The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-01-29
SPEECH OF
Hon. GEO. Fl. PENDLETON,
Before the Ohio Democrat c State
Convention. January 8, 1867.

4
i Convention. January 8, 1867.
! GENTLEMEN: thank you for the hon
or of presiding over your deliberations
| A Convention Of the Democratic part
which expounds its creed, administers it
discipline, and sits in judgementupon th
claims of aspirants for its confidence ant
support, is indeed an august body.
congratulate you that we have again me
together on this day. 1t is sacred by al
its associations to patriotism and Democ
racy. ltis the omen Of coming glory
! trust our work will prove worthy of both
Our party maintains sound doctrine, VI
steadfastly believe. Sound doctrine il
administration is essential to goot
government Thus the cause Of our part,
and the cause of our country are iden
sical; and every earnest effort to purif,
the tenets, and iuvigorate the counc,l
and secure the success of the one, fnlfll
the demands of patriotic duty to th,
other. 1t is in this spirit, and acting OF
this belief, that we have chosen for the
performance of our highest party duty
that day, whose recurrence more thar
any other since the adoption of the Fed,
eral Constitution, exists the patriotic en-.
thusiasm of our Western men.
| Let us catch from its memories an in.
SEPARATION of that patience aud determin-
alton aud courage aud patriotism, whose
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 0rleans-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 eremy advanced
to attack him They had secured 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 Well
ington. They had constructed the lines
of Torres Vedras. They had stormsd
Cindad, Rodrigo and Badajoz. They
had won the splendid triumphs Of Vito
ria. The batteries on the river were ia
ken-the right of the army was giving
way.
It>was not the canal on which the line
was formed-it it was not the rampant Of
cotton bales-but it was the patience and
courage and patriotic ardor, inspired BY
the dauntless spirit of their matchless
chief, which retriyed the day and secured
the victory.
Do We not need the same spirit now?
For seventy years our government has
secured the object of its formation. The
States hayo performed their allotted
functions. They existed as sclf-govern-
ing colonies almost from the settlement
of the continent. They became sove
reign States at the declaration Of inde-
pendence. The States formed the con-
federation. 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 Wash
ipgton. The States saved the Govern
ment in 1900. The States fought the
war of 1912. The States rescued the
Government from the dangers of Hart
ford Conventionism. The States sent
volunteers to Mexico. Aye, in this great
civil war the States enabled the Fed
ersl Government to overcome the armies
of Confederates and to maintain its SUI
premacy over every foot of its terrific
|ry.
The States have been at once the main
strength of the Federal Government, and
the guardians aud guarantee OF personal
liberty.
If their organizations have given them
power to harm, SO also have they given
them power for good; and atevery period
of our history has this power vindicated
the rightfulness of its existance and the
wisdom of those who left it to the States
untouched
But nova bold. d.persistent, t,audacious at
tempt is made to wrest it from the States,
and to change the spirit and form Of the or
dinances Of fseeession destroyedthe Union,
and that it must be reconstructed The
method is the constitutional amendment.
The appliances are the denial Of repre-
sen.ation to the Southern States, and,
if necessary. their reduction to the con-
ditiou of territories. The real purpose
is the consolidation of the Government
and the substitution of an irresponsible
unbridled majority, which the Radicals
expect to hold forever because they hap
pen to hold it now.
Constitutional Amendmentll I will
not detain you with an analysis of its
provisions. You know them well. 1t
wrests from the State the power to define
and protect the rights of its own people.
1t perverts the rule of representation.
It decreases and enforces punishments
enacted after the deed has been commit
ted. 1t sacrifices great and paramount
interests to the desire of revenge and to
temporary party ascendency. 1t sub
verts institutions which are benifcent
and stable that it may enforce sule of
suffrage not yet adopted at the North,
whose chief recommendation is that it is
utterly abhorrent to the people Of the
South. The demands Of twenty six
States, the surrender of powers which
are dear to them, In order that il NAV de-