The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-06-05
S P E E c H
Hon GEORGE H. PENDLETON, /,
Delivered Before the Democratic
Convention, Held In Columbus,
Thursday, May "a, 1866.

Thursday, May "A. 1866.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Conven-
ton:
| congratulate you on the results of
your deliberations-the wisdom and har-
mony of your action. The questions SUBJ
mitted to the people are too grave, the re-
suits of their determination upon the
public Liberties are too momentous to per-
nit the Indulgence of premature or vain
.exultation; but the scenes we have wit.
messed to-day may we'll inspire our hearts
with courage and zeal and hope for the
future.
Another year has rolled around, and
the Democratic party is called again into
council. As you see, it has come with its
strength undiminished-its spirit unim
paired-its zeal unabated--its fidelity to
its principles unshaken-with its organi-
cation as perfect and its numbers still
greater than ever before. 1T is the party
whose origin is coeval with that Of the
Government the same party which JEFF
ierson founded, and Madison organized and
strengthened, and which, by its self-de-
nying and just administration of the linn
tied powers granted to the Federal Gov
ernment has. during the largest portion
of our history, secured an unparalleled
measure Of order and peace and prosper
ity and liberty.
love the Democratic party, admire
its organization and discipline. | honor
the name and fame Of its founders.
revere its principles. so broad in their ap-
plication and so bene6cent in their infu-
eDce, that in all this land-disseyered as
these States now are--there is not a State.
nor county; nor township, nor town, nor
family, nor house-from the Lakes to the
Gult-fiom the Atlantic to the Pacific
in which it has not a representative and
a member. / revere the wisdom which
could mark with such unerring accuracy
the true limits Of the powers granted and
the powers reserved, and could in prac-
tiee with such fidelity establish them;
which could make from the discord of
States then contentious the harmonies of
a confederation, whose powers were con-
fined to International AMI interstate af-
fairs while to the States was left the en-
tire guardianship of the rights, the liber.
ties and the political status Of its citizens.
And | believe it is only by adheriDg
more closely to the teachings of its pre-
Icepts and example that We may have the
least hope of preserving our Government
from the perils of consolidated despotism
on the one hand, or of lawless anarchy
on the other. The party is the same; its
principles and convictions are the same;
they will continue as long as the Govern
meDt shall endure, but each day and year
produce their questions to be answered,
their problems to be solved--aud thus,
while parties and principles remain, poll
cies change. The duty of he hour is 20
meet the questions of the hour, and to
modify the application of principles, as
the exlgency of the times may require.
The question of to-day is Union OF
! Disunion-the old Constitution or new
Constitution-the old Government as our
Fathers gave it to us, or revolution and
change, and new system The Consti-
tuition is in danger. The Union is bro
ken, not By the collision of arms, but by
the political action of parties. Its enc
mics are IN the high places Of power
they sit IN the seats of the Gspitol--they
have their grasp upon its throat-theJ
throttle it to the agonies of dissolution
The President eonfronts them-and the
question presentedpto-day to the Demo.
lcratic party and the people Of Ohio i.
simply this, whether they will support tbt
| President in his effort TO maintain or the
/ Congress in its effort to overthrow tn,
IGoYernment2 The Constitution grant!
certain powers to the Federal Govern
ment II reserves all other powers to tn,
States, and guarantees certain rights I,
the people. The same powers wer,
granted alike by all the States. Tn
same powers were reserved alike to all tn
States. The same rightszwere guarantee,
to all the people of all the States. TIL
States are equal. They were equal be
fore The Constitution was adopted The
continued to be equal by the terms Of tn
:, Constitution itself. They must remain
equal as long as the Constitution shall b
maintained, and the Federal Union crea
ted by it shall endure Mr. Seward i
his speech at Auburn, day before yesteI
day, recognizes. this fundamental trutt
And in my judgment those powers an
those rights belong to day as we'll to th
States, and the people Of Georgia AM
Mississippi as to the States and the pee
pie of Ohio or Pennsylvania.
Why should it not be SO? The Cor
stitution provides that "this Constitutio
and the laws made in pursuance therst
shall be the supreme law, anJthing in tt
Constitution and laws of any State to tt
!. contrary Notwithstanding This is II
4 measure Of the lawful authority Of u
Federal Government. This is the lin
of its lawful demand upon the States.-
When this is conceded,the measure is fu
to overfoving-when this is conceded
the States have fulfilled their Federal d
ty-they have discharged their FEEDER
obligation-no more can be exacted fro
them, and they are entitled to the uno
structed enjoyment of all the power r
served and the rights guaranteed by t,
Federal Constitution.
Is not Federal authority as prompt
obeyed to-day-is it not as unimpeded t
day in Georgia as in Ohio? There is n
ID an armed enemy in the Confederate State
There is not show Of opposition to Fe
eral authority even as great cas- the sha