The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1865-09-07
Hon. Geo. III. PendIetOn-Ilis
speech at Columbus

The following are the closing remarks
of Hon Geo. II. Pcndleton, at the recent
Ohio Dcmocrtic State Convention:
"The first desire of every rutriot now is
the pacifcation cf the country, the return
to the ways and duties and properties of
peace; and this can most speedily and only
be accomplished by securing to the people
of the South self.gorcrnment in their D.
propriatc influences in the Government of
of the Union. The Constitution will do
this. 1t need only be observed Its pro-
visions are all-suficient. 1t needs no
amendment Wise men made it; good
men administered it for seventy years;
peace and prosperity attended it. 1t will
bring again union and freedom and pros
pcrity. 1t secures the rights of the States
at home 1t secures the just rights of the
Federal Government. 1t secures the lib
crty of the citizen. If the President will
fairly administer it: if he will make an
honest effort to apply its provisions; ifhe
will remember that The powers of the Fed
eral Government are all delegated. and
that the rest arc all reserved; that trial by
jury. free speech, free press, are to be held
nviolate; that military commissions, for
the trial of citizens, are absolutely prohib-
tied, |, for one, believe it to be my highest
duty to give him a. a.warm support If he
will not go so farSI will support him
where he is right, and as earnestly con
dcnn him where he is wrong. The party
which has not been diverted in the midst
of the tcrrors of tie past four years from
its steady support OF the rights of the
States and the rights of the people, can
not be seduced by hopes of power, nol
driven by fear of consequences to abandon
that position now. 1t demands nothing
which is not prescribed in the ICOnstitu
ton; it will be unsclfsh and earnest in its
support; 1t will be determined and active
in its opposition; it rises above party aims
it banishes party aspiration; it will be tru,
to him. whoever he may be, who will b(
true to the Constitution and the country
The questions now ir controversy toucl
the very organization Of the Federal Gov
crnment They revive the old theories o
confederation and consolidation The,
are hidden under spurious and deceptiv,
names. Reconstruction, as our opponent
use the word, means not restoration of the
| Union. but recOnctructOn OF the COnstltu
ton; change in the framework of the Gov
crnment, and every change proposed is il
diminution Of the States, and aggrandizc
ment of the Federal Government. Della
in reconstruction means that military Gov
ernments are to be used to effect them
The tendency of war is to consolidation
We must resist it. 1t will lead to dcspot
ism. Local sclfgoyernment, the right
of the States, confedcration-thcsc ar
the only hope of liberty. Our fathers say
this, and they formed confederation. |
few and simple words. they established tn
test Of all questions. "All powers nc
delegated are reserved" Let us bring al
to this test. Let us solve them by it, an
as far as human wisdom can effect it. W
escape all danger. Shall We change tha
test now? Shall We destroy the States
Shall we impair their powers? Are W
wiser, more patriotic, more honest tha
our fathers? No. Let us rcstorc tn
i,.oy,;,..",ent as ;acy made it. They gay
us blessing; let us pe%%are that We u
not make it curse
The speech was warmly received, an,
elected throughout marked attention AM
great applause.