Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-01-11

respond to the following: 'The President
of the United States-The American peo-
pie will not see him deposed for standing
by the Constitution he swore to preserve"
said:
Mr., PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
The committee of Arrangements have
extended to me the courtesy of responding
to this toast, premise as one of the repre-.
sentaliyes from Ohio on the National
Union Committee, appointed at the Phila-
delphi1 Convention, by a joint representa-
tion OF delegates heretofore acting with
different political organizations, who there
united for the common purpose OF sustain
ing the policy of the President for the res
toration of peace, harmony and civil order
I'm the Union. and defeating CongressiOn-
al faction, which, untrue to every pledge
upOn which it had obtained power, was
seeking to subvert both the Constitution
and the Union under the forms of law, by
the most flagrant usurpation.
Having voted In good faith for Andrew
johnson. nominated upon war platform
which expressly left its supporters entirely
free to follow their own Judgment and
convictions on questions not specified there
in, and sincerely believing that the Presi-
dent has not departed from the principles
upon which he was elected TO Office, but
has adhered to the policy OF Presl-
dent Lincoln with reference to
the restoration of the practical
relations of the so-called seeded States to
the Union, shall not desert him, because
he will not yield to the behest of the same
Radical Congressional leaders, who hound
ed his predecessor, during the whole OF
his administration, until the failure OF the
Wade Davis protest before the people OF
their own party. This protest announced
the doctrine of the whole Congressional
policy, which was then solemnly rejected
by the people at the elections; for Presi-
dent Lincoln, In assigning his reasons, by
proclamation, for not signing the Wade
Davis bill, treats the matter of reOrganiz-
ing State Governments as plan "for the
loyal people of any STATE choosing to adopt
it.n and not as depending on the will of
Congress,
This fundamental right of the people of
each State to make, alter, or abolish their
own Governments, subject to the provis-
ions of the Constitution of the United
States, lies at the foundation of American
liberty, and neither the President or Con-
gress have any control over the subject,
beyond advice or suggestion. States can
not commit treason, nor forfeit their rights
under the Constitution OF the United
States; our laws act only upon individ-
uals. The war was prosecuted for the
avowcd purpose OF preserving intact the
Union of the States. But now can this be
accomplished, If any Of the States are
thereby blOtted out? Either military or
civil government must prevail--the former
where the Constitution and laws of the
United States are resisted. so as toob'truct
the ordinary course of law, but when this
ceases, the legal electors of the State sub
hitting to the authority of the Union. have
a right to set again in motion the machinery
Of State Government, which i entitled to
the guarantee and protection Of the United
States. i.a.3r ..-r .s'
To evade this logical result of the work.
ing of our form of popular government, an
effort Is made to set up war power, oper-
ating after war has ceased, to give Congress
o claim under the law of nations to dispose
Of the status OF the late rebel States at
pleasure, ignoring, even on their O1on the
ory, the we'll known doctrine OF poStlinitnl,
by which it is well settled that when State
reconquers one of its own territorial pos
sessions which has been wrested from it by
the people of the latter territory
come back with all their old rights. The
truth is, the Constitution furnishes no foun-
1ation for this prtended exercise Of war
power. and because the President of the
United States stands by the Constitution he
has sworn to preserve, a Congress bent only
on perpetuating political power in its own
hands, and overthrowing all the coordinate
departments of the Government, now
threatens to depose him. In the language
Of Thad. Stevens, their leader, "the man at
the other end of the Avenue is an obstacle,
and must be gotten rid Of" Are the Amer
lean people prepared to see the President
impeached and removed from Office for
mere difference in political opinion with
d majority in Congress? This, too, in face
Of the facts that from the 10Th of May, 1865,
the day President johnson issued his North
Carolina proclamation, announcing his
policy for the restoration of civil govern
nent in the late so-called seeded States, up
TO the meeting of the present Congress,
every State Convention of his own party,
rs well as those of the Democracy, in
lorsed that policy. Why did the Radicals
deceive the people at the polls, and the Pres
dent too, by the passage, unanimously, OF
such resolution as this, at the Ohio Union
Convention on June 2lst, 1865, when Gene
raj Cox was nominated for Governor by the
pressure of the soldiers from the field?
''Resolued, That President Andrew john |
son, by his unwavering devotion TO the
OulOus JulOuSn JCdlo VI 1uO oCNOlCcb VI
has won our highest confidence, that we |
indorse the policyof his admin
looking to the restoration of
peace and civil order i'm the so-called |
Ieceded States; and, as Union men of |
Ohio, we will give him our hearty and un- |
iivided support" |
The force of which resolution was en- |
ianced by the fact that Don Platt's amend
nent to the same was refused a hearing, |
which read as follows:
"ResoIved, That it is the belief of this |
Convention that the reconstruction of the |
revolted States, constitutiOnally belongs to |
The Legislative department, and that the |
Executive can only promise provisional |
military governments until such times as |
Congress may act" l-A@ -at@ N+.A
Now, because the President adheres to
,he policy thus indOrsed, after it has sue
,eeded beyond the expectation of the most |
sanguine in restoring the Federal authOri-
" throughout the South, these very Radi-
,als propose to impeach him.
The telegraph for the last few days has
,een posting the public OF the charges
rumped up by certain notoriety-seek-
ng Congressman, and what list is
,ravely published One, Newell, from
lew Jersey, says: THE President has
,een making speeches, the object Of
which was 10 bring the Congress of the
United States into contempt aud
lerision," as If that were possible for any
me to do more effectually than its mem
,ers have by their own conduct. The i'm
naculate Ashley Of Ohio too, has charged
,y resolution, the President with doing
;ertain acts corruptly-a term that his own
ecOrd in land-swindling jobs, shows that
le has not the moral sense to comprehend.
even the the radical CleUeland Leader ex-
laims: the telegraph must be mistaken
ho,lt such sfuT - IL il the clAD-tran of n |