Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-06-28
COLUMBUS, oFIIOs
WEDNESDAY, MORNING, Z JUNE as.
General sherman at Home - He
PronOnmces for tlie Constitution.

PronOumces fOr the Constitution.
On Saturday General SHERMAN arrived
athis home, in Lancaster, where cordial
reception-home was given him. In re-
sponse, he made brief speech, which was
reported to The Cincinnati Commercial by the
editor of the Abolition paper at Lancaster,
In the speech as thus reported, we find
these sentences: ha 'aoij li
"The past is now with the historian, but
we must still grapple with future. In this
we need guide, and, fortunately for as all,
we can trust the ConstituttotL which has
safely brought us through the gloom and
danger OF the past. Let each State take care
of It's opn local interests and dtdtrs-Ohio or
hers. Louisiana OF hers, Wisconsin OF hers,
and believe the best results will follow
You all know we'll that have lived much
at the South, and say that though we
have been bitter and fierce enemies in war,
zoe must trust tats people again inpedce."
This is sound doctrine and worthy of all
acceptation. He believes in the Constitu-
tion; he looks upon It as guide that will
take us safely out Of our present difficult
ties. Under its sanction heretofore each
State took care of its own interests and af-
fairs; and by allowing them to do so in the
future, he is fully persuaded that the 'best
results will follow" How this slanguage con-
trasts with the language used in the Aboii-
tion Platform adopted on the 2lst. That
Platform ignores the Constitution OF the
United States altogether. 1t does not even
by insinuation or implication recognize the
existence of such an instrument. Nor does
it declare the necessity of trusting the
Southern 'people again in peace" 1t, how
ever, declares that the Declaration of
Independence should serve as our
guide sin all our political action" 1t
would be doing gross injustice to
General SHERMAN to. say that he had not
read the proceedings and the Platform OF
the Abolition Convention before he made
this speech. He knows the aim and pur-
pose OF the declaration that ''all our political
action" should be subordinated to the Dec
laration of Independence. He knows that
it contemplates the subversion of the Con-
stitution of the United States, wherein it
provides that ''each State" shall stake care
of its own local interests aud affairs" and,
undoubtedly, he a-ailed himself of that
opportunity to lift up, for the popular re-
gard, the Constitution of the United States,
as the only agency through which perfect
peace and concord can be secured to the
country.
General SHERMAN is mortal; and, there
fore, experienced In his campaigning
that bitterness and fierceness that are in
separately connected with civil Wars. Re-
turning home as the bravest and most sue
cessful Generals of the War, his words de-
serve to be pondered. In effect he says,
you must again trust the Southern people;
you must discard whatever Of bitterness
you have cherished toward them, and you
must not take from the late insurgent States
any rights they enjoyed under the sanction
of the Constitution before the Rebellion.
You must, in order that the whole country
may be again blest with the happiness that
flows from people contentedly following
their pursuits within the Union, observe
the spirit and letter of the Constitution,
Sin all your political action"
., In vain will the Abolitionists look for an
Endorsement OF their platform in this speech
of General SHERMAN. His brother JOHN
announced the night before the Abolition
Convention met, that the General would
support General Cox for Governor, and it
was stated in this city a few days ago. that
the General would on Saturday, at Laneas-
ter, pronounce for the Abolition Ticket and
Platform. He did neither; but he took oc-
casion, most pointedly, to repudiate their
by lifting up the Constitution as
the only safe and proper guide to our polit-
ical action. Did the Abolition Platform ad-
dress itself to the appreciation of General
SHERMAN he would most assuredly have
said so. By his Lancaster speech, he has
made it unmistakably plain that party in
the State of Ohio must take upon itself the
advocacy of the Constitution of Ae United
States. In view of this fact, even If the
Democratic party felt inclined to disband,
it could not; for it has ever been the un-
advocate of the maintenance of
that instrument inviolate. 1t must 60 for
ward in the advocacy Of its maintenance.
To stimulate it thereto, it has the encour-
lging words of General SHERMAN. Let it
not despond, therefore; but let it pluck
courage from this circumstance.