Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-11
THE ONO DEMOCRACY.

the gentleman from Ohio.
THE OHIO DEMOCRACY.
Eloquent speech,frO Hon. George n.
PendIetOn - Strong Appeal TO the
Party to stand Firm Counsel so the
Southern states and People.
Hon. Geo. H. Pendleton presided at the
Ohio State Democratic Convention, on the
Sta inst On taking the chair, he delivered
a speech, from which we extract as follows:
We are in the midst Of revolution-Radi-
cal ideas carried into execution by lawless
means-the anchorage Of public opinion
everywhere giving Way-Our opponents in
the States and in Congress, and everywhere
using that power to ;ubvertthe constitution,
10 exclude States frC.m their representation,
to break up their social system, to promote
discOrd and disorder in their communities,
and to impair THEN 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
degradation. ! am a citizen and native Of
Ohio. Ispeak 10 Ohio men, whose first duty
is 10 care for the interests of their State and
her people and, speaking thus-consider-
ing only the influences on our own State and
its institutions say it is our duty, even
if the Kingdoms of the earth were offered
20 us at that price to say, as was said 10 the
tempter fold, Get thee behind me, Sa-
tan"
Let Us stand fast to our integrity ct every
hazard let us hold on TO the, sound doc
LII D., . L., q IL
is the only hope Of republican government
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 il firm in his
position and decided in his action. The
Supreme Court Of the United States, trueat
last to It's 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 announced the
doom of military commissions for the trial
of citizens, and set the seal of reprobation
/ upon the pre.exts Of military necessity.
At the election, last fall, the Democratic
| party polled 100000 votes out of 4,000,
900. A change Of so votes in l,O00-of
60, 900 in ,0O0, 900, less than six per cent,
would have given us a majority.
In Pennsylvania, New York and Indi-
ana, casting seyenty-two votes in the cleo
/ toral college, and 100000 votes by the
people, we were defeated less than A, 000
| A change of less than one and One-half per
cent. or less than fifteen in a thousand
| would have given us a majority. In eleven
| States Of the Union, excluding entirely the
| Southern States, a change of 10000 vO-es
on the result Of last fall will, in 1868, elect
a President and a majority Of Congress.
Is there cause for dependency here
| Is there not, on the contrary, every reason
! TO hopeY Was ever q great battle fought
with less disparity Of numbers?
Let him that is timid remember how the
cavalry of Charles Martel, fighting with
! hearts firm rs ramparts and with iron
arms" received and conquered the hosts Of
/ the Saracens. Let him remember that
! Greasy and Agincourt are glorious because
| valor and coustancy made up for numbers.
! Let him remember that John Sobieski,
! with $4,000 soldiers, rescued Christendom
! under the walls of Vienna from the grasp
/ of 300, 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 browning glories Of Yorktown. And if
| he needs further encouragement, let him
| remember against what odds Of numbers
! Jackson saved New Orleans. And what
! shall the Southern States do in their eX-
| tremity2 l have said that l am speaking
| as an Ohio man 10 Ohio men Of their duty
| to their own State and people. l would
! not dictate nor urge, nor even advise others.
] They must follow the dictates Of their
| judgments and conscienCes. But if l might
| be permitted to say that which lies near to
| my breast, it would be this Let the South
| ern States be passive and patient. They
| took up arms-they were defeated-they
| surrendered. That surrender involves the
| necessity of faithful obedience 10 the con-
| stitution and the laws. They may be pow
| erless to secure these rights and liberties
| They may be subjected by the strong arm
| 10 oppression and wrong; but they can de-
/ cline to advise change in the constitu-
ton. They can refuse to consent to the
| creation of a despotism. They can
/ refuse to do voluntarily that which
their judgment rejects and their feel
honor and selfrespect-they can at least
decline TO be the facile instruments of their
/ own degradation, and they can bear the
/ consequences Of their course. They may
| be deprived of representation-the may be
/ even reduced 10 a territorial condition.
! This is no easy task-it will not be lightly
| undertaken-it viii not be easily executed
difficulties will arise at every step. 1t
l.. &c,
| 80 many interests, both of the people and
the States of the North-so revolutionary
/ and disorganiziug-s0 fagrantly at war
with every provision and theory Of the
constitution, that 10 will scarcely be posi-
/ bic TO execute it fully. But if the attempt
should be made successfully, this too, being
imposed by superior force, they can bear.
Let them oppose it by the passive resist
anCe of mastery inactivity. Let them re
pair their shattered fortunes; LET them woo
| prosperity and wealth let their fields
whiten with cotton, and their plantations
yield their increase Of corn and sugar and
rice; let them, moved by their own i'm
pulses, and not by diciation from others.
revise, IL necessary, their legislation in re-
gard 10 the freedmen, and secure 10 them
all their civil rights by the same process OF
law, expressed by the same courts, and the
same penalties as are used in the case Of
the white men Let them, il necessary to
secure this ample protection, revise and
change the public opinion Of their COM
munities. Let them be Jealous in securing
90 then every opportunity Of fitting them
selves Cor their changed condition, and
every advantage for a good development
which a healthy social and governmental
system will permit. The necessity Of both
sections viii coerce social and commercial
intercourse and this, 10 time will soften
aspenties, and assuage bitterness and pro
mote good will, and restoration, if il ever
comes at all, viii be upon q sound basis
This frenzy Of passion can not last for
ever. Reason must sooner or later. re-
sumo It's sway. Those who think otherwise.
10 has been beautifully said, forget that the
angry rapids Of Niagra lead TO the placid
expsuse Of Ontario. Il was an Eastern
sage who urged his master 10 have en-
craven on his signet-rinG, that it might be
ever before his ewes, in every vicissitude OF
prosperity or adversely, And this. too,
shall pass away" This year, or next year,