The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1867-05-16
GREAT SPEECH OF HON.
GEO. H. PENDLETON.
Concluded.

AHIo POiASJ WAHhU bAAh6 dAoNOANS
and, perhaps, armed collision, into
a family Of States where all had
been harmony. But the sugges.
ton was received with contemptu-
Gus incredulity-and the result, if
realized, was deemed unimportant
in comparison with the moral and
political reforms we're to make the
Government resplendent in the
iuster of new born philanthropy
and fraternity. This popular dis
temper continued 10 increase and
to give more yirulent manifesta-
tions.
We seem to have emulated the
madness of the Jews when they ask
ed from Jehovah a government of
Kingsin place of that divine Priest
hood, which had brought them out
of Egypt and made them prosper
Gus amid the valleys of Canaan.
And like them we have been de-
livered up to our follies and infat-
uation. .
This discomfort finally took form
and action in secession and coer-
cion. These were but the manites-
tations of an underlying spirit.
On the one side and The other it
was asserted that the struggle was
for territorial limits only. Neith-
er was entirely correct, for both
were actuated by the revolutionary
spirit, and the firing of the first gun
on Fort Sumter was as the voice of
Seer, declaring that a revolution
had been accomplished.
The old political system passed
away in 1851, and another was
adopted. Its little finger is heav-
ier than the whole body of that
which it superseded. No longer
do we ask have we governments.
Its Argus eyes seek everywhere
the accumulations Of labor and
capital, and its Briarean arms are
ever grasping all those eyes can
see. Its vast military and naval
establishments have risen with por-
tentous mien, and overshadow the
civil administrations in nearly one
half the country. Beneath the
blows of their iron sway, popular
government resting on the consent
fthe people, has there completely
fallen. Its vital energy is appar-
ent wherever we see strife and con.
tentlon, and violent passions and
antagonisms of race, and section,
and States. Its genius and human
ity are conspicuous wherever heal.
ing wounds remade to cape afreSh
and to receive new infusion Of
gall and bitterness. There is no
doubt that we have a government
"a strong one--strong in the num-
Der Of men whom it can conscript
strong in the treasure it can raise
by taxation--strong in its power TO
invade the rights of the States and
the liberties of the citizens-strong
in its capacity to override the Con-
stitution--strong as Rome was
strong, both east and west, under
the Emperors-strong as France
was strong under the Reign ofTer-
ror and the Guillotine-but weak
as they were weak when the Goths
and Vandals avenged on the seven
hilled city the wrongs of Germans,
or when the blood of the murdered
Danton choked the despairing Ro,
bespierre.
No government can be really
strong which does not appeal both
to the interest and affections Of the
people, does not attach by the ben
eficence of its acts as well as by its
dependence on their will.
The quality of the States was the
basis of the Farmer Republic. Is
it maintained9 .,
The answer comes to us from the
reconstruction Bill, which puts ten
States under martial law, and sub
jects them to the will of military
officer.
The strict confinement of the Fe-
deral Government to international
and interstate affairs was an ele-
ment of the Farmer Republic. Is
it entOrcedl 5Bjsaat
The answer comes to us from the
Civil Rights Bill, which intrudes
Federal authority upon the States
and utterly overrides the most sa.
cred Constitutional guarantees.
The maintenance of the co.oldi-
nate branches of the Government,
the distribution of power, the sep
aration /. of constituencies from
which it flows, were indispensable
features ofthe Farmer Republic
Their doom was written in the
Tenure of Office Bill,which deprives