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

after short absence, returned and pre-
seuted Mr.. Pendleton to the Convention.
Mr.. PendletOn said: n. g.
Speech Of Hon. Geo. II. PendIe ton.
GENTLEMEN II thank you fr the honor
of presiding over your deliberations. A
Convention of the DemOcrotic party which
eXpounds its creed, administers its dis
cipline, and sits in judgment upon the
claims of aspirants for its confidence and
support, is indeed all august body. ] con-
gratulate you that we have again met to-
gether OH this day. 1t Is sacred by all its
associations to patriotism and Democracy.
1t lis the omen of acoming glory. trust
ourwork will prove worthy of both. Our
party maintains sound doctrine, we stead
fastly believe. Sound doottine in admins
tration is essential TO good government.
Thus the cause of our party and the cause
of'our country are identical; and every
earnest effort to purify the tenets, and in
vigorate the councils and secure the success
of the one, fulfilIs the demands of patriotic
duty to the other. 1t is in this spirit, and
acting on this belief, that we have chosen
for the performance Of our highest party
duty that day, whose recurrence more than
any other since the adoption of the Federal
Constitution, eXcites the patriotic enthusi-
asm of our Western men.
Let us catch from its memories an inspi-
ration OF that patience and determination
and courage and patriotism, whose glorious
illustration has made this day immortal.
The exigency of our country demands these
qualities.
The possession of the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi-the control of all the trade o! the
northwest, was the prize OF the contest.
General Jackson was shut up in New Or
leans-he had his undisciplined troops, his
new levies and his unarmed recruits. The
right bank OF the river commanded his po-
siton. His batteries there were small and
feebly manned. He had open enemies and
secret spies in the city. The enemy ad-
vanced to attack him. They had secured a
foot-hold in Florida. They had met with
success on the coast. They were the vet
erans of the Peninsula. They had been
trained under the eye of wellington. They
had constructed the lines of Torres Vedrds.
They had stormed Cindad, Rodrigo and
Badajoz. They had won the splendid tri-
umphs of Vittoria. The batteries on the
river were taken-the right of the army
was giving way.
1t was not the canal on which the line
was formed-it was not the rampant of cot
ton bales-but it was the patience and
courage and patriotic ardOr, inspired by
the dauntless spirit of their matchless chief
which retrieved the day and secured the
victory.
Do we not need the same spirit now? For
seventy years our Government has secured
the object of its formation. The States
have performed their allotted functions.
They existed as self-governing colonies
almost from the settlement of the conti-
nent. They became sovereign States at the
declaration of independence. The States
formed the confederation. The States car
red on the Revolutionary War. The States
formed the Constitution, The States rati-
fled it. The States created the Union. The
States upheld the mighty arm of Washing
ton. The States saved the Government in
1900. The States fought the war of 1912.
The States rescued the Government from
the dangers of Hartford Conventionism.
The States sent volunteers to Mexico. Aye,
and in this great civil war the States en-
abled the Federal Government to overcome
the armies of the Contederates and to
maintain its supremacy over every foot of
its territory. .,
The States have been at once the main
strength OF the Federal Government, and
the guardians and guarantee of personal
liberty. .I-7 ..E .r
If their organizations have given them
power to harm, so also have they given
them power for good; and at every period
of our history has this power vindicated the
righttulneSs of its existence and the wis
dom of those who lett it to the States un-
touched.
But now a bold, persistent, audacious at
tempt is made to wrest it from the States,
and to change the spirit and form of the
Government. The preteXt is that the or
dinances of secession destroyed the Union,
and that it must be reconstructed. The
method is the constitutional amendment
The appliances are the denial of repre-
sentatiOn to the Southern States, and, If
necessary, their reduction to the condition
of territories. The real purpose is the con-
sOlidation Of the Government and the snb-
stitution of ali irresponsible, unbrided ma
jority, which the Radicals expect to hold
forever because they happen to hold it now,
Constitutional Amendment! l will not
detain you with an analysis Of its provis-
ions. You know them we'll. It wrests
from the State the power to define and pro-
tect the rights OF its own people. 1t per-
verts the rule Of representation. It DEGREES
and enforces punishments enacted afterthe
deed has been committed. 1t sacrifices
great and paramount interests to the desire
of revenge and to temporary party ascen-
dency, 1t subverts institutions which are
beneficent and stable that it may enforce a
rule of suffrage not yet adopted at the
North, whose chief recommendation is that
it is utterly abherrent to the people of the
South. The demands of twenty-siX States,
the surrender of powers which are dear to
them, in order that it may deprive ten 9TH
er States of the samepowers. Why? Con-
stitutional guarantees against another re-
bellion!i! What guarantee do these pro-
visions afford? VIII any man pretend III?
How does it prevent a recurrence of se-
cessiOn by the States that the rule of rep
fesentation in Congress is chan ged, or that
Congress defines and protects the rights of
the people? The Democratic party has al
ways maintained the rights fthe States as
essential to the maintainanee of the Union,
The great founder of our organization and
apostle of our creed, Thomas Jefferson,
proclaimed it in his first inaugural adj :
dress. The supremacy of the Constitution
and all laws made in pursuance thereof; :;
the reservation of all powers not granted
to Congress-these are the essential ele-
ments of our faith, and to these we have
adhered with unfaltering fidelity.
Shall we adhere to them still, or shall we
now abandon them for the pfoffered ex-
pertinent of consolidation 10 9t, au,s ,-
We are in the midst Of revolution. Radi-
cal ideas carried into execution by lawless
meahs-the anchorage of public opinion
everywhere giving wayl-our opponents In
power in the States and in Congress; aud
everywhere using that power to subvert
the Constitution, to exclude States from
their representation, to break up their So