American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1866-02-01
SPEECH OF
HON. GEORGE H. PENDLETON
at Celumbus, o., Jan. ., 1860.

AhS eeDJo'hSo 40 nhuC ny luc
Hon. George H. Pendleton, Of Ohio, al
the celebration Of the 9th of January, at
Columbus, like all said by that distiu.
guished gentleman, are full of sound
doctrine and good sense. They are in
response to the toast. "Ths Constitution"
MR. PRESIDENT You ask ne TO speak
to seltiment in honor Of the Constitu.
ton. know the views and hopes and
aspirations and efforts Of these gentlemen,
but if l should look out into the country
beyond the limits Of this hall, beyond
the circle Of opinions which we have
heard tonight. ! should scarcely know
whether | ought TO speak of it in admir-
ing praise, as an existing. active, efficient
benehcence, or use the terms of sad eulo-
gy. fitted for the side of new made
grave, wherein lies prostrate a lifeless
form, slain by the hauds of pretended
friends But, thank God the principles
Of the Constitution can never die 1t
may be neglected and violated its appli-
cation may be suspended; Presidents and
Congressman may prove faithless to it;
the people may become degenerate and
unable or unwilling to maintain it as their
organic law; yet its principles, embodied
ip written forms, shall remain for the
use Of all good men hereafter, illustrated
by the history Of seventy years, during
which time these States enjoyed "domes.
tic tranquility" and their people enjoyed
"ths blessings Of liberty" Like the
words of the Almighty, they shall not re-
turn void. Like the faintest sound,
whose utterances causes the oscillation Of
the atmosphere to the utmost limits of
space and affects its action and position
in all time, so these principles. once
having been in action. shall, with their
influences. reach the nations throughout
the ages.
What gave novelty and value to the
Federal Constitution 1t was not the
guarantees Of personal liberty, nor yet
the prohibitions of invasion of individual
rights. These had been declared with
equal elearness and vigor FIVE centuries
before in the Great Charter at Runny>
mede. and transmitted from "sire 10 son."
they had been engrafted upon the Colo
NAL Governments, and were the recog
niEed muDiments of American liberty.
1t was the nice adjustment Of the rela-
tions OF the State and Federal Govern
nenlS by which they both became co, or
dinats and essential parts Of one harmo.
nious system. II was the nice adjust
ment Of the powers Of the State and Fed.
ersl Governments, by which was left---I
do not say given-to the States the ex,
elusive guardianship Of their domestic
affairs. and Of the interests of their citi.
xens. and was granted to the General
Government the exclusive control Of their
international and interstate relations.
1t was the psrsimonious economy of
the powers Of the States With which the
Federal Government was endowed. 1t
was the paucity Of subjects and Of powers,
Withdrawn from the States. and commit.
ted to the Federal Government. 1t was
the fewDess of ends to be attained and Of
means wherewit TO attsiu them, inlrust
ed to the Federal Government. 1t was
the recognition Of the idea of confedera-
tion-tbe appreciation OF the value Of
local self>government Ii was the recog-
milton that the States we're the creators
and their powers were Inherent, and that
the Federal Government was Ii. creature
and it's powers we're delegated. 1t was
the definition Of Fed Al authority and Of
State rights contained in those clauses Of
the Constitution which declare that tie
Constitution ssd the laws passed in pur.
suance thereof, are supreme, and tina. all
powers not delegated to Congress, nor
prohibited to the States. by the Consiitu.
tion-msrk the words-Are reserved.
Il Was this which made Union posi-.
bic BY reconciling Union with liberty,
which endued the Government with all
needful vigor, and invested il with al the
powers necessary for either peace or war,
without committing to il either the inter.
ests Of communities or the rights Of indi-
yiduals.
This spirit animated those who held
authority for a quarter OF a century after
the secood administration. and with rare
exceptions, until lately, have held it ever
since. And just in proportion ss the
Federal Governmeat has been held
strictly 10 this idea Of its original forma-