of
destruction. But the Republicans, how
ever much individually they may be now
10th to see our Union divided, and their
|, power and consequence in the Administra-
tion lessened, are, as party, responsible
for our calamities. Philosophically, these
acts of disunion and war are referable to
the very conception and existence of their
party. Sectionalism like theirs-in senti-
ment and locality-can not rule the entirety
of country. The part can not control the
whole. A fraction can not make a unity.
No mental or moral arithmetic can trans
mute seventeen into thirty-one.
Hence, on obtaining power, that party
failed to conciliate the section it antagO-
nized. This was natural. Washington and
| Jackson had forewarned us 1t would be so.
Clay and Douglas had thus warned. Wis
dom, greater than her children, has taught
us that mankind--ever averse to any rule
are utterly irreconcilable to 1t, when that
rule seems likely to injure, or proposes to
| destroy its interests. Hence, Mr.. Lincoln,
when he came into power at Washington
in March, 1851, could not bow to the whole
country as its servant, without treachery to
his party and his platform. He could not
Visit or think OF Klcnm0nQ or new orleans
without apology or bravado. He could not
call Southern statesmen to his aid, or swear
to sustain the Constitution without repu-
dating the steps by which he had ascend
ed to power. Hence, his premier, Mr..
Seward, has complained that at the end of
his term, he will not have served his whole
term as President of the United States ;land
that he ought to be fought into that place
for four years more. The difficulty pri-
marily lies with the party which has
had success on its sectional principles.
The best Mr.. Lincoln could do, was what
he has pretended to do, with his war
power-commit the joke ascribed to
Sir Boyle Roche, of breaking the whole
Constitution in order to preserve the re-
mainder. He could not rise to the stature
| of a successor OF Washington, without dis
| honoring his Abolition associates, Hence,
all the failures to compromise, through the
malign influences of his party adherents.
Hence, the failure Of the Crittenden Com
promise, and the Peace Convention. Hence,
sentiments of hate grew, into elements Of
/ war. Distrust and bad blood begat def
anoe and blood letting. Hence, the party
in power have endeavOred to hide their sins
of omission and commission under gar
ments rolled In gore. Hence, they have