The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-09-05

a ties to perform, and while we have ha
9 their, cooperation inthe field, we no,
r need their supportin our efforts to pc,
Y petuate peace. cloud cheers.) a
=. So far as the Executive Department O.
I the Government is concerned, the effor
= has been made to restore the Union, I
u heal the breech, to pour oil into Oh
n wounds which were consequent upon TIL
r struggle and, to speak In common pbrDs
I to prepare, as the learned and wise phy
b sician would, plaster healing in charao
Il ter and coextensive with tbe wound
. loud cheers.l We thought, and We
: think, that We had partially succeeded
: but as the work progressed, as reconcilia
:, ton seemed to be taking place and th
G country becoming united, we found dis
turblng and marrng element opposed t,
t US. ttt t& Dior
, Iu alludiDg 10 that element, | shall e.
no further than did your Convention anc
the distinguished gentleman who has dc
livered to me the report OF its proceedings
: | shall make no reference to it that | dc
not believe the times and the occasion
justify. We have witnessed in ore de-
partment Of the Government, every effort
as it were, to prevent the restoration Of
peace and harmony in the Union. We
have seen hanging upon the verge of the
Government, as it were, body called, or
which assumed to be, the Congress of the
United States, and, in fact, Congress of
only part of the States. We have seen
this Congress assume and pretend 10 be
for the Union, when its every step aud
act tended to perpetual disunion, and
make a disruption tf the States inevita.
BILE instead OF promoting reconciliation
and harmony. It's legislation has parta.
Ken of the character penalties, rctalia.
ton and revenge. This has been the
course and policy Of one department Of
the Government. ,v1aa.
The humble ind vidual who is DOW ad
dressing you stands as the representative
OF another department of the Government
The manner in which he was called upon
to occupy that position | shall not allude
to on this occasion. Suffice it to say that
he is here under the Constitution of the
country, and being here by its provisions,
he takes his stand upon the charter of our
Liberties as tue great rampant of pivl and
religious liberty. prolonged cheering J
Having been taught in my carly life, to
hold it sacred, aud having practiced upon
it during my whole public career, shall
ever continue to reverence the Coustitu-
tion-the Constitution of the fathers of
our country-and to make it my guide
Enthusiastic cheers.) -,,-I ~.
know it has been said, and must be
permitted to indulge in the remark that
the Executive Department of the Govern.
ment has been tyraunical. Let me ask
this audience Of distinguished gentlemen
around me here to day 10 point to vote
| ever gave, to a speech l ever made, to
a single act in my whole public life that
has BOT been against the tyranny aud des.
potism has been exercised. As to myself,
the elements Of my nature or the pursuits
OF my life have not made me, either in
my feelings or in my practice, aggressive,
my nature, on the contrary, is rather de.
fensive in its character; but will saw,
that having taken my stand upon the
bread principles Of liberty and the Con,
stitutioD, there is not power enough on
earth to drive me from it. prolonged
cheeriDg.) .. ,
Having placed myself upon that broad
platform, | have not been awed, dismay-
ed or iutimidated by either threats or en-.
croacLments, but have stood there, in con. |
junction with patriotic spirits, sounding |
the tocsin of alarm whenever deemed |
the citadel of liberty in danger. (Great
applausc.) l said upon previous occa.
sion, and repeat it now, that all that was
necessary in the great struggle against ty-
ranny and despotism was, for the Amer.
lean people to hear aud understand. -
They did hear, and looking on and seeing
who the contestants were aud what that
struggle was about, they determined that
they would settle this question on the
side of the Constitution and Of principle.
(Cries of "That's so," and applause,)
! proclaim here to day, as l have on
other occasions, that my iaith is abiding
in the great mass Of the people, In the
darkest moment Of the struggle, when
clouds seemed 10 DO most lowering, my
faith, instead Of giving way, looked up
through the dark clouds far beyond. I
saw that all would b, safe in the end
(Cheers.) My countrymen, We all know
that, in the language of Thomas Jeffer.
son, Tyranny and despotism even can be
exercised and executed more effectually
BY the many than the one" We have
seen a Congress gradually epcroach, step !
BY step, upon Constitutional rights, and !
violate, day after day, and month after j
month, tho fundamental principles of the /
Government. We have seen a Congress
hat seemed to forget that there was.a
Constitution, and that there was limit =
o the sphere and scope of legisIation.-
Renewed cries Of "That's so.") We q
lave seen Congress in the minority as.
ume to exercise powers which, if allowed i
o bc carried out, would result in despot. !
sm, or monarchy itself. IEpthpsiastic (
hecrs for the President,) '' 0
This is truth, and because others as h
yell as myself have seen proper 10 appeal a
o the patriotism aad the republican Il
ceiling Of the country, We have been de- g
ounced in the most severe terms. Sian. d
er upon slander, vituperation upon vitu.
Grafton Of the most villainous character, g
trough the public press. What, gentle. VI
len, has bsen your and my sin ? 3 What Q,