Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-27

In the Democratic State Convention Of Ohio
at Columbus, on Thursday last, speeches
were made by Hon. George II. Pendeton
and Hon c. l.. Vallandgham. We gave
the platform and nominations yesterday.
We can find space only for the following
extracts from the speeches:
FROM THE SPEECH OF MR.. PENDLEToN.
The question of to-day is Union or Dis
union-the old Constitution or a new Con-
stitution-the old Government as our fathers
gave il 10 ls, or revolution and a change
and a new system The Constitution is in
danger. The Union is broken, not by the
collision Of arms but BY the POLITICAL action
parties Its enemies are in a high place Of
power; they sit in the seats Of the Capitol;
they have their grasp upon lts throat; they
throttle il 20 the agonies Of dissolution. The
President confronts them, and the question
presented to-day to the Democratic party
and the people Of Ohio is simply this
Whether they will support the President in
his efforts 10 maintain, or the Congress in
its efforts 10 overthrow, the Government.
Tm Constitution grants certain powers to
the Federal Governmental reserves all
other powers to the States, and guarantees
certain rights to the people. The same
powers were granted alike to all the States.
The same powers were reserved alike 10 all
the States The same rights were guaran-
teed TO the people Of all the States. The
States are equal. They were equal before
the Constitution was adopted. They con-
Gnued to be equal by the terms Of the Con-
7ttutiOn itself They must remain equal
as long As the Constitution shall be main
tanned and the Federal Union created by it
shall endure Mr.. Seward in his speech at
Auburn recognizes his fundamental truth.
And in my judgment those powers and those
rights belong As well to-day to the States,
Of Georgia and Mississippi as to the States
aud people Of Ohio and Pcnnsyv vania.
Why should it be SOL The Constitution
provides that this Constitution and the
laws made in pursuance thereof shall be the
supreme law, anything in the Constitution
aud the laws of any State 10 the contrary
Notwithstanding" This is the measure of
the lawful authority of the Federal Govern
ment. This is the limit of its lawful de-
mand upon the States. When this Is con
ccded, the States have fulfilled their FEEDER
al duty-thcy have discharged their Federal
obligation. No more can be exacted from
them, and they are entitled TO the unob-
structcd enjoyment Of all the powers re-
served aud the rights guarnteed by the
Federal Constitution.
Is not Federal authority as promptly
obeyed to-day? l. il not as unimpeded to-
day in Georgia as in Ohio2 There is not
an armed enemy in the Confederate States
There is not a show of fopposition to Federal
authority even rs great as the shadow
when il declineth,' and yet for months the
equality of the States has been violated, and
1aI
the first great right guaranteed by the Fed
eral Constitution; that right which is es-
sential 20 free government; that right with
out which all government is a lawless
usurpalion; which it is always a right, and
frequently duty resist, with all the means
which God and nature have put into our
hands mean the right Of representation.
We have a wonderful spectacle presented
10 u-. Scarcely year has elapsed since Lee
surrendered, vet the Confederate Govern
mcnt has entirely disappeared and the Fed
cral Government has taken lis place. In
the States old Constitutions have be
abolished and new ones have been estab-
iished old governments have been thrown
down and new ones set up; old officers have
been expelled and new ones elected. The
States are exercising all the functions Of
government necessary 10 the preservation of
civil society. They preserve quiet, punish
crime, portect life and property. They |
regulate the relation Of husband and wife, |
parent and child, creditor and debtor. They |
collect debts, enforce contracts, regulate de- |
scents, establish cities, control public edu- |
cation; and who has said they were not
sufficient for these things?
Mr. Seward, in the speech from which |
have quoted, saws the return of the Southern
people 10 their Federal allegiance is without
parallel in history. Yet Congress in six
months has devoted itself TO the invention
If odious constitutional amendments, which
were intended TO deprive the States Of their
Just powers, and to the passage Of odious
laws which were intended, if obcyed, to re-
duce the people TO the most degrading sub
mission; or, il not obeyed, 70 produce irrita-
tion aud bitterness, and threats of resistance
from which il was hoped 10 deduce the ne
cessity OF establishing military governments
and enforcing martial law.
And why is this2 Ii il because they hate
the Constitution Of the United States--be-
caAse they hate our system of government
They hate its two fundamental ideas-coR-
federation, granted and reserred powcrS. They
admire the strength of consolidated gov
ernment, and confide in the wisdom of an
oVershadowing, absolute, irrepressble ma
iority, They prefer to intrust the rights and
liberties of the people, the amelioration of
the condition of our race, 20 such 4 majority
rather than 10 the progress which consists
with the checks and balances of our system.
| speak Of men with whom | have been
long associated, whom ] know intimately.
| recognize their intelligence and their pri-
vate worth. do not question their integri-
" or the sincerity Of their motives; yet l re-
peat ! believe they hate our system of gov
irnnout and desire its overthrow.
| know, Of course, these gentlemen will
deny nay conclusions understand their the
urics and the arguments by which they sup
port them | understand their thimherlig
logic by which the States are in the Union,
in order that they may be governed, and ont
Of II that they may have no rights; under
the Constitution when dues are 10 be exacted,
and not under il when protection is to be
accorded, within the law when taxes are TO
be paid beyond it when representation is
demanded.
The President Of the United States con-
fronts these gentlemen; he denies their the
ories: hc brushes away their cohweb sophis- |
tries he stands consistently on the ground
occupied by him and them at the beginning
of the war: he denies the doctrine Of State
suicide; hc denies that the ordinances OF Sc
ccssion were valid in law; hc denies that
they were made effective by the success Of
arms: he maintains that the States never
were aud are not now out Of the Union, and !
he is prepared 10 secure TO them the enjoy
mcut of all their rights as they are ready 10
perform all their duties.
Gentlemen, let us give him in his effort a
cordial and hearty support; let us give him
a warm, effective, magnanimous support
Let il be the more jealous and outspoken
because he is not the President of our choice;
because We have no iavors 10 ask, no offices
% seek, no patronage + ENJOY. Let Us vcr-
iiy un>clfshly the claim which we made
during the heat OF the war-that we were
devoted TO the integrity Of the Union and to
the maintenance of the Federal compact
We disagree with the President in many
things We dissent from his doctrines. We
question the wisdom of many of his acts
bu, We agree with him on this question of
restoration; and il does seem 10 me 10 be
our highest duty 10 cooperate with all who
will cooperate with him in making il ctlec
live There is no room for hesitation or de
Law The Constitution is in peril; the Gov
ermmeut j. in peril; liberty is in peril. lie
seeks to secure them from the Radicals and