Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-25
NATIONAL POLITICS.
An Extract from the Speech Of
Hon. ID. w. voorhees,, At
New Albany. Ind,
June Ill, 1S6S.

Let MS illustrate this question by re-
view of our national politics. As have
remarked, three years Of peace have fol-
lowed four years of war. During this
time what has this party that claims the
ascendancy, and is contesting power with
YOU for four years more, done toward
building up the ruins of our country !
What is it that they are demonstrating? !?
During the war there were two antagonis
tic principlos-one was that States had
a right to leave the Federal Union upon
their own motion; the other was that the
States had no such right. Upon that
boint the war was waged When the
war closed, the side that said States had
no power to leave the Federal Union had
triumpbed, and you supposed that that
QUESTION was settled in favor OF the exis'
tence of the Union and the perpetuity,
the everlasting existence, of the States
that compose this Union.
Where armies left of, however, this
party, calling itself the party of reform,
but which | call the party OF destruction,
stepped in and commenced its mischlev-
GUS aud destructive legislation; and
what have they demonstrated to this
country2 They have demonstrated hrst,
if words are things and it figures cannot
lie, that your Union was dissolved, not
during the war, for that your soldiers
and your armies decided, but that it has
been dissolved by their legislation. 4
arraiqn them as party Of destroyers;
and the first point shall illustrate is the
dss,rnc,;on of the Federal Union. They
DESTROYED your Union. Are these States
| in the Union7 II they have been in the
Union ali the time, why are they now be-
inc rendmitted under the constitutions
framed by negroes of the South Iney
have demonstrated TO the world the de-
struction Of the Union, that ten states
did leave the Union. and not only lett
the Union, but that those ten States we're
DESTROYED; that they not only did not
stay in the Union, but that they ceased
to exist when they left the Union; for by
their legislation they have arranged ior
the recreation Of the States upon black
basis at the South, supported by the
army. Then they have demonstrated
that this blessed Union Of yours can be
destroyed, has been destroyed, has been
sundered and in violation Of every pledge
given by this party. in. Cengress and out
OF Congress, in violation of every drop
of blood that was shed during the war,
| in violation Of the tenets Of the fathers,
| In violation of the traditions Of snti-
ouity, in violation OF the Constitution
which made your Union, and made i
perpetual
strate their capacity 70 destroy these
States which make the Union itself, for
the States make the Union. They dem
onsiraie the capacity Of Congress to
destroy American States, for these ten
States, in the internal and mischievous
legislation of the age, are not spoken OF
a. States In place Of ten States OF TIE
American Union once, you have hEe
military districts; in place Of ten Gov
ernors 70 preside over the dsstiuiss Of
those States, you, have i've Major Gen-
erals: In place OF oficers elected by the
nsopls 20 take charge Of heir Affairs
sccordine 20 he doctrines Of the fathers,
yoa have stat oiheers, and all the para