The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-09-03

days., Massachusetts has wandered
from the faith, but she will return to
it with renewed zeal when power
shall have passed into another section,
and she feels the doom of isolation
Wise men of 1881, purified in the tri-
ais of the Revolution, experienced in
the lessons of the confederation, yir-
tuous themselves and upheld in the
practice of virtue by the public senti-
ment of an extraordinary people
they laid so strong the foundations of
the Government, which can alone ac-
complish this result, that neither force,
nor time, nor the progress of the ages
can shake them. They will endure
until the degeneracy of our race shall
call from indignant Heaven denial
of such blessings as punishment for
our manifold sins. Gentlemen, the
philosophy of our Government will
dictate to me the subject upon which
I shall speak to you. i do not under
stand your local politics do not
propose to take part in them. l shall
eonfine myself to those matters which
concern us all alike.b I shall speak
with nospartisan bitterness. Not ac-
customed myself to yield anything to
harsh words, seek not to apply them
to others. Confident in the purity of
my motives and the sincerity of my
convictions. / am ready to admit the
same integrity of purpose in all my
fellow-citizens. l shall not disparage
the ability or character of our Oppo-
nents. Iwould not, if i could, pluck
one leaf from the laurels of General
Grant; whatever may be his ability as
soldier, he has stood the test of sue
cess, and so far as I have known he
has borne himself with moderation
and magnanimity in his high office. l
have known Mr.. Coifax well for many
years, Il have seen him. in possession
of great power.i He is an amiable and
estimable gentleman, and would per-
form with dignity the duties of the
high office to which he aspires. l
have had pleasant associations with
the members of Congress from your
State, and remember with satisfac-
| Itien that we passed through many
years of service in that body, inter-
changing those courtesies which soft
en- the asperities of political excite
ment. Indeed, gentlemen, my obser-
l,yation of such has led me to expect
the most erroneous opinion, coupled
with the purest motives, and the most
destructive policy associated with the
loftiest aspirationsfo for the public good.
L do not, therefore, deal here or at any
other time with the personal character,
with the motives, tOrJWith the intelli-
gence5of men. I dealwith their opin-
ions and their actions, and their party
as an organization. have described
10 sraf h1ssa
the philosophy. of our system of gov
eminent. 1t is union and not a uni
! ty. It is a union of States, not of
municipal corperatiOns--of States,
sOvereigny except in so far as they
have delegated the exercise of some
power and have contracted to abate
the exercise of others-independ
except in SO far as they have bound
themselves together-disunited, ex-
l1cept in so far as they have united
themselves by the terms of the Con-
stitution. This system of government
has solved the great problem 1t has
reconciled vastness of territory and
strength of governments with liberty.
It has made it possible that we should
| be one people. and this is the crown
ing glory of our matchless Constitu-
tion--[great applause Ia free people.
lit has assured strength to the Federal
head, and health and vigor to the con-
stituent parts.a TheiStates have grown
in numbers, in population, in power.
They have developed every local in
terest, they have secured to their citi-
zens such intentions and such meas
ures of liberty as they desired for
themselves. The general features of
the State governments have, of course,
a striking similarity, but the diversity
/ of, their policy yisiwonderfi The pol
Icy of each is adapted to the interests,
| the tastes the habits of its people,
The manufacturing States, the COM
mercial States, the agricultural States,
have ,theirrespectiv systems and adapt
their laws to their material interests.
! b.Laws;Bhich are popular in New Eng
land could not be epassed, and ifpassed,
could not be enforced, in the, West
Many of the customs transplanted by
the people who have built up oul
thriving towns and cultivated our fer
tile prairies would shock the feelings
i of your people. Has not this system
of government proven beneficial tic
us all :? Has it not proven beneficial to
youin Maine? Have you not enjoyed
! libertysand prosperity at home, pro-
lection from all your enemies abroad
Have you not directed your local af
fairs in your own way? Have no
/ your relations, with your sister States
been agreeable and useful? Have yoI
not been represented with dignity ant
f power and splendor in the great fam
lily of nations? And yet, my fellow
citizens, the Republican party desir,
i to change this government and substi
J tute one of their own creation. The.
: hate this system. They hate this di
: versity,ys They hate the doctrine o
| States rights They hate the Consti
) tptioni as the, fathers made it. The,
have deliberately conspired for it
7 overthrow. They prefer consolidat
: ed government. They prefer strong
t er government, They, prefer to breal
t down the barriers, which the State
: with their reserved rights can inter
t pose, to create government so. sensi
J, tive that it will feel the least impuls
Q of popular will and SO strong that
Twill execute that will They believ
!, this will bea better, freer government
: They believe that rather than have tn
: limitation imposed by the, Constitu
: tion, they ought to have. the limitation
h imposed only by the unbridled will {
: an Irresponsible majority. Twic
: since the close, of the war they hav
O used all the power which the posses
e sion of the, governments, both Stat
n and Fedesal, has given them to amen
vi the Constitution; and in each case I'll
v amendment has been in deEogatieni {
f. the substantial, important, recognize
! rights OF, the, States. BY the fsst I
g these amendments the power of Il
l. States over slavery within its limi
-, was abolished. By the second, cit
l. zenship in. the States is to depend u
r ON the will, not of the States, but
B. Congress; and, the exclusion of n
d. groes from the rule of sufrageiis pul
lc ished by. the loss of representation
ii, / Not satisfied with this attack, upon Il
ID States themselves, with the true spiI
If of revolutionary leaders they rha'
al turned upon. the Government itself.
;: Co-c@;knk;oY, hoe uou4adf I'm fl