The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1867-08-29
SPIESSH
OF TIE
IION. GLO. Il. pENDLETON.
DELIVERED AT
Lima, Allen County, Ohio,
EssseaN, AUG. rs, 1867.

hlIlId' A11o-1 OOuuIy, OIllO,
gEssDaV, AUG. rs, 1867.
| propose tc show you that the Repub
lican party, by reason both Of its princ
pies aud lis practice, deserves your repro
baton. Ten years ago you coniied to i
the possession of the State government
Six years ago You conlided to it The con
troll of the Federal Government. In botl
its power has been unlimited. The day
of It's trial has come You are to Judge
whether its wisdom and purity hive been
equal to It's opportunities.
L deny it. | maintain that in cxpendi-
ture it has been reckless and prodigal. In
taxation it has been been unequal, unjust
and oppressive; III obedience to the Con.
s;itution it has been constantly and boast
ingly deficient; in the maintenance OF
personal liberty it has been utterly un-
faithful j; to the preservation Of oar con
federated system it has been actively op-
posed in the discharge Of every duty il
has been inefficient; in the cxasr rcratiou
and qualification OF every passion it has
bccn Jealous and unwcared !; in The per
petuation OF Its own power il has found
the 20 c rule of right
F. Taking possession Of the Governments,
both State and Federal, III time of pro
found peace. when taxes were low, tho
public debt light when harmony existed
both in the systems Of governments and in
tie hearts OF the people except SO far as il
was disturbed by the struggles for power
it holds them to-day, in the midst of pas
si0us icn-told more agitated than during
the war, bowed down under most oppres
siye hurthens, laden with an enormous
debt. with ten States blotted out of cx.
iSiencc, and III their territory every vcsticC
Of civil government destroyed, and every
elard and guarantee Of liberty utterly
broken down. The system government
which they have Inaugural enormous
iy cxl lonsiyc the methocs adminsira
ton are beyond preceden .ravagant
the morals Of its agents ttcrly cor
rupt; violence has usurpo. .nc place OF
Law; passion mas become the rule Of action
force has displaced authority; military
governments have been made common
arbitrary aud dcspotic measures have been
commended to the passions Of tie people
Their Jealous care and just appreciation OF
liberty have been diminished. Corruption
rcvels in high places.
The Republican party is responsible iol
these evils.
Ishal not depart from my invariable rule
in political discussicns-I take parties and
policies and measures as | find them
accord to every man sincerity and patriot
ism. rwill not imputc bad motives noi
use harsh terms. | viii not enter the
arena Of personal controversy. | prefer
to consider the effect Of great policies OF
public interests, rather than to discuss the
influence Of personal character on the ad
ministration OF Office. And if, in delinea
ting the tendency and sequence Of meas
ures, must scan the motives and adyer,
to the mental and moral development OF
those who originate and apply them,
shall deal with them in their collective
character as parties, and avoid the ground
allotted to personal susceptibility.
If our system of government had been
maintained, if its integrity were unim-
paired, the subjects on which | would
address YOU to-day would be few and sim
pie. They would relate entirely to our
State affairs they would touch only the
making and executing our local law The
election is only for State and county
officers; it refers only to State and
county affairs In its results it touches
Federal politics only in the election of a
Senator and the adoption of amendments
to the Constitution which may possibly be
proposed TO the State have been conf
ded your dearest interests. Look about
you. What do you not holi under the
neis of its protection Your life, your
liberty. the enforcement of your contracts,
the enjoyment of the fruits Of your labor,
the title to your property the peace OF
society, the sanctity OF your homes, the
protection Of your good name from asper-
sion, of your family circle from pollution
Of your parental authority from contempt,
depend alone upon your State govern
ment. The Federal Government was
organized to represent the States in the
family of nations, aud adjudleatc questions
of trade between the States. 1t has not
the constitutional power to punish mur-
derer in your streets, or burglary IN your
houses, or riot in your city. 1t has not
the constitutional power to protect Tree
snecch ut this meeting, or to render Juds-
ment upon end collect by exemption a
nromissory note for one hundred dollars
,ivon Inv one of your citizens to another
0ur system, was republic of republics. y
Its crowning glory was that it coniided the
fewest possible subjects to the Federal
Government. and reserved the greatest
poss bic number to the States; that il
called around the States the affections and
interests of the people by leaving with