Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-10-05
SPEECH OF HON. w. M. DICKSON
Delivered at Oberlin, October Sd.
''The Absolute Equality OfaH Men be-
fore the Law, the only True Basis of
RccOnstructIOn.>

AOAC M A%eNWs AAAC OAAAJ Altt1AS VI
reconstruction"
The speech of Judge Dickson, of Cincin-
natl, delivered at Oberlin ON Tuesday
evening, is one of the ablest and most ex.
haustive pleas in favor of granting equal
rights to the Southern freedmen that we
have yet read. 1t presents no specially
new or'original argument-that were hard
TO do, upon subject SO much discussed
but it combines and re-arranges all the
arguments which have been urged upon
the subject with surprising clcarness, logic
and force. We have not room to repub-
lish the entire speech, but give below the
more important portions of its argument
After touching briefly upon some of the
salient features of the conflict which has
Ijust closed, pointing out how near We We're
to being ruined at the commencement OF
the rebellion by the insidious theory Of
State rights; and how, in the dark days Of
1862, the Emancipation Proclamation pre-
vented the recognition of the Confederacy
! by foreign nations, and alluding to the
help which the rebellion received from
Vallandigham and his fcllow-Copperheads,
he continued:
RECONSTRUCTION.
But, my friends, our work is only half
done; reconstruction remains.
Force produces physical unity; this is
] ,,4 4Ia h,arig e Sy,zf14tr41gr,- p,
may not, with safety to ourselves, main
| tain permanently military contrel of the
rebel States. Pro-consular Governments
are alien to our system. Yet the rebels
have invoked the war power; it Is not for
them to say when or how we shall lay it
aside We may not do this until the pub
lie safety permits. War powers are the
defensive armor of free people, to be put
on in times of danger, but to be laid aside
as soon rs the danger Is past. All patriots
must desire that the clovcn secGdlng States
shall, as speedily as the public safety will
permit, become, i'll fact rs well as in form,
members of our common body polite,
equal in right with the other members and
clothed with the powers of self-govern-
ment How this shall be done is the
problem Of our politics, that now presses
for solution.
Judge Dickson proceeded to show that
Southern whites, whether rich or poor,
whether originally Umonists or Secession
lists, yield sullenly and reluctantly to the
decision of the sword. He showed that if
their representatives were admitted into
Congress their votes would be a Constant
quantity for reputation, and that they will
attempt in every way to re-enslave the
blacks. He said:
A GUARANTY NEEDED.
l would uot give them power in this
matter until l had guaranty that this
power would not be used for this breach
of faith. But what then2 If not, what
guarantees do you want? Upon what
conditions would YOU admit them? For
tmately these questions can be sutisfac-
torily answered.
THE BLACKS SAVED THE NATION.
At the commencement of this war. it
was the common declaration of those who
We're in sympathy with the rebels, that
the rebellion could not be put down; that
history did not furnish an example of
eight or ten millions of people determined
on independence being conquered. These
opinions were generally held by the rulers
Of Europe. But there was one important
element left out Of the calulation, namely. |
one half Of the poPglotion Of tie rebel |
,StDtcs Igcre tie determined enemies Of the |
rebellion, dRd fhis half constituted the Ia |
boring class. This halfneutralized, in the |
long run, the other half While l am !
not one of those who place the bravery of
the negro soldiers above that of the white, |
il is fact which will hardly be denied. |
that bat for the opposition of the entire |
negro population to the rebel cause, we /
could scarcely have succeeded; surely, had |
this force been added to the rebel side, we
could not. Mr.. Lincoln's proclamation
" emancipation, dCrfued 1T tire time rs Il
Popes Bull against the comet, was the
death blow of the rebellion.
LET THEM SECURE ITS SAFETY.
This loyal half still remain; thew who
never in a single instance failed the Union
cause, are now as loval and faithful as
ever. We have seen that this half Of the
southern population neutralized the other
lalf in the war. / would have it continue
his good work. L would so reconstruct
he Southern States that while l gave to
he disloyal half their full equality before
he law, l would paralyze their disloyal
purposes by giving like equality to the
oyol half. What wrong is there in this
give TO the men who, for four years. have
,een laboring to destroy the nation. full
ights-the same which you and l have.
The only condition imposed, Is, that their
oval fellow-citizens shall have the same
lights, neither more nor less. This solu-
ion of the problem of reconstruction is
n full harmony with the representative
principle and all our institutions 1t will
II Il brief time remove pro-cOnsular gov
and restore the normal condi-
ion of all the States. The country can
hen rest satisfied that it has Il full guar
nty against any efforts Of the rebels to do
injury, under a restored government This
olution introduces no new element, no
ew principle into our government. 1t is
mt the complete application of the prin- ;;
iples Of our fathers set forth in the de- ,
laration of independence. :
THE STATES RIGHTS OBJECTION. |
Why shall it not be adopted? And t
ere the false theory of State rights is /
gain thrust forward, by certain parties, i
4 the precise same sense, aid for the same {
urpose, with which it was introduced at !
he beginning of the war, to support the |
roposition that the Government had no {
ght to defend itself against rebellion
hen the Government had no power to
squire them to give bonds to keep the S
eace! Here again the true relation Of
lings is perverted. Grant indeed, not
zee, has surrendered; the Union forces, !
ct the rebels, have been disarmed |
1t is no part Of my present purpose to !
aborate the argument, establishing the
over Of the Government to impose con-
tions, looking to the public safety, upon .
le rebels. If it had no power to do this, :
had no power to make the war. The y
ne follows from the other. The rebels 0
ell knew, when they appealed to the y
ibunal of the sword, il the decision =
as adverse to them, what the Judgment Z
ust be. BY the universal laws of war, :
Ie conquering pewer may impose such .
'ndtions of settlement, looking to its /?
Nn safety and welfare, as it pleases only Is
ese must not be in violation of the laws Is
humanity. This principle clearly II
YES the. Government power to adopt the g
an of reconstruction proposed. Surely ,
is not at variance with the laws of hu- =
anity. {
PRESIDENT JOHNsONs s PLANS. -
President johnson ignores the State q
I. IL II !