The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-16

RSAAsAN8A 80 ~ hAO
men who are now seeking reeonstrncfion,
and to these the President looked when
the time came for selecting men to aid in
working out the problem of reeonstruc.
ton.
A third class are the blacks. The
speaker indicated the motives that in
duced the negroes to give their aid to the
Government and spoke eloquently Of their
devotion to the Union soldier, and of their
tried faithfulness to the Union cause.
What, asked the speaker, is our duty
10 these elasses2 Toward the freedmen
there can be no doubt of our duty. We
must make their freedom real and com.
plete, in order to insure them that pro
gress 70 the intelligence and virtue and
prosperity they should attain. But
how is this TO be done We
have the former master in the one hand
and the common classes in she other, still
entertaining sl the prejudices they have
learned in the past, and positively refusing
to be placed upon sn equality with the
black man. How shall we reconcile this |
condition 2 Two lines open to US, diver
gent, but both progressive, and both ealcu-
lated to work out the right. One is 8 COM
plete enfrsnchisement of sl classes and
colors, and their inteIfusion into q common
political body; the other q diversion of
course, each race taking its own way, and
pushing forward in its own method to the
attainment of whatever intelligence and
prosperity it is capable of. The question
then comes as othe mode by which the
choice of these lines shall be detey min
ed. Fortunately for US, the Ques-
ton is not now pressed upon us.
Our State Convention very wisely and ju-
diciously declined 10 interfere with it, pre-
ferring to cOnfde its solution to the wis
dom and patriotism of those at the head of
national affairs, whose duty it is to deai
with it.
The General then proceeded at length to
counsel unity of action by the Union party.
In all the great material interests he be-
lieved the party was still one in the pur-
pose to keep down forever the spirit of sls-
very it was certainly undivided. Upon
the great vital questions it must re-
main solid, but it could yield details 60
long as the prime objects were attained.
He had been asked for his views upon GER
tain questions, and he had given them in q
spirit of friendly discussion. He had sim
ply exercised the right of private opinion,
but he had nothing to ~retrset, believing
that wisdom and prudence justified what he
lac said. Of the homes y of his opinions
he codld call on none more qualified to bear
him testimony than the people OF Frum-
bull county.
But the duties of the hour demand that
the Union party shall keep firmly together.
They have opposed to them a party hesv-
en- wide from them in its OF scts and pur-
poses, and which will resort 70 every ma
chination to achieve its ends. This party
is now appealing to the prejudiees of the
people upon the subject of taxation, en-
deavOIing to sap, little by little,
the public faith, and insinu-
ate among the people the spirit
of Reputation. If we would maintain the
credit of the national finances and the honor
of the country, we must keep down this
party that is seeking to undermine and de-
stroy both.
General Cox retired amid loud applause.
SPEECH OF HON. JoHE HUTCHRs.
The Hon. John Hutchins followed in an
able speech of an hour and q half, and
was enthusiastically ~applauded by a large
majority of the audience.
He alluded to the happy termination of
the rebellion, r~emarking that the duties of
the war have been faithfully discharged,
and if the duties of peace are as faithfully
performed the fruits of the war will not
be lost to the Government and people.
Let us hope that the triumphs of States
manship, in the restoration of civil govern
meet in States late in rebellion, will equal
the triumphs of Generslship in the sue
cessful prosecution Of the war.
He alluded to the two theories prevail
ing in regard to the effect IF rebellion
upoa the State Governments of the insur-
gent districts the one, that, secession being
unlawful, the State Governments could not
be destroyed by it; the other, that the &C.
ton of the State Governments in rebelllng
and making war upon the General Gov
er1ment has in fact, but not In right, de-
stroyed the existing State Governments
and deprived the people thereof of a re-
publican form of government, and that
the duty of the Federal Government now
is, the rebellion being suppressed, to guar
antee to the loyal people of the late rebel
States, and such others as may choose ore
side there, a truly republican form OF gov
eminent under the Constitution OF
the United States. He did not pro-
pose to argue in favor Ct or against
one or the other theories, except in
so far as they had a bssring upon his own
position. No territory had been taken out
of the Union by the act of secession, but
the land or territory Of q State is not hthe
State Government" Neither is the parca-
ment upon which are written the Oonstitu-
ton and laws of the people inhabitIng the
State, "the State Government" The
American ides Of q State Government AS
near as l can at this moment deiGe it, is
the political organization of the people, on
land or territory, under the Constitution
and laws, owing and recognizing allegi-
anae to the Federal Constitution. If this
political organization for any cause ceases
to exist, although land and people may not
be wanting, it would trouble q State Sow
ereignty Calhoun Democrat with a search
warrant to find the State government. Sup
pose the people of State should emigrate,
where would be the State government
None would exist nor could one be insu-
gursted without the consent of the Fede.
raj government. In its effects upon the
legal status of the State, secession had as
completely, in q practical point of view,
destroyed the State government as the en-
tire withdrawal of the people would have
done. g..
He quoted at length the proclamation. Of
President johnson appointing VIM. W.
Holden, Provisional Governor of North
Carolina, which confers upon him "sll the
powers necessary and proper TO enable
loyal people of the State of North
Carolina to restore said State 10 its consti-
tutional relations to the Federal Govern
ment, and to present such a republican
form of State government as will entitle
the State 10 the guarantee of the Uni.
ted States therefor" He alluded
to the fact that the same proclamation de-
termined the qualification Of voters, and
that it proceeded upon the hypo-
thesis that North Carolina was, at least,
of its constitutional orbit, and that the |
people of the United States should dosome-
thing to get it back again. II will not be
that this course could lawfully be
with Ohio or any other loyal
5tste. North Carolina was practically
a State Government hence the ne.
,essity that the President of the United
should provide 3 way to organize
me. )
II the President of the United States, BY
'eason OF the rebellion, with a view to en- ,
Ible the loyal people of State to restore :
to its constitutional relations to the Fed :