The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1867-01-17

1t protects the rule of representa-
tion. 1t DEGREES and enforces pun
ishments enacted after the deed
has been committed. 1t sacrifices
great and permanent interests tc
the desire of revenge and to tenn
porary party ascendency.
It subverts institutions which
are beneficial and stable, that il
may enforce a rule of suffrage not
yet adopted at the North, whose
chief recommendation is that it is
utterly abhorrent to the people Of
the South. 1t demands of twenty.
six States the surrender of powers
which are dear to them, in order
that it may deprive ten other
States of the same power. Why
Constitutional guarantees against
another rebellion What guaran-
tee do these provisions afford
Will any man pretend it9 How
does it prevent recurrence of Sc
cession by the States, that the rule
of representation in Congress is
changed or that Congress defines
and protects the rights of the peo-
ple.s The Democratic party has
always maintained the rights of the
States as essential to the mainten-
ance OF the Union. The great
founder of our organization and
apostle of our creed-Thomas JEFF
ferson-proclaimed it in his first
inaugural address.
The supremacy of the Constitu-
ton and of laws made in pursuance
thereof-the reservation of all
powers not granted to Congress
these are the essential elements of
our faith, and to these We have ad-
hered with unfaltering fidelity.
Shall we adhere to them still, or
shall we now abandon them for
the profered experiment Of con-
solidation?
We are in the midst of revolu-
tion-Radical ideas carried into
execution by lawless means-the
anchorage OF public opinion every
where giving way-our opponents
in power in the States and in Con-
gress, and everywhere using that
power to subvert the. Constitution,
to exclude States from their repre-
sentation, to break up their social
system, to promote discord and
disorder in their communities, and
to impair their material prosperi-
ty. And now they graciously pro-
pose to cease this abuse of power
if the States, both North and
Sonth, will consent to their own
degradation. / am a citizen and
native of Ohio. Ispeak to Ohio
men, whose first duty is to care for
the interests of their State and her
people and, speaking thus-con-
sidering only the influences on our
own State and its institution--I
say it is our duty, even if the king
doms of the earth were offered to
us at th9t price, to say, as was said
to the tempter of old, "Get the be-
hind me, Satan"
Let us stand fast to our integ-
rity at every hazard; let us hold
on to the sound doctrine as deliv-
cred to us by the fathers. 1t is the
only hope of republican govern
ment = it is the. only bulwark
against despotism.
do not conceal from myself
that we have been defeated, and
that we may be defeated often
again; yet l look with hope to the
future. The President is firm in
his position, and decided in his
action.
The Supreme Court of the United
States, true at last to its ancient
fame, true to the purposes of its
creation, rising above the dictates
of passion, above the behests of
party, has vindicated in noble
terms the integrity of the Consti-
tuition. 1t has announced the
doom of military commissions for
the trial of citizens, and set the
seal of its reprobation upon the
pretexts OF military necessity.
At the election last fall the
Democratic party polled 100000
votes out of 100000. A change
of so votes in a 10O0-of $4,000 in
million. Less than six per cent.
would have given US a majority.
In Pennsylvania, New York and
Indiana, casting seventy-two votes
in the electoral college, and 1,6OO,-
900 votes by the people, We were
defeated less than $4,000. A
change OF less than one and one
half per cent. Of less than fifteen in