The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1867-09-05
.q4ogg Political. lfYg
WHICH WILL YE cHoosEl
The Democratic Party Tried and
Condemned.
v TnE rArnIor's ONLY sAFErY,
GEN. ]. C. LEES
SPEECH AZ MANSFIELD.

GEN. j. u. LEE )
SPEl9CH AZ MANSFIELD.
In discussing before you the qucs-
tio6s in which we all fcelan interest,
| shall be compelled to introduce
them mostly in outline, for they are
too extended to admit of elaboration.
The practical question for every
elcctor, at every returning election
is: How shall cast my ballot2 That
question goes, in its answer, TO this
further extent; With which party,
the Union or Democratic party, shalt
my ballot be cast2 We have but those
tive parties, aad the elector in Ohio,
whether he will or not, casts his bal
ldtidtthe interest ofone or the other
Of these parties. 1t is idle for the
citizen of Ohio to say chat he does
not agree with the policy Of the
Democratic party yet he will vote its
ticket, because ho holds sentiments
not entirely in accordance with that
party, aud does not mean by his bal
lot to iudorse the platform of that
party. He cannot help il If he
would. His vote does indorse the
platform of the party with which he
casts his ballot Hence, we como
down to this question, with which
party, the Democratic party or the
Union party, shalt my ballot be castY
How shallwc answer this questiou2--
hope We shall pass by our former
attachments, our prcjudices for or a.
gainst, aud go to reasons that in
themselves should be decisive of our
choice.
Icaunot conceive Of any thing tru
or, as a standard, than this: What is
the present policy of each party2-
What has been its political history,
aud what now are its constituent ele-
monts2 Whom We shall have made
full examination of each, we shall
then certainly be able to decide for
our selves the question, with which
Of these parties we should vote.
WHAT OF THE UNION PARTY.
What is the present policy Of the
Union party2 In its platform We
find that it asserts that the great
teachings Of the late war are that
this is a sovereign nation-not a mere
compact of States not mere confed.
Grafton of independent severeignties,
coheriug simply y'by willisimply by the
power Of persuasion, by consent;
which cohesion shall be sundercd up
on withdrawalof any Of the sew
eral members. Tho platform de-
clares that this nation has within it.
self the power Of self.preservation;
that it is an Guilty, an entirety, rs a.
gainst all internal and external fore.
| eS. co.. ..e
WHAT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Now what says the Democratic
party on that point? We believe in
the doctrine Of States rights, in State
sovereignty, as against the power of
the Federal Government. We fnd
that Capitalization of power, such
as tie present Union party is in fa-
vor of, aud is trying to work out, is
dangerous to our Republic aud de-
structive of personal liberty. We
are in favor of the States preserving
aud maintaining theirowh State pow
er to such an extent that the General
Government instead of being superi-
or, supreme, shall be subordinate and
subject to the States. This is the
same doctrine that was urged by and
in the defensc OF secession in 1850
and 1861, aud which South Carolina
declared its ordinance of ssOeFion
and followed it, the other States sub +,
| seqdentty taking the sbhfe COURSE. 'It
was necessary parpof their theory.
The step of secession, by each State,
must have legal sanction, ifpossible.
They must be able to fnd for it that
which would be respected in the
eyes Of the several States, and in the
eyes of nations, If possible. Aud
hence this doctrine Of Calhoun,
which, in his day. took the form cf
notification, must be adopted. And
we find Buchanan, in his message in
1860, recognizing that doctrine, and
saying to the Congress that he finds
in the Constitution no power to pre-
vent the consummation Of sec ission,
That is the position of the Democrat
ic party tu-day. And why do they
assume that position? IL is because
they hayS a conviction that is right,
that it is expedient and practical
doctrine? lthiHk not. y IL finds it
necessary that that party should ad-
here. 10. it trand give itR practical
working out. 1t ear better now sub
serve its present purpose of relieving
the ihsurrectionary States from the
disabilities which the general gov
ernmant had seen fit to impose upon
them as penalty for treason aud as
security for their future good be-
hayior.
% FORMER DEMOCRATIC POLICY.
The old Abolitionists, the station
keepers Of the underground railroad
from the South to the North, remem-
ber we'll that this same Democratic
4 party. then speaking in the Interests
Of slavery. used to claim that the
| general government had contrOll--
ing and superior power over the
States, when certain States were en-
deayoring to enforce their personal
liberty act to prevent the recapture
| of fugitives, aud the kidnapping Of
whites, and carrying them to the
J sahth for trial, under the fugitive
We law. Positions were reversed