Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-11-21
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Conclusion Of MIR. Co,fax's speech


Second. The most of their State Constitu-
tions which have been adopted by many of
their State Conventions so reluctantly, un-
der the pressure of dispatches from the
President and the Secretary of State, should
be ratified by majority of the people. We
all know that but very small per centage
of their voters participated in the election
of the delegates to these conventions, and
nearly, If not all, the conventions have de-
clared them in force without any ratifca-
tiOn by the people. When this crisis has
passed can they not turn around and say
that they were adopted under duress, by
delegates elected by meagre vote, under
Provisional Governors and military author
tiles, and were never ratified by a popular
vote? and could they not turn over the ar
a Constitution not ratified by the people
may have effect, but no moral effect what
ever? s..,-.i
Third, The President can on all occasions
insist that they should elect Congressman
who could take the oath prescribed by the
act OF 1862; but In defiance Of this, and in
sulting the President and the country,
they have, in large majority of lnstan-
ces, voted down Union men who could
take the oath, and elected those who
boasted that they could not, and would
feel disgraced il they could. With
out mentioning names, one gentleman
elected in Alabama by a large majority. de-
clared in his address to the people before
would record the emancipation act as the
| most rhonstrous deed of cruelty that ever
darkened the annals of any nation; and
| another one, who avowed that he gave all
| possible aid and comfort to the rebellion,
| denounced the Congress of 1862 as guilty
| in enacting such an oath. A voice, Put
them on probation."l The South is filled
with men who cannot take the oath which
declares, 81 have not voluntarily taken
part in the rebellion" Every conscript in
the Southern army can take the oath, be-
cause he was forced into the ranks by their
| conscription act, and every man who stayed
at home and refused to accept civil or
| military office could take that oath. But
| these were not the choice of the States lately
| in rebellion. ,a ..r..
Fourth While it must be expected that a
| minority of these States will cherish for
years, perhaps, their feeling of disloyalty,
| the country has rightto expect that be-
| fore their members are admitted to share
| in the Government of this country clean
| majority of the people of each of these
States should give evidence of their cheer
| full and earnest loyalty, not by such speech
es as are so common, that they submitted the
| issue to the arbtrament OF war. but that
they are willing to stand by and fight for
the flag of the country against all its enc
mics, at home or abroad. The danger now
is in two much precipitation. Let us rath-
er make haste slowly, and we can then hope
that the foundation of our Government,
when thus reconstructed ON a basis of in
disputable loyalty, will be as strong as the
stars. ,[Applause,l .''.'
| In President johnson l have unshaken
confidence. l cannot forget that in the
| Senate, at the opening of the rebellion, he
was the only, Southern member who de-
nounced it and its originators, and that he
was faithful among the faithless. APP
| plause. Nor do | forget that when on
his way from the Capital to his
home, insulted as he was at many
railway stations, he never faltered in his
devotion to the Union. Nor can forget
his speech when military Governor of
Tennessee to mass meeting of the colored
men at Nashville, in which he declared that
all men should have fair start and an equal
chance In the race of life, and let him sue
ceed who has the most merit. You all re-
member his speech to the colored regiments
i of the District of Columbia, where he re-
pudiated that stereotyped declaration that
this is white mans country alone, and in
sisted that 1t was theirs also. You remem-
Der, also, his remarks to the South Carolina
delegation, that the only right system was
to protect all men, both white and black,
and that if they got the general, popular
rights, the details and collaterals would
follow. We all remember his earnest dis
patches to these Southern conventions, and
that he has signed the death warrant of one
who has been convicted of conspiracy.
Il rafnt1 tintn Nf tha
country carried it successfully, aided by our
heroic defenders, through its perilous crisis
OF the past four years. Our beloved mar
tyred President leaned upon it in his dark
est hours. 1t stood by the National cause
unfalteringly. 1t voted down the Chicago
platform, which declared the war to be a
failure and which demanded cessation OF
hostilites. The people have placed the
whole power of the Government in its
hands, Executive, Legislative and Judicial,
and treasured 1t by the brilliant victories OF
this fall. Let us emulate the example OF
its friends in all the States. Let US study
unity in the light of duty, and believe the
Executive and Legislative departments OF
the Government when they compare views
together, will cordially cooperate in this
great work before us all, and so act that
the foundations of our Union, wisely and
patriotically reconstructed, shall be eternal
as. the ages, with a hearty acceptance
by the South of the new situation,
rejoice to believe that under system OF
paid free labor and respecting the rights OF
freemen, it will 60 forward in a career Of
prosperity, wealth and progress unparallel-
ed in its previous history. 1t has more
genial cline than we have in the colder
North. and wider range of productions
for it has cotton, tobacco, rice and sugar,
which command such high prices now in
the markets of the world, and unbounded
water power, almost entirely unimproved
Rid now of the shiftless system of slave
labor, it will, with its loins girded, rival us
In the race of prosperity. '-.l N -.'.
. In conclusion, can but echo the words
of our departed President in his last in
augural on the steps of the capitol "With
malice towards none; with charity for all,
but with flrmness to do the right as God
| gives us to see the right, and all will be
4 WELL"
n The address was cheered throughout, and
at its conclusion many in the crowd rushed
forward to congratulate the speaker, while
the band played patriotic airs.
A. COunterfeiting Establishment
Il Broken UP. ! ,'i4 '.-H'