Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-25

ie Executive authority. They sflnd
ow, In time of peace, that che patronage
{ the Presidents enormous-that II may
9 used to thwart their schemes--that it is
angerCus to liberty. Weheard nothing Of
y lis when the officers of million OF sol-
iers were to be appointed by Mr.. Lincoln,
nd the Conscription law and the internal
Revenue bill clothed him with the power
filling the land With Presidential partl-
ans. They now seek to break down and
egrade the Presidential office, and to re-
luce 1t to q mere dependent upon the will
nd wlim of this Congress, which has in its
; lnaticism and folly degraded itselfto mere
central Directory. Aud these are the proofs
which adduce of desire anda determin-
alton TO overthrow our SYSTEM Of Govern
ment.
know, of course, these gentlemen will
deny my conclusions. | understand their
theories and the arguments by which they
support them. understand their thtmble-
rig logic by which the States are in the
Union In order that they may be governed,
and out OF 1t that they may have no rights
under the Constitution when duties are
to be eXaCted, and not under it when pro-
tPctiOn Is to be accOrded-wlthin the law
when taxes are to be paid, beyond 1t when
representation is. demanded. The Presi-
dent of the United States confronts these
gentlemen. He denies their theories. He
q brushes away their cob sophistries. He
stands consistently on the ground occupied
by him and them at the beginning OF the
war. lie denies the doctrine OF State su =
eide. lie denies that the ordinances
of secession were valid In law. He
denies that they were made effec-
tive by success of arms. He maintains
that the States never were, and are not now
out of the Union, and he Is prepared to
secure to them the enjoyment of all their
rights, as they are ready to perform all their
duties. Gentlemen, let us give him, in this
effort, cordial and hearty support; let us
give him warm. effective, magnanimous
Support. Let IL be the more JEALOUS and
outspokeu, because he Is not the President
of our choice, because we have no favOrs to
ask-no offices to seek-nO patronage to
enjoy; let us verify unseltishly the claim
which we made during the heat OF
the war, that we were devoted to the integ-
rity of the Union and the maintenance OF
the Federal compact. We disagree with
the President in many things-we dissent
from many of bis dOctrines-we question
the wis lom OF ma Y of his acts: but
we agree with him on this present ques-
ton offestoration; and it does seem to me
to be our highest duty to cooperate with
ali who will Incorporate with him in making
It affective. There Is no room for hesitI-
tion or delay. The Constitution is in peril.
The Government is In peril-liberty is in
peril. He seeks to rescue them from the
Radicals and destruction: the blind aud
bigoted Jacobins of our revolution.
In these days of danger to our liberties,
when in its frenzy, the central power is
seizing upon all the guarantees of popular
rights, where shall we find a place of
safety for our Constitution till this
darkness be overpast and tue sun
light Of reason again appears.
Two centuries ago, in crisis of deadly
peril, the true men of CODnectic It, in the
haze of the twilight, snatched their charter
from e council tai le and placed it in the
Charter Oak within whose sturdy trunk and
under the protection of whose spreading
branches, it was hidden from the reach OF
the tyrant. That noble tree had for CEN
turies escaped the lightnings of the tempest,
and the violence OF the tornado. By this
event, it acquired an Immortality of fame.
Two centuries longer 1t stood unscathed-
but 10 exists no more. 1t bowed its head
to the storm during our terrible civil war;
and the hiding place of the charter was eX-
posed to t"e gaze Ofits enemies. We have an
ark of safety for our Constitution more eff
fective than this Oak. lt is the ballot-boX. 1t
invites US to use it. We need nOtapprOach
1t in darkness, as the men of Connecticut
were compelled to debut i'm the bright
sunlight, under the canopy Of full day, we
ought ia solid columns and with measured
tread, as performing sacred duty, TO APP
proach Its open portals. Ii we do so right
ly, we shall hear from its inmost recesses,
echoed in thunder tones, the still small
voice of the silent vote. even as of old. from
off the Mercy Seat itself the lsraelite heard
the voice of God. yl .-.
After the close of Mr.. .Pendleton'ssp speech,
the following gentlemen were announced
to speak this evening: Hon. C. L. L.Vallan-
digham, Hon. IL. j. Jewett, Gen. Geo. w.
Morgan, Hon. G. A. White and Hon. w. E.
Finck. ..
The President then announced that the
Convention would take recess until ~
O'clock p. NJ.