Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-02-15

most unmistakably indicated, that the Sc
curity and protection of the rights of all
the people were to be found in the Union,
Upon this conviction | based my opposition
to the efforts which were made to destroy
the Union. have continued those efforts,
Notwithstanding the perils through which
have passed, and you are not unaware
that the trial has been a severe one. When
opposition to the Government came from
one section of the country--and that the
section in which my life had been passed,
and with which my interests were ident
tied-I stood, as stand now, eontendlng
for the Union, and asseverating the best and
surest way to obtain our rights and to pro-
tect our interests was to remain In the
Union under the protection of the Consti-
tuition. The ordeal through which we have
passed during the last four or five years
demonstrates most conclusively that That
position was right; and to-day, after the
experiment has been made and has failed,
after the demonstration has most conclu-
sively afforded that this Union cannot be
dissolved, that it was not designed to be
dissolved, it is extremely gratifying to me.
to meet gentlemen as intelligent and as
responsible as yourselves who are will
ing and anxious to accept, and do ac-
cept, the terms laid down In the Consti-
tuition, and obedience to the laws made
In pursuance thereof. We were at one pc
riod separated. The separation was to me
painful in the extreme; but now, after hav-
ing gone through a struggle in which the
powers of the government have been tried,
when we have swung around to point at
which we meet to agree, and are willing TO
unite our efforts for the preservation OF the
Government-which believe is the best in
the world-it is exceedingly gratifying to
ME to meet you to-day, standing upon com
mon ground, and rallying around the Con-
stitution and the Union of these States, the
preservation of which, as | cOnscientiously
and honestly believe, will result in the pro-
motion and the advancement of this people.
l repeat, am gratifled to meet you to-day,
expressing the principles and announcing
the sentiments to which you have given
utterance, and i trust that this occasion
will long be remembered. have no doubt
that yolr intention is to carry out and COM
ply with every single principle laid down
In the resolutions you have submitted.
know that some of you are distrustful; but
am of those who have confidence in the
judgment, in the integrity, in the intelli-
genCe, and in the virtue OF the great mass
of the American people, and having such
confidence am willing to trust them, and
l thank God that we have not yet reached
in each other. The spirit of the Government
can only be preserved, zoe can only become pros
porous and qredt as people By mutual JOrbedr-
dice and confidence. Upon that faith and
confidence alone can the Government be
successfully carried on. On the cardinal
principle of representation to which you
refer | will make single remark. That
principle is inherent. 1t constitutes one
of the fundamental elements of this Gov
ernment. The representatives of the States
and of the people should have the qualiti-
cations prescribed by the Constitution of
the United States, aud those qualifications
must unquestiOnably imply loyalty. He
who comes as a representative having the
qualifications prescribed by the Constitu-
tion to fit him to take seat in either of
the deliberative bodies which constitute
the National Legislature, must neces-
sarily according to the intent of the Con-
stitution, be loyal man, willing to abide
by ana be devoted to the Union and the
Constitution of the States. He cannot be for
! the Constitution, he cannot be for the
| Union, he cannot acknowledge obedience
! to all the laws, unless he is loyal. When the
people send such men in good faith they
are entitled to representation through
them. In going into the recent rebellion
or insurrectiOn against the Government of
| the United States you erred, and in return
| ing and resuming your relations with the
Federal Government, | am free to say that
all the responsible positions and places
ought to be confined distinctly and clearly
to men who are loyal. If there were only
five thousand loyal men in State, or less
| number, but sufficient to take charge of
the political machinery of the State, those
| five thousand men, or the lesser number,
| n NO ant aA fn oil 10
otherwise included, l look upon it as being
| fundamental that the exercise of political
power should be confined to loyal men, and
| regard 1t as implied in the doctrines laid
down in these resolutions, and in the elo-
uuent address by which they have been ac-
companied. l may say that, furthermore,
after having passed through the greatstrug-
| gle in which we have been engaged, we
should be placed upon much more accep-
table grounds in resuming relations to the
| General Government, If unmistakable and
unquestionably loyal men were presented
to fill the places of power. This being done,
| | feel that the day is not distant-I speak
confidently in reference to the great mass
of the American peoDle-when they will
| determine that this Union shall be made
whole, and the great right of representation
| in the councils of the nation be acknowl-
/
principle -"No taxation without represen-
tation,n' was one of the principles which
carried us through the Revolution. This
great principle will hold good yet, and il
! we but perform our duty, If we but COM
lply with the spirit of the resolutions pre-
sented to me to-day, the American people
will maintain and sustain the great doc
trine upon which the Government was in
augurated. 1t can be done and it will be
! done, and | think that If the effort be fair
| ly and fully made, with forbearance and
| with prudence, and with discretion and
wisdom, the end is not very far distant. 1t
seems to me apparent that from every con-
l ,lssideration, the best policy which could be
adopted at present would be restoration
ofthese States, and of the GovernmentupOn
correct principles. Webd some foreign dJ--
fcs,lties;- b,t The moment IL can be announced
i that the Union of The States is dgdiR complete,
that ape hare resumed our career Of prosperity
and dredtneSS, al that Uery instant almost all our
1 foreidh 6tc,ltses tut be settled. For there is
4 no power on earth which will care to have
i a controversy or rupture with the Gov
ernment of the United States, under such
circumstances. If these States be fully re-
stored, the area for the circulation of the
d Irrational currency, which Is thought by
some to be inflated to very great extent
d wilfSbe enlarged, the number of person;
i Through whose hands lis to pass will1bt
Increased, 1.-the limitsOf commereein which
it lis to be employed as medium of eX.
! change will be enlarged, and then 1t viii
begiHto approximate, what we all desire,
n a specie standard. If all the States were
y restored: II peace and order reighed
\ thronghout the lard, and the eindustffal