Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-01-09

than all these, for The limited powers it
contains and the reserved rights it leaves
to the States and the people. s
And we love our State Constitution for
the wise form Of government it Institutes,
the guarantees of liberty and property it
contains, It's express recognition of the peo-
pie as the source of power and its care not
to trench too deeply on the rights of the
individual. And our late sad experience
of Constitutions violated, aud their most
sacred guarantees trampled under foot
only makes lus adhere'the more strongly to
the instrIh1ents designed for our protection.
And, believe me, gentlemen, that no
party that habitually disregards our
constitutional rights. can long main
tain its ascehdaney ThIsis land of writ
ten constitutions and has been SO from its
very first settlement;9 for even the royal
charters Of the olden time, imperfect as
they were, guaranteed many liberties of
the people, wruhg by sturdy manhood from
reluctant kings, and we're, in effect, writ
ten constitutions. IL has ever been part
OF American education to regard written
constitutions as essential to our welfare,
happiness and freedom. For more than
eighty years, IT, has been our boast that
there was no such thing as an unwritten,
constitution, or an 'Omnipotent parliament
In the United States. And for more than
three-quarters of a'ceatdry, we have re-
quired every officer great or small, to SOL
ennly swear 10 support our written consti-
tutions. And, tine and again, have we, by
amendments, yet sfnrther restricted the
powers OF government; but never, until
1860, by amendment, enlarged them
These are most significant facts, and the
inference to be drawn from them is not
nVpFfhrOwvu rhul fhn aA ax-t of
our late war. In that terrible struggle
a large portion OF the people became, for q
time, regardless of our fundamental laws,
and without even amurmur saw them daily
violated. They seemed to think, and most
OF them probably did think, that in no
other way could the Republic be saved from
destruction. Almost erroneous and dan.
gerous belief but nevertheless entertained
by many, though never by us. del
And even now, when war has ceased, we
fnd majority Of the people of the North
apparently sustaining a self STYLED Con-
gress In the plainest infractions Of the Fed
eral Constitution and of the rights OF the
States, But let no Democrat therefore de-
SPAR, This state of things is necessarily
temporary. The force of reason, education,
habit, wisdom, patriotism, magnanimity,
VII again be felt, and the landmarks of
the hthers viii once more be setup.
why, gentlemen, what is the plain state
OF the casey The fundamental idea of
American institutions (somewhat modi-
Ned IN the Federal GOverDment), lis.
that the majority shall govern, but
must be respected. But the Radical
party now in power seeks to establish pre-
cisely the reverse OF this. Though nil
nority Of the voting population of the Uni
ted States, it arrogates to itself an exclus-
i've right to rule, and it denies to millions
OF citizens their plainest constitutional
privileges. IL does not deny that tis a
minority. On the contrary it avows 1t,
and makes that fact the ground for seek
ing 10 fenfranchise 1nhalf a million
OF negroes in order to recruit its
ranks Of voters. But as that would
still leave it in minority, it de-
Inands the disfranchisement of a million
offwhites. II seeks thus to perpetuate. or
al, least pr0long, its power, and to hold.
down the majority of American people by
mere brute force. This is the Radical plan
for pacifying and uniting the country;
openly aVOwed by the Radical leaders in the
so-called Congress of the United States. 1t
is the Russian plan with Poland, the English
plan with ireland, over again. q Ii is an at
tempt to practice the lessons of European
despotism upon the American continent,
with superadded leaven, of hypoc-
risy in, the shape of mock elections.
l don't believe, gentlemen, that scheme
so repugnant to every principle that ever
honored America, to every idea that Ameri-
cans have for a century cherished, can suc-
ceed; or that a party that upholds Ii, or all
lows itself to be identified with it, can long
retain power, ,,..t.b D Tst.5+7si1I
know full we'll the force of party or
ganization and party ties and it has been
exemplitied too lately to be easily forgot
ten, For opposing the mad and anti
American plans Of the Radicals, the Presi-
dent has been deserted by the party that
elected him, and is threatened witheim-
peachment. For coming to the rescue of
the Consultation In point most vital to the
liberty and safety of every man, woman
and child in the Republic, the Supreme
Court is menaced with signal but as yet
underlined chastisement. For daring to
breathe the word Constitution,o the Dem
ocratic party Is denounced as traitors or
sympathizers. with treason. And threats
Of armed force to put t5down, the will of
the majority Of the . people, whenever
It shall be expressed, have o been
heard too often to permit those who, desire
peace TO feel unconcerned. That these are
evil omens it would be folly to deny, and,
assuredly, they teach us but too plainly
that the future is full of danger. as gal f.
But, nevertheless, l adhere to my belief.
There Is still virtue enough in the country
to save it, and 10 will be saved. The Demo-
cratic party, Almighty host, Is all right, and
the time Is not far distant when thousands
and, tens of thousands of our opponents
,.,fTI f~oa1sy onn fooa Puf ha thot nna fa
of. or near, our duty, my fellow Democrats,
is plain. We are enlisted In a sacred cause;
enlisted not for one, or five, or ten years
only, but for our entire lives, We cannot
abandon our principles, we c. OF desert
our banners, weeannot give U he ship.
What, then, can we do but battle man
fully and earnestly for the rightg And be
assured, my friends, that we cannot achieve
SUCCESS by suplneness, irresOlpti0n and in
dolence., If you would save your country
from destruction, If yen would transmit
the name OF your grand old party un-,
tafDished TO pOsterity, if you would
preserve your liberties, property and sacred
honor, II you would bestow upon your
children the, blessings Of peace and pros
pefitY, you must reject all such phrases as
" mastery inactivity all timid counsels of
indecisIon or fear, and spurn from you as
utterly base, the mean advice to disorgan-i
lie In order TO conquer No, my friends,
conquer You never will by disorganization,
Incidence, Iresolution or timidity. To-
conquer, yon must be organized, active,
earnest fesolute, and perseyering. II de-
feated to-day, you must buckle on your
arulOf again tomorrow. M. ~ I,--s9e.' b1
Your safety, the safety Of the whole
country, demands that you show your
Atrength and show it ina solid organiza-
tion,, that you assert your rights and show
yourselves resolved to maintain them. !,
DOthis. perseyere in doing 1t, and your