The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1866-01-18
Democratic Jubilee at Co
luIubus Ohio.
Remarks Of Hon. Geo. II. Pendleton

The Democracy of Columbus, Ohio. had
a grand Jubilee at Naughton Hall in that
city, on the Sth inst. We APPEND the re-
marks Of Hon Geo. II. Pendleton on the
occasion, in response to the following
| toast:
! The Constitution Of the United Statcs-Or-
,laincd and established to fern Il more perfect
Union. establish justice, insure domestic tran
/ guilty provide iortae common defense, pro
mote the general welfare, and secure the
/ BLESSINGS Of liberty to those who ordained it
and their poStcritv So long * it shall % OBJ
scrTed, It's objects viii be accomplished
When it ceases to be regarded anarchy or
despotism VIII take its place.
Mr. President: You ask me to speak to
sentiment IN honor Of the Constitution.
! scarcely know in what sense to respond.
know the views, and hopes, and aspra-
tons. a1d efforts Of these gentlemen, but
If should look out into the countryside
yond the limits Of this hall; beyond the
circle OF opinions which we have heard to-
night, | should scarcely know whether
onght to sneak Of it, in admiring praise, as
an existing. active. inefficient lcneiiccnce,
or use the terms Of sad cuiogy, fitted tor
the side OF new mace grave. whe rein lies
PROSTATE iIcless form slain by the hands
Of pretended friends. But, thank God,
,he principles of the Constitution can new
er die 1t may be neg .cc,cJ and violated J;
its application may be suspended; Presi-
dents and Congressman may prove faith
- .t Il hcc
crate and unable or unwilling to maintain
it az their organic law yet ks principles
embodied in written forms, shall
remain for the use Of all good men heieaf-
ter. illustrated by the history OF seventy
years. during which these States enjoyed
dome tie tranquility" and their people
enjoyed the blessings Of liberty" Lake
the wor Is OF the Almighty, they shall not
return void. Like the faintest sound
whose utterince causes the oscillation Of
ihe atmosphere to the utmost limits Of space
and Affects its action and position III all
TINE, so these principles, once having been
in action. shall. with their influences, reach
The nations throuehort the ages.
What gave novelty and value to the
Federal Constitution It was not the
guarantees OF personal .iber:y nor yet the
prohibitions OF invasion ind;yidu dual rights.
i hese had been declared with equal clear
ness and yigor five centuries before. in the
Treat Charter. at funr ymede, and, trans
mittcd from .'sire to SON. they had been
engrafted upon the Colonial Governments,
and were the recognized muuimcnts OF
American liberty.
It was he nice adjustment Of the r-la>
tons ofthc State anl Federal Governments
by which they both become coordinate and
essential parts of one harmonious system.
1t was the nice adjustment of the powers
Of the State and Federal Governments, by
which was lcit-I do not say given-to
the States the exclusive guardianship Of
their domestic affairs, and of the Interests
OF their citizens and was granted to the
Federal Government the exclusive con
trol Of their international and Interstate
relations.
1t was the parsimonious economy Of the
20 ~crs of tlic States with which the Fed~
eral Government was endowed. 1t was
pat city OF subjects and of powers, with
drawn from the States, and committed to
the Federal Government 1t was the few
ness Of ends TO be attained and OF means
whercwith to attain them, ;ntrus ed to the
Federal Government. it was the rccog
milton Of the idea Of confcdcr ltion-thc
appreciation OF the value Of local self GOV
ernment 1t was the recognition that the
States were the creators and their powers
we're inherent and that the Federal Gov
eInment WAS the creature and It's powers
were delegated 1t was the definition of
Federal shortly and Of State rights con-
tanned in those clauses Of the Constitution
which dccl;re that the Consti' alton ani
the laws passed in pursuance thereof are
s,.rreme, and that all powers not delegated
to Congress, nor prohibited to the STATES.
by the Constitution--nark the words
are reserved.
II was this which made Union possible
bv reconciIne union with liberty-which
cnducd the Government with all needful
visor, and invested it with all the powers
necessary for either peace or war,
without committing to it either the
interests Of communities or the rights of
individuals
This spirit animated those who held au-
thority Tor Il quarter OF century after the
second Administration, and with rlre except
ions. uutl lately. have held it ever since.
And jnst n proportion as the Federal
Government has been held strictly to this
idea Of is original conformation, has it
set arcd domestic tranquility aud the
blessings Of liberty
Itmust be So Reason and history alike
lot only the history Of our own brief
life. but also the histories of dead and
living cmpircs-teach us that consolidation
is despotism; that confederation is the only
hope of liberty.
The tendency Of your day is toward
consolidation; and there IS from this ten>
dcncy more danger to tue Constitution,
to the cause of republican government. 70
the territorial unity of the States, than
from all the ordinances of secession or from
all the armed hosts Of the ,onfederates-
believe there is moro danger IN the single
proposition broached not long since IN
" .,,ovo latalv here IN this