Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-27

sent to surrender power they had always
exercised, and to which they were attached,
as the best, If not the only method of sur
mounting the difficulty, and one eminently
lust and proper in itself. Your committee
came to the conclusion that political power
should be possessed In all the States, exact
ly in proportion as the right of suffrage
should be granted, without distinction of
color or race. This, it is thought, would
leave the whole question with the people Of
each State, holding out to all the advantage
of increased political power, as an induce
ment to allow all to participate In its eXer-
else. Such provision would be gentle and
persuasive, aud would lead, 1t was hoped,
at no distant day, to an equal participation
of all, without distinction, In all the rights
which pertain to citizenship"
Such, my friends, Is the language of the
committee, and such the hopes and designs
entertained by that committee, approved by
Congress and indorsed by the Republican
Convention of this State. | have thus en-
deayored to present to you fairly and dis.
tinctly the position OF the two parties. l
am willing to trust the issues with you. If
YOU will but pause and consider them, as 1t
becomes you, bearing the relation you do
to the Government relation not secured
to the people OF any other Government
known to the civilized world, and one
much more easily lost than regained.--
But in answer to all this, my country
men, the Democratic party is charged
with having been the cause of the war
Ny friends, history will develope to
whom and to which party the terrible or
deal through which we have passed - to
be attributed. The acts of the various
Legislatures making it penal offense for
State officers to aid in the execution of the
laws of Congress (; the appearance Of high
State officers at public meetings, denounc-
ing the laws of Congress, and in certain
event pledging to the mob the aid of the
military power Of the State; the declara-
tions by prominent men shat the Union
was league with hell and covenant with
death y mo Union with slaveholders;p
"Let the South go;" "Down with the
haunting lie" | say history will develope
that 1t was these teachings which prepared
the minds of the people South for similar
teachings, from the same class of men, in
their midst, and that to these extremes we
are indebted for the sad calamities of the
last few years.
My friends, be ye not dismayed by the un-
scrupulousness of the opposition In inn
pugning your motives, or in defaming
your characters. A party which is led
by man, who in the face of the sufferings
which the people of this country have been
made to endure, that the Constitution
might be maintained, and the Union pre-
served, will proclaim the war Fortunate
chance" by which the foundations OF our
institutions" were for slime broken up"
and we releasad from 'ObligatiOns the most
tyrannical that were ever imposed in the
name of freedom" say, my countrymen,
that nothing can be expected from the as
sociates of such man bnt abuse, vile and
unmitigated. They profess to regard the
war as great misfortune, yet glority 1t as
a fortunate chance. They claim to be the
peculiar friends of the Constitution, but
charge that the "obligations" 1t imposed
were the ''mOst tyrannical that were ever
imposed in the name OF freedom"
Such is the language of the leader of the
Republican party, in the House of Repre-
sentatives of Congress. 1t Is an honor, an
honor to be coveted, to be traduced by men
who will thus denounce the founders of
the Republic and defame the fathers of the
Government. But under no circumstances
have Democrats the right to complain. Who
has been or is now exempt from their def
amation? 1t matters not what position the
individual may occupy, what has. been his
services or his sufferings, be he the Presi-
dent of the United States, the Secretary
of State, Senator or Pastor of Plymouth
Church, or be he General at the head of
the army, or the private soldier, who is
bearing by his side an empty sleeve, or
shattered limb, as an evidence of his devo-
ton to his country, the moment there is
any hesitation, in following the party, in
its negro policy, that moment they are
cursed and denounced as traitors 10 their
party and their country. Such, my coun-
trymen, is the party to which we are OPP
posed, but trust you will always keep up
the distinction between the leaders and the
masses of the party. Let them defame, let
us appeal to reason and patriotism, and
persist in the appeal, until we make such
an impression upon the public mind aSwill
secure hearing upon all these questions.
The moment that point is accomplished The
victory is achieved.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Jewett's speech,
the President introduced Hon. c. L. VAL
landigham, who was frequently interrupt
ed by enthusiastic cheers. We can only
find room, at the late hour at which this is
written, for merely brief notice of his re-
marks: t..r .a
Mr.. Vallandigham's Speech.
Mr.. Vallandigham followed, discussing
the Constitutional Amendments as affirm