The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-08-22
General Hayes at Hamilton.


Onsthe 18th inst, at Hamilton,
Butler county, Gen. Hayes address
ed,a large meeting in very able
and eloquent speech. We give his
opening remarks, wherein he states
forcibly the real question at issue
in the present Ohio canvass, and
also touches briefly the financial
question. On taking the stand
Gen. HAYES said:
Inthc beginning Of this war there
were those who endeavored to per-
suade the people that the question
at issue was whether the Executive
Department should absorb all 9th
erss But the people understood
that it was question of govern
mento or no government A little
later there were those who Insisted
that the question was whether we.
should have any State government,
or whether The Federal Govern
mentshould absorb all powers re-
served in the States, but the peo-
pie understood the issue to be,
whether VIC should have any Ma
tional Government.
A little later, in the campaign of
". ~. -
1863, the friends Of Vallandigbam
insisted that the question was
whether the liberties of citizens
should be protected; whether the
writ of habeas corpus should be
maintained. But the people un-
derstood the matter better They
understood that there could be no
liberty without government, and
that for tho sake Of liberty it was
our first duty to maintain the Gov
crnment.
WE'LL after the struggle of arms
is over, when it is settled that the
territory of this nation shall be gov.
erned by one National Govern
ment. whom it is settled that armed
rebellion shall never sever an acre
of national territory from the au
thority OF the national government,
we come again before the people,
and tho samo men are active in
presenting other issues, Judge
Ranney, at Mansfield, talks of Pa
cifc Railroad grants. We may
agree with him about that. They
talk of tariffs, We may agree with
them about that but if we do not
agree on the one great issue now
involved, ,we shall not vote together
This one great issue is that Of Re
construction, of restoration OF re
bellious States to their practical re-
lations with the Union. LIDO not
subscribe TO the doctrine that that
is tho best government which il
administered best; but IL has al
application to the present condition
of affairs that l can subscribe to
For instance, General George Il
Thomas, Tremendous cheering, az
military commander Of his district
will succeed better than another
virginian born, Gen, Henry A
Wise; Gen. 2. II. Sheridan, az com
mander OF Louisiana and Texas
will succeed better than Genera
Robert Toombs, who says he ha
nothing to regret in the rebellion
but it's failure. Right principle
first, and then the right men to ad
minister according to them, is ou
motto. ~ 5s.,.s,
Now, what makes Reconstruction
necessary? The President says tha
the rebellion deprived the State
engaged therein of all civil govern
mepts. He read the Constitutio
as,deelaring that Andrew Johnso
should guarantee TO the States
republican form Of government
The loyal people read ID ASIDE
claring that the representatives {
thepeople should do this, In di'
cussing that question we areSmt
with side issues, which we may {
well meet here. One of these i
.suesis that of taxation. | do nt
charge any party with being in Il
vor Of reputation, but1 do say,
there is such party the Unlo
party is opposed to It. We arei
favor of observing our obligation
in whole and in part, 10 goodfait
Thedebt is q heavy load, but y
havo immense resources, and y
sat0s policy should be observed
the nation as would bc good poliC
in a private sindividual--hon
Our opponents are. all at once
favor of greenbacks. Their conr 1,
on this subject is strange. WI
held up silver Eve cent piece, 9
olariur that ii would yet buy.
bushel of greenbacks2 Who 9
clared that the time would COZ
when YOU would be compelled
.L -, h,ah al for hushOl of gre