Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-09-01

Said Mr.. Pendleton at Bangor, on Thursday
Our government is a union and not a
unity. 1t is union Of States, not of munici-
pal corporations-of States sovereign, except
in SO far as they have delegated the exercise of
some powers and have contracted to abate the
exercise of acknowledgements, except in SO
far as they have bound themselves together
disunited, except in so far as they have united
themselves by the terms Of the constitution
This system of government has solved the great
problem. 1t has reconciled vastness OF terri
tory and strength of government with liberty.
It has made it possible that we should be one
people, and this is the crownlng glory to our
matchiess constitution, 6 eat applause la free
people. 1t has assured strength to the Federal
head, and health and vigor to the constituent
parts. The States have grown in numbers, in
population in power. They have developed
every local interest they have secured to their
citizens such intentions and such measures of
liberty as they desired for themselves.
The general features Of the State govern
ments have, Of course, a striking similarity,
but the diversity of their policy is wonderful
The policy of each is adapted to the interests,
the tastes, the habits of the people. The man
ufaoturing States, the commercial States, the
agricultural States, have their respective sys>
TENS and adapt their laws to their material in
terests Laws which are popular in New Eng
land could not be passed, and, if passed., could
not be enforced in the West Many of the
built up our thriving towns and cultivated our
fertile prairies would shock the feelings of your
people Has not this system Of government
proved beneficial to Us ali? Has it not proven
beneficial to you in Maine? Have you not en-
joyed liberty and prosperity at home. protec-
ton from all Jour enemies abroad? Have you
not directed your local affairs in your own way :?
Have not your relations with your sister States
been agreeable and useful? Have you not been
represented with dignity and power and spen-
dor in the great family Of nations?
And yet the Republican party desire to
change this government and substitute one Of
their own creation. They hate this system
They hate this diversity They hate the doc
trine Of States rights. They hate the Consti
tuition as the fathers made it, They have de-
liberately conspired for It's overthrow. They
prefer consolidated government They pre-
fer strong government. They prefer to break
down the barriers which the States, with their
reserved rights, can interpose to create gov
ernment so sensitive that it will feel the least
impulse of popular will, and SO strong that it
will execute that will They believe this will
be better, freer government. They believe
that rather than have the limitations imposed
by the Constitution they ought to have the
limitations imposed only by the unbridled will
of an irresponsible majority, Twice since the
close Of the war they have used all the power
which the possession of the governments both
State and Federal, has given them to amend
the Constitution, and in each case the amend
ment has been in derogation of the substantial,
Important recognized rights of the States.
r., no of +ha op,op6naptc tha
Of the States over slavery within its limits was
abolished. By the second, citizenship in the
States is to depend upon the WILL not Of the
States, but Of Congress; and the exclusion OF
negroes from the rule of suffrage is punished
by the loss Of representation. Not satisfied
with the true spirit of revolutionary leaders
they have turned upon the government itself.
The Constitution has vested in the President
the powers of department, and made him
responsible for the management of the army
and for the execution Of the laws. The Re
publican party has stripped him Of his patron
age, taken away from him the selection of his
Cabinet and the appointment Of officers. 1t
was chiefly owing to the indomitable firmness
of one OF your own Senators that it did not de-
pose him from office and put its own leader in
his place.
At this point Gen. Roberts proposed three
cheers for the Hon. Wm Pitt Fessenden, the
Senator alluded to, and these were given with
the greatest enthusiasm, the audience rising.
The State governments were In full vigor and
operation before and during and after the war.
During the war the State government Of Vir-
glnla was called upon to give its assent to the
creation of West Virginia, and members OF
Congress were admitted from Louisiana so soon
as Federal troops obtained foothold in that
State. After the war the States of the South
were invited to ratify, and did ratify, the 14th
constitutional amendment, and it derives its
validity from their assent The Republican
party, by the reconstruction acts, abolished
these governments, and created in their stead
military governments, which no man will pre-.
tend was within the constitutional power ot
Congress. By the aid of the army they have
built up other governments, not according tc
the will of the people, but according to the viii
OF Congress, and they have founded them upon
the exclusion of the intelligence and wealth
and virtue OF the white race from the right oil
suffrage, and upon the admission of every ne
gro to that right, and they have made these
negroes buy their exemption from the interfer.
ence OF the army and their recognition as
States by the ratification of the fourteenth con
stitutiona amendment, and pledge that they
will never change the rule Of suffrage Do not
have made? Are they not surely and rapidly
even though silently, sapping the foundations
Of the Government, and changing its form and
nature? Are they not accumulating power II
the Federal Government and taking it away
from the States? Do they not declare openly
and make it the basis of their creed, that Con
gress has power over the right of suffrage ir
ten States which it has not over the same. sub
iect In the other States? Why is it they builC