The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-01-12
SPEECH OF
HON. GEO. q. PENDLET0N,
Before the Ohio Democratic State Con-
rention, January sth, 1867.

rention, January sth, 1867.
GENTLEMEN Il thank you for the
honor of presiding over your delibera-
tions. A Convention of the Democratic
party which expounds its creed, admin
isters it's discipline, and sits in Judgment
upon the claims of aspirants for its con-
fidencc and support, is indeed an august
body. congratulate you that we have
arain met together on this day. 1t is
sacred by all its associations to patriot.
ism and Democracy. 1t is the omen OF
a coming glory. / trust our work Will
prove worthy of both. Our party main
tains sound doctrine, we steadfastly be-
lieve. Sound doctrine in administration
is essential to good government. Thus
the cause of our party and the cause OF
our country are identical; and every
earnest effort to purify the tenets, and
invigoratc the councils and secure the
success of the one, fulfills the demands
of patriotic duty to the other. 1t is in
this spirit, and acting on this belief,
that we have chosen for the performance
of our highest party duty that day,
whose recurrence more than any other
since the adoption of the Federal Con-
stitution, eXcitcs the patriotic enthusl-
asm of our Western men.
Let MS catch from its memories an In
spiration of that patience and determi-
nation and courage and patriotism,
whose glorious illustration has made
this day immortal. The exigency OF
our country demands these qualities.
The possession of the mouth OF the
Mississippi-the control of all the trade
of the northwest, was the prize of the
contest. General Jackson was shut up
in New Orleans-he had his undiScip-
lined troops, his new levies and his un-
armed recruits. The right bank Of the
river commanded his position. His bat
teries there were small and feebly man
ned. He had open enemies and secret
spies in the city. The enemy advanced
to attack him. They had secured a
foot-hold in Florida. They had met
him with success on the coast. They
were the veterans of the Peninsula.
They had been trained under the eye OF
Wellington. They had constructed the
lines of Torres Vedras. They had
stormed Cindad, Rodrigo and Badajoz.
They had won the splendid triumphs
of Vittoria. The batteries on the river
were taken-the right of the army was
giving way.
II was not the canal on which the
line was formed-it was not the ram
part of cotton bales-but it was the pa
tience and courage and patriotic ardor,
inspired BY the dauntless spirit oftheir
matchless chief, which retrieved the
dow oud secnrea the victory.
DO we not need the same spirit nowf
For seventy wears our Government has
secnred the object of its formation.
The States have performed their allot-
ted functions. They existed as self
governing colonies almost from the
settlement of the continent. They be-
came sovereign States at the declara-
ton of independence. The States
formed the confederation. The States
carried on the Revolutionary War.
The States formed the Constitution.
The states ratified it. The States
created the Union. The States upheld
the mighty arm of Washington. The
States saved the Government in 1900.
The States fought the war OF lSl2. The
States rescued the Government from
the dangers of Hartford Convention
ism. The States sent volunteers to
Mexico. Ave, and in this great civil
war the States enabled the Federal
Government to overcome the armies of
the Confederates and to MAINTAIN IT'S
supremacy over every foot OF Its terri
tory. =,
The States have been ut once the
main strength of the Federal Govern
ment, and the guardians and guarantee
of personal liberty.
If their organizations have given
them power to harm, so also have they
given them power for good and at
every period of our history has this
mower vindicated the rightfulness of its
existence and the wisdom of those who
left il to the State untouched.
But now bold, persistent, audacious
attempt is made to wrest 1t from the
States, and to change the spirit and
form of the Government. The pretext
is that the ordinances of secession de-
stroyed the Union, and that 1t must be
reconstructed. The method is the con-
stitutional amendment. The appliances
are the denial of representation to the
Southern States, and, If necessary, their
reduction to the condition of territo-
ries. The real purpose is the eonsolida-
ton of the Government and the substi-
tuition of an irresponsible, unbridled
majority. which the Radicals expect to
hold forever because they happen TO
hold it now.
Constitutional Amendment! l will
not detain you with an analysis OF its
provisions. You know them well. Ii
wrests from the State the power to de-
fine and protect The rights of its own
people. 1t perverts the rule of repre-
sentation. 1t DEGREES and enforces pun
ishments enacted after the deed has
been committed. 1t sacrifices great
and paramount interests to the desire OF
revenge and to temporary party ascend
ency. 1t subverts institutions which
are benifcent and stable that it may
enforce rule of suffrage not yet adopt
ed at the North, whose chief recon-
mendatiou is that it is utterly abhorrent
to the people Of the South. The de-
mands of twenty-six States, the sur
render of powers which are dear to
them, in order that 1T may deprive ten