Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-03-05
MASS MEETING At OBERLIN.
The Reconstruction Policy Of
Congress Sustained.
Speeches by Mayor Plumb, Principal
Fairchild, Colonel Shurtleff,
and others.

| iAe~Naal5 "DAAtA bI AANtNA AyA AAAO BNAA lelS VI
expressing the belief of the people on the
great political questions of the day, it was
expected that there would be decided
and enthusiastic expression of opinion.
The expectation was amply fulfilled. The
College Chapel, in which the meeting WAS
held was filled to overfOwing at the
appointed hour. The meeting was called
to order by Mayor Plumb, who, in COM
plianee with vote, took the chair. The
Rev. George Clark offered a fervent
prayer. The first speaker of the evening
was Colonel G. W. Shurtleff, who was
greeted with enthusiastic cheers as he came
to the stand. He stated that the object Of
the meeting was to express the sentiment
| of the Union masses of Lorain county in
reference to the issue between Congress
and the President. He declared himself in
favor of theaction of Congress. Hebelieved
the Congressional policy wise and neces-
sary f5rthe best good of the country. He
also thought it the duty of the people to
demand decisive action from the State
Legislature to secure equal suffrage in the
State of Ohio. at will not do to waste
time in discussing other matters, or in be-
wsiling past errors that have been COM
mitted. 1t is now the duty of the people
to sea to the support of Congress, and,
more especially, to the enfranchisement
of the eighteen hundred brave colored
men in the State of Ohio, who, at the
peril of their lives, had helped to sustain
the Government. Let the State Legisla-
ture understand that the people of Ohio
are watching them, and let such legisla-
tors as shall show indecIsion and triviality
be in the future marked men" These |
bold and decisive words were greeted with |
desfening applause from the audience.
Mayor Plumb was tee next speaker !
He said that when such men as Stevens |
and Sumner were classed by the President |
with the fOulest of traitors, he thought |
public action necessary. He considered |
the Republic in danger while its ruler |
held evil notions in regard to the great |
question at issue. The President had |
shown himself unsound. Let the people |
set him right
Mr.. A T. s. Walsh, who was called |
out, made few stirring remarks, which /
were enthusiastically cheered.
The Committee on Resolutions, previ- |
ously appointed, announced the follow |
ing;
/. RESOLVED, That, with all the true
Union men ofthe country We regard with |
deep anxiety and concern the wide, and, |
we fear, irreparable breach between the |
President and Congress on the question of
reconstruction.
g. Resoleea, That in this controversy
our convictions and sympathies are wholly |
with the majority of Congress. To
them, as the representatives of the loyal |
people who conquered the rebellion and |
saved the nation, belong the right and
the duty of fixing the terms on which the |
States lately in rebellion should be read
mitted to participation in the general gov
ernment; and we expect our noble Con-
gressmen to maintain their right and dis
charge their duty in such manner as to
give the control of the nation to its loyal /
inhabitants, and full protection to the
freedmen in the exercise of all rights and
privileges we claim for ourselves.
3. Resolced, That we utterly repudiate
the policy of the President for immediate
and unconditional admission of the late
rebellious States to representation in Con-
gress because,
First 1t would deliver four millions of
loyal people to the entire control of their
haters and oppressors.
Second 1t would give the late rebels
representation in the general government
for four millions of people whose interests
are not represented.
Third. 1t would give the control Of the
country into the hands Of thoss who by
four years of war have sought to destroy
it.
Fourth. The States seeking this sdmis-
sion have given no evidence of their
loyalty.
L. II. Fairchild, Esq, Principal of the
Preparatory Department of Oberlin Col
lege, who was the next speaker, pointed
out in forcible terms the inconsistency of
the President in denying to Congress the
right to impose conditions upon the
Southern States, when he had done the
same thing in carrying out his reeOnstrue-
tion policy.
Major John Steele, who was loudly |
called for, spoke briefly, and with great
energy and point. He said that those who
desired to restore to power men but lately
rebels were in his opinion insane. He |
wanted to see traitors disfranc Iised and |
punished, and strongly condemned the |
Administration for having failed to make
treason Odious."
S. S Calkins, Esq, presented the follow
ing resolution:
"ResoIued, That the President harangue |
to the assembly in front of the White |
House on the 22nd of February, 1866, and |
his general department on that occasion, |
especially his denunciation of two men, |
bers of Congress whose loyalty to the |
Union and freedom is above suspicion, |
must be regarded not only as an afront to |
an intelligent and liberty loving nation, |
but as an unprecedented and ill-boding de- |
parture from the dignity and proprieties |
of position hitherto universally observed, |
and demands a personal apology to the |
noble men who by name he branded as
traitor"
Interesting speeches followed from
Messrs. Calkins, Prof, Ellis, Bailey and
Griffin.
Prof. Cowles offered the following res
olution
"ResoIred, That we tender our
thanks to Hon. W. W. Boynton, our Rep
resentative in the Legislature of this
State, for his bill looking toward striking
out the word white from that clause in
State Constitution which defines the quail
ifcations for the elective franchise, DEEM
ing it only tardy justice TO place our
brave, self-sacrifcing colored citizens,
who have done so much and suffered so
nobly to save this nation, on the same
footing with every other class of citizens,
both in the matter of suffrage and Of all
o.her civil rights"
All these resolutions were adopted, and
the meeting adjourned.
As the meeting broke up but one opin-
ion seemed to prevail, and all seemed
united on the great question at issue. The
words Of Fred. Douglass now seem
prophetic. For the President has put
the matter before the people, and the peO-
| pie, in such decisive ways as this are max
ing known which side they espouse.
Z. Y. Y.