The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-01-29

1
defines and protects the rights of th,
people? The Democratic party has al
ways maintained the rights of the States
as essential to the maintainance of th,
Union. The great founder of our or
ganszation and apostle of our creed
Thomas Jefferson, proclaimed it in hi
first inaugural address. The supremacy
of the Constitution and all laws made il
pursuance thereof; the reservation of al
powers not granted to Congress-thest
are the essential elements of our faith
and to these we have adhered with IN.
faltering fidelity.
Shall we adhere to them still, or shall
We now abandon them for the profferec
lexperiment of consolidation.
| We are in the midst of revolution
Radical ideas carried into execution by
Ilawless means-the anchorage of public
opinion everywhere giving way-our op.
Iponents in power iu the States and in
Congress; and everywhere using that pow
er to subvert the Constitution, to exclude
States from their representation, to break
up their social system, to foment discord
and disorder in their communities, and to
impair their material prosperity, and now
they graciously propose to cease this
abuse of power if the States both North
and South will consent to their own deg
relation / am citizen and native of
Ohio. | speak to Ohio men, whose first
duty is to care for the interests of their
State and her people. And speaking
thus, considering only the influence on
our own State and its institutions, say
it is our duty, even if the Kingdoms of
the earth were offered at that price, to
say, as was said to the tempter Of old,
Get thee behind me, Satan" Let us
stand fast to our integrity at every haz-
ard-let us hold on to the sound doctrine
as delivered to us by the fathers. 1t is
the ark of our safety--it is the only hope
Of Republican Government lit is the
only bulwark against despotism.
/ do not conceal from myself that we
have been defeated and that we may be
defeated again. Yet / 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 Constitution. 1t has
pronounced the doom of military CON-
missions for the trial of citizens, and set
the seal Of its reprobation upon the base
pretext of military necessity.
At the elections last fall the Demo-
cratic party polled 1,s00,0 900 votes out of
100000. A change of fifty in thou
sand-of fifty thousand votes in million
less than six per cent.-would have
given us majority of the popular vote
In Pennsylvania, New York and Tndi-
ana, casting seventy two votes in the
electoral college and 100000 votes by
the people, we were defeated less than
"A, 600. A change o. less than one and
a half per cent-of less than fifteen in a
thousand-would have given us major
ity. In eleven States of the Union, ex-
cludiug entirely the Southern States, a
change of 10000 votes on the result of
last fall will, in 1868, elect President
and majority in Congress.
Is there cause for dependency here?
Is there not, OBJ the contrary, every rea-
son to hope? Was ever a great battle
fought with less disparity of numbers?
Let him that is timid remember how
the cavalry of Charles Martel, "fghting
with hearts firm as ramparts, and with
iron arms" received anG conquered the
hosts of the Saracen. Let him remem-
Der that Cressy and Agincourt are glori-
GUS because valor and constancy made up
for numbers. Let him remember that
John Sobieski with fifty thousand SOL
diers rescued Christendom, under the
walls of Vienna, from the grasp of 30O,-
600 Turks. Let him remember the pride
and pomp of the Spanish Armada and
its speedy and inglorious end. Let him
remember the retreats and defeats and
disasters which befel Washington, and
the crowuiug glories of Yorktown. And
il he needs further encouragement, let
him remember against what odds of num-
bers Jackson saved New Orleans.
Patience and fortitude and vigor are as
necessary for success in politics as in
war. And what shall the Southern States
do in their extremity? I have said that
| am speaking as an Ohio man TO Ohio
men of their duty to their own State
and to their own people. ! would not die
tate. nor urge, nor even advise others.
They must follow the dictates of their
Judgments and consciences. But if |
might be permitted to say what lies near
my heart, it would be this: Let the
Southern State be passive and patient.
They took up arms-tbey were defeated
they surrendered. That surrender in
wolves the necessity of faithful obedience
to the Constitution and the laws. That
faithful obedience entities them to the
rights and liberties guaranteed by the
Constitution and the laws. They may
be powerless to secure these rights and
liberties. They may be subjected by the
strong arm 10 oppression and wrong,
But they can decline to advise change
of the Constitution; they can refuse to
consent to the creation of despotism;
they car refuse to do voluntarily that
which their judgment rejects and their
feeling detests; they can maintain their
honor and self-respect; they can at least
decline to be the facile instruments of
their own degradation. And they can
bear the consequences Of this course.
Tbau nav ha -danri vad of renresentation: