The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-11-26
From the Ohio Statesman, Nov. II, 1851
The G reat Joliihcation on Saturday
Night-Thc Columbus Democracy i'm
the Field TO Rejoice-The Speech Of
Judge Thurman.

Nh Friends: We have assembled to
commentaries series ofvictories achiey-
ed at the ballot box; victories that caused
no tears OF blood to dow, but are yet as
potent as many that have been won by
arms. The soldier who devotes himself
to his country deserves and receives our
grateful applause. And the citizen who
casts his ballot with an eye singly to his
country's welfare, also merits our heart
felt commendation. 1t is of the latter
that we are to speak to night. We meet
to gire praise to our brethren, from
Maine to California, for what they have
done this year to free the land from the
fetters of Despotism, to rescue the Con-
stitution of our fathers from the impend-
ing destruction, to secure to us and our
posterity q future of freedom and happi-
ness. And we meet to rejoice over this
grand work; to rejoice as the patriotic
and wise rejoice; not extravagantly. not
insultingly, but rs men who have es-
capped dire calamity, and are profound
" grateful for their escape; az Demo
Gratis, who believe that what is best for
us is best for all the people.
And have we not cause to rejoice !
Twelve months ago dark pail seemed
to cover the Republic. II seemed as if
a majority of the people preferred usur-
patton to Constitutional Government,
despotism to liberty, party to country.
The most sacred precepts ofwisdom, the
profoundest teachings of history, the
most solemn utterances of the illustrious
dead, seemed to have lost all their force.
On all sides we heard it said, sometimes
openly, but Oftener in whispers, ''the
experiment Of self.government has fail
ed, the fate of all other republics is ours,
free governments have but one destiny,
and that is despotism." Who will say
SO nowi Some May think 50, because
they wish it to be so. HOmines i'd quod
rolsat Gbeater, credunt, said Cesar. Men
willingly believe that which they wish.
But who that loves American institu-
tions will now say they have failed
Some may still fear it, but their fear is
no longer despair. No longer do we
hear the cry, "All is lost" No, thanks
be to the Almighty, we have escaped that
degradation. And to whom, under Prov
idence, are we indebted for our escape
To whom but the Democratic party and
the thousands of patriotic men who have
had the moral courage to sever their old
associations and unite with usi In the
gloomiest hours Of our history we clung
to the Constitution, though 10 do so
brought down upon our heads the Bit
terest denunciation. We clung to it be-
cause we knew that with its destruction
liberty would also be destroyed. And
we knew that when it should cease to
exist, the Union of our fathers would be
forever gone. How completely have our
foresight and wisdom been yindicated by
eyentsf We foretold that the overthrew
of our institutions would be attempted
Five military despotisms in the South
prove the truth of the prophecy. VIZ
| foretold that an attempt would be made
TO Africanize one-third Of the republic
| The States delivered over TO Negro rule
and that rule enforced By the bsyonet