The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1867-01-24

many liberties Of the people, wrung
by sturdy manhood from reluctant
Kings, and were in effect written
Constitutions. 1t has ever been a
part of American education to re-
gard written Constitutions as es-
sential 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 ON
nipotent Parliament in the United
States. And for more than three
quarters of a century, we have re-
quired every officer, create or small,
to solemnly swear to support our
written Constitutions. And time
and again have we, by amend
ments, yet further restricted the
powers Of Government, but never,
until 1865, by amendment, enlarg-
ed them.
These are most significant facts,
and the inference to be drawn from
them is not overthrow by the sad
experience of our late war. In
that terrible struggle a large por-
ton of the people became for a
time regardless of our fundamental
lows, and without even murmer,
saw them daily violated. They
seemed to think, and most of them
probably did think, that in no 9th
er way could the Republic be
saved from destruction. A most
erroneous and dangerous belief,
but nevertheless entertained by
many, though never by me.
And even now, when war has
ceased, We find majority of the
people of the North apparently
sustaining a self-styled Congress
in the plainest infractions OF the
Federal Constitution, and of the
rights of the States. But let no
Democrat therefore despair. This
state of things is necessarily tenn
porary. The force of reason, edu-
cation, habit, wisdom, patriotism,
and magnanimity will again be
felt, and the landmarks of the faith
ers will once more be set up. Then,
gentlemen, what is the plain state
of the case? The fundamental idea
of American institutions (some-
what modified in the Federal Gov
ernment) is that the majority shall
rule, bat the minority haFe,ri9bts
that must be respected. But the
Radical party now in power seeks
to establish precisely the reverse
of this. II ough minority of the
voting population of the United
States arrogates to itself an exclu-
sive right to rule, and it denies its
millions Of citizens their plainest
Constitutional privileges, it does
not deny that it is minority. On
the contrary, it avOws it, and makes
that fact the ground for seeking to
enfranchise half a million of ne
groes in order to recruit its ranks
of voters. But as that would still
leave it in minority, it demands
the disfranchisement of a million
Of whires. 1t seeks thus to per-
petuate, or at least prolong its
power.
l know full we'll the force of par
ty organization and party ties, and
it has been exemplified too lately
to be easily forgotten. For oppos-
ing the mad and anti-American
plans of the Radicals, the President
has been deserted by the party
tnat elected him, and is threaten
ed with impeachment. For com.
ing to the rescue Of the Constitu-
ton in point most vital to the
liberty and safety of every man,
woman and child in the Republic,
the Supreme Court is menaced with
4 signal, but as yet underlined
,hastisement. For daring to breathe
The word "Constitution," the Dem
ocratlc partyis denounced as trait
tors or sympathizers with treason;
and threats of armed force to put
lown the will of the majority of
.he people, whenever it shall be ex
pressed, have been heard too often
10 permit those who desire peace
10 feel unconcerned. That these
ire evil omens 1t would be folly to
leny; and assuredly they teach us
out too plainly that The future is full |
of danger.
But, nevertheless, l adhere to my
belief. There is still virtue enough
n the country to save it, and it
will be saved. The Democratic
party-a mighty hosts all right,
and the hour is not far distant when
and tens of thousands of
our opponents will freely confess