The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-06-29


| [Applause. But, if our physical tri-
umph has been great, gentlemen OF
the Convention, no less great has been
the moral and political triumph ochiev-
ed over this rebellion. To-day slavery
is dead throughout the land Zap.
plause.] ] To-day we come together af-
ter baving achieved an event which
will mark the progress Of the world
in the great cause of human improve
mcnt. A constitutional amendment
has been passed by Congress, making
all this vast country of ours heritage
Of freedom, and the States of this I'm
ion are going to give their indorse-
mont to that Constitutional Amend
ment. Applause. For the first time
in the history of the great State Of
Ohio, the delegates of Ohio meet to-
gethcr for the purpose of selecting
their State officers, as the delegates Of
a free State in a Union of free States
That is an era in the progress of the
world, and to-day, my friends, we will
make our mark, and we will give ut,
tcrance to expressions in this Conven-
ton, and in the canvass which will
come after this Convention. and will
show that the Union party of Ohio is
devoted to the cause Of freedom of all
men. [AppIausc.
There is only ono thing more 10
which I wish to refer to day, as mark
ing the popularity of this convention.
We meet together to-day, cllow.dcle.
gates, not only as the representatives
OF the civil department of the country
and the State, but we have with us the
military organization of the State Of
Ohio, ,ofwhich we are all soiustly proud
| IAppiause. Twill say here what
would not say if were candidate
before this convention. will say that
the Executive Committee have labor
I'd for the purpose of giving to these
gentlemen all that they believe to be
their proper place, and their proper
power, and their proper weight in this
great State Convention, and if W.
have given TO these gentlemen, as
know we have, some more weight here
to-day than belongs simply to their nu
merical Strength, let ev cry man III Ohio
remember that we do not give then
A ono particle more power after al, thar
belongs to the services they have rem
A dcrcd to the State and to this country
l[Applausc.] Now, gentlemen, permit
me TO introduce to you the Rev. Mr.
| Foiton.
Alter prayer by Rev E. G. FELTON,
of Columbus, General W. B. Woods
Of Licking County, was appointed Pre-
sident pro. tom On taliingithe chair
| General Woods addressed the Convcn
| ton at follows:
SPEECH OF GENERAL WOODS.
4 FELLOW CITIZENS OF OnIo-I, too
congratulate you on the auspiciou
circumstances under which you arr
this day, assembled. Four years agC
found us preparing, in fear and in sor'
row, to defend the institutions of oul
country--with our avy scattered il
distant seas, and our armies
and our arsenals in the hand
of the insurgents, and fear and appre
hension pervading the entire country
To-day we come here prepared to Civ
the lie to the assertion, that the fou
years of war for the Union, through
which we have passed, have proven
failure. [Applause. Four years ag'
saw the sturdy sons of the Republic
Fastening to the field, to sustain th'
flag of their country, which had beer
disowned and dishonorcd in clover
States of this Union. To-day sec
that honorcd ensign floating in tri
umph overevery foot ofAmericAn soil
[Applausc.] The most wicked, mo
mentols and atrocions rebellion tha
tho world has ever seen, has dsap
pcared, like a dissolving view, Ap
plause1, and its armies are scattered
It's leaders are prisoners and fugitivcs
and the arch traitor, who was the lif
and soul of tho rebellion the imperi
GUS tyrant of the so.called confedcra
cy, has been captured, fleeing inglori
ously, disguised in the habilimcnts q
a woman. [Applausc.] Peace, bless
cd peace, rcighs throughout the lengt
and breadth of our land TO day. Ap
plause.l We have cause to congratu
late ourselves, too, on account Of th
settlement of certain questions tha
were agitating this country befor
this rebellion broke out. 1t has bee
settled that a Northern man will fgb
TApplausc.] 1t has been settled tina
, one Southern man can't whip fiv
Northern men, Applause.] 1t ho
been settled that, from this time hence
S forth, the foot of no slave shall pres
the soil of the United States. Az
| plausc 1t has been settled tha
4. from this time honcotorth, no State
this Union has fright to secedc, or
attempt to break up the Government
Applause And to day, in exultar
e pride, we can inscribe on our nationi
: flag, Liberty and Union, now an
;, forever, one and inseparable." TAI
0 plausc. tsl
r We owe a debt of gratitude SOM
f where, for these great results AM
: first of all, let us render our humb
J, and hearty thanks 10 Almighty Go
Q whose overruling providence hat
s vouchsafcd to us this great victory
: And next, under God, our gratitude
1 due to the labors, and the virtue, an
Q the genius of our late lamented Chi
J., Magistrate. [Applausc.] And whc
5 we forget his virtue, when we forg'
$ his toll, when we forget the abilit