Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-01-09

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/ do not conceal from myself that we,
have been defeated and that we may be de-
teated again. Yet look with hope TO the
future. The President is firm in his posi-
ton and decided in his action. The SUI
preme Court of the United States, true at
last to ancient fame, true to the purposes
1 of its creation, rising above the dictates Of
passion, above the behests of party, has
vndicated in noble terms the integrity of
the Constitution. It. has Denounced the
doom of military commissions for the trial
OF citizens, and set the seal of its reproba
ton upon the base pretext of military ne
cessity. ars ...,.-.
party polled 1.S00,000 votes out OF 100000
A change of fifty votes in a thOusand-of
fifty thousand in million--less than elk
per cent would have given us majority
of the popular vote. .u.If.rgr .I.....
! In Pennsylvania, New York and Indiana,
casting seventy two votes In the electoral
college and 1,600,000 votes by the people,
we were defeated less than 44,000p "A change
of less than one and a half per cent.--Of
less than fifteen in thousand--would have
given us a majority. In eleven States of
the Union, excluding entirely the Southern
States, a change Of 10000 votes on the re-
suit of last fall will, in 1868, elect Presi-
| ucuJ anu u llldJOllJy VI NOuSICSSs
Is there cause for dependency here? Is
there not. on the contrary, every reason to
hope? Was ever great battle fought with
less disparity Of numbers? .T y .fci
Let him that is timid remember how the
cavalry of Charles Martel, lighting with
hearts firm as ramparts aud with iron
arms" received and conquered the hosts of
| the Saracen. Let him remember that
Cressy and Agincourt are glorious because
valor and constancy made up tor numbers.
Let him remember that John Sobieski with
! fifty thousand soldiers rescued Christen-
dom, under the wall of Vienna, from the
grasp of 100000 Turks. Let him remenl-
Der the pride and pOmp Of the Spanish
Armada and its speedy and inglorious end.
Let him remember the retreats and defeats
and disasters which beiel Washington, and
the crowning glories of Yorktown. And
II he needs further encouragement let him
remember against what odds OF numbers
jackson saved New Orleans.
Patience and fortitnde and vigor are as
necessary for success in politics as in war.
And what shall the Southern States do in
their extremity? / have said that | am
speaking as an Ohio man to Ohio men of
their duty to their own State and people.
| would not dictate, nor urge, nor even adj
wise others. They must follow the dicttes
of their judgments and consciences. Butif
| | might be permitted TO say what lies near
my heart, it would be this Let the South
ern States be passive and patient. They
took up arms-they were defeated--they
surrendered. That surrender involves the
necessity of faithful obedience to the Con-
stitution and the laws. That faithful obedi-
ence entities them to the rights and liber-
ties guaranteed by the Constitution aud the
laws. They may be powerless to secure
these rights and liberties. They may be
subjected by the strong arm to oppression
and wrong. But they can decline to advise
a change of the Constitution; they can
refuse to consent 10 the creation
of a dcspotism; they can refuse
to do voluntarily that which their
Judgment rejects and their feel
or and self-respect; they can at least de-
cline to be the facile instruments of their
own degradation. And they can bear the
consequences of this course. They may
be deprived of representation they may
even be reduced TO a territorial condition.
This is no easy task it will not be lightly
undertaken; it will not be easily executed.
Difficulties will arise at every step. 1t is so
bold usurpation of power, involving so
many interests, both Of the people and the
States of the North; SO revolutionary and
disorganizing, so tiagrantly at war with
every provision and theory of the Consti-
tuition, that it will scarcely be possible to
execute it fully. We will resist it by
every means known to the Constitution.
But if the attempt should be made
by superior force, they can bear
Let them oppose it by the passive re-
sistance of mastery inactivity; let
them repair their shattered fortunes; let
them reconstruct their industrial system;
let them WOO prosperity and wealth; let
their fields whiten with cotton, and their
plantations yield their increase of corn, aud
sugar and rice. Let them moved by their
own just impulses and not by dictation
from Others revise, if necessary, their leg
islation in regard to the freedmen, and Sc
cure tothem all their civil rights by the same
| process of law, enforced by the same courts
and the same penalties as are used in the
case OF the white men. Let them. if nee
essary to secure this ample protection, re-
| wise and change the public opinion of their
communities. Let them be jealous in Sc
curing to them every opportunity Of fitting
themselves fortheir changed condition, and
every advantage for good development
which healthy, social and governmental
system will permit. The necessity of both
sections will coerce social and commercial
intercourse, and this in time will soften as
perities and assuage bitterness and promote
good will, and restoration, If it ever comes
at all, will be upon sound basis.
Nor in this connection is the fact to be
overlooked that very few Of the Northern
States have ratified the amepdment-a and
that If all these ten excluded States should
ratfy it, seventeen Others would beneeded.
They have shown no alacrity to come for
I Na,or rH IL IN hn hat n