Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-09-22

ed the support Of millions and millions of
men, who filled up the ranks OF the armies,
and sent forth their best and brayest to de-
fend the flag Of the Union which our faith
ers established. We, who still maintained
the Democratic party, were of opinion that
the question of Union and disunion would
recur again, at a day not far distant. To-day
1t rec1rs. ''"' 'N" ''- N'''s0
'" THE TEST OF LoYAtTY.l F+"oHI'
For four Years past the Democratic party
has been denounced as a dsloyali parity
Why?i Because in the exercise OF its an
cient, Constitutional, guaranteed rights, it
insisted upon, scrutinizing the conduct of
public servants. Opposition to the Admit
istration has, for four yoars past, been the
test of disloyalty. b. Now let us see where
stand our adyersaries. To-day they are, The
disloyal party Of the, United States, accord
ing to their own theory. T6-day they are
opposing the scheme 1of frecOnstrdctiO
which will immediatel y9restore the South
ern States to the Union, as proposed by
President johnson. BY their own argu-
meht,I In opposing the administration, they
oppose the Government, and they are dis
loyal. Being dislOyal, and there being no
trial by jury, and no, hGbeGs corpus, they
are fit victims for military arrests, and
ought Immediately to be plated Under
guard. I'D Laughter.1 How would they like
it?., II it Is disloyal in a Democrat to OPP
pose Republican Administration, 1t GER
tainly. is more. disloyal in a Republican to
oppose a Republican Administrations
Laughter. il IJasay that9d in opposing
this immediate reconstruction OF, the Union,
and in demanding, as their, orators and
which are now ready to- return to the
Union, and to yield obedience, and fidelity
to the, Constitution of the United States,
and in insisting that they. shall be kept out
for ten, twenty Or thirty years, or for an 4
indefinite PERIOD they are disloyal men;i
and let the cry now be fastened upon them.
IApplause.l If it was o matter OF reproach
and opprobrihm to Democrats that they
opposed the Administration, let TT be
equally reproachful tothOse who now OPP
pose the President in his efforts to return
the Southern States to their Constitutional
rights. But they are disloyal upon higher
principles than that of opposint the ADJ
ministrati0n. Whoever is for overthrow
ing, the Constitution for destroying it for
violating it, is disloyal, The only true 10y.
atty, if the word could appropriately be
used under republican form OF govern,
ment, iS obedience to thu Constitution of
the United States, the fundamental law of
the'landJ by that test they are disloyal.j
[Applause.l, po-day they are opposed, to
the return OF, the Southern States. You
soldiers OF the 57th, and, of other regiments
within my hearing-you of the three
months volunteers-what went you forth
for2 What were you told was to bet the OBJ
ject of your enlistment? 1t was to break
down the military power OF the South, and
to restore the Constitution and the laws
which had been violated. You never would
have enlisted had you been told that the OBJ
ject of the war was to overthrow the Con-
ry monarchy. How stand we now2 The
military power of the South is broken
down, the Southern Confederacy has yan-,
ished into thin air, Jefferson Davis is a
prisoner in FORTRESS Monroe, and there is
not an armed foe to the Government of
the United States. from the Potomac to the
Rio Grande. ,,....... ..,.... ....- r..