Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-09-27
SPEECH OF
Hon. James Guthrie,
AT TILE
Mcclellan Ratification Meeting at New Albany,
Indiana, on the 10th Of September.

FELLow-C CITIZENS OF INDIANA: Kentucky
bids you God speed in this great work of
saving the nation. / have been in Chicago.
/ know the platform there adopted by the
assembled Democracy. l assisted In max
ing it, Iknow whatitmeans. ltmeans peace.
1t means peace upon the basis OF the re-es-
tablishment of the Union in all its integrity.
Who would give up the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi and the grave OF Jackson for
peace which divided this Union? Who
would give up the glorious Constitution OF
our fathers for q peace which separates
this great Republic? Not the Democratic
and conservative masses now arrayed un-
der the standard of that ro-statesman
George B. Mcclellan. No, fellow-citiZens,
1t is another party which would thus dis
rupt this nation if its hideous dogmas of
Abolitionism are not accepted by the people
of the South.
The Chicago platform and the letter of
acceptance of Mcclellan mean that the
President of the United States and every
official of the Government, either in the civil
or military department, shall be as obedient
to the Constitution as the humblest citizen
or soldier. 1t is a peace platform on the
basis of the Union, the Constitution and the
laws. Who dares to be against such plat
form? Who dares say we shall not have
peace upon the basis OF the integrity of the
Federal Union? If the South is against
such peace; If she refuses to accept the
offer of such peace I; if frank, earnest
and persistent effort to obtain these objects
should fail, then the responsibility for ulte-
rior consequences will fall upon those who
remain in arms against the Union. But the
Union must be preserved at Gthdzdrds. Such
is the construction of this Chicago platform
as given by General Mcclellan, the nominee
of the Convention. Such Is the construc-
tion place upon it. Such is the construc-
tion placed upon it by the Democratic and
con ,eryative masses of the country. We
will never give up the mouth of the Missis-
sippi river for jeff Davis and all his crew.
/ know him well. The South are for peace.
Offer them peace upon this basis and they
will take it-yes, take it with joy, and re-
turn to their allegiance. c....
1t is the principle of the Constitution that
the majority shall rule. 1t is not for one
man to say that we shall or that we
shall not have peace. Who is it that re-
verses this principle of the Constitution,
and says that the majority shall not rule
Abraham Lincoln and his party; he who
denied the people the right OF free speech
and the liberty of the press. This is the first
time since Abraham Lincoln was elected
the first time since he violated the Chicago
platform of 1S60-since he violated the laws
of Congress-since he violated the Consti-
tuition, that the Democratic party has had
chance to speak. And now 1t will speak
until it saves this geat Republic-this pre-
cious Constitution. 1t will speak at the
ballot-box, the great and sacred forum at
which every American citizen may speak
with power. 9. lO -
The control of public affairs must be
wrested from the hands of Abraham Lin
coin and his party, If we would save this
Union. And the North must do'this. You,
men of Indiana. must do this. Upon you
TODAY the eyes and heart of this whole ma
tion are turned with the deepest anxiety.
| You vote in October, and if you succeed in
| defeating the candidates Of this fanatical
| Republican party, then the great battle OF
| the Union is won.' There is necessity that
| you do succeed, and this necessity
should prompt you to redoubled effort and
exertion. You are fighting this battle
not for the State of Indiana only, but for
the whole nation. You must put an end to
those ilagrant violations of the C0nstitu-
tion which have characterized this Admin
istration. You must say that no longer will
| YOU tolerate the acts of a man who has
| oyerriden the Constitution-yiolated time
and again that sacred instrument which he
was sworn to support. What is an oath to
| Abraham Lincoln? A vile jest. Will we
stand 1t any longer? If so, then we. are
worthy to bear the yoke of his despotism.
But you will not stand it. You are NOV
| ing. Push on the column, and come up In
| solid phalanX against the aggressor on your
4 rights, Kentucky,s sons will aid you now,
| as they have helped in the other and better
days Of the Republic. yi ~ ",
|. fhave right, as Kentuckian, to speak
of JEFF. Davis and Abraham Lincoln. They