Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-02-07
he Speech. of Hon. Hugh
.Ueyyeru


Yesterday afternoon, Hon. HUGH j.
JEwETr closed the discussion on his resolu-
tions in relation to the usurpative acts of
Congress. His speech was mastery
effort-an effort that would do honor to
any man in any deliberative body-and
occupied two hours and one quarter in its
delivery, and enchained the attention of the
Members of the House, Senators, and a
large number of persons who were In at
tendance from the beginning to the close
of the speech. He commenced by contrast
ing the position and action of
the Democratic and Republican parties
before the war, and effectively
vindioated the Democratic party against
the aspersions that the speakers of the Re-
publican party in their rambling discus
sion of the resolutions had attempted to fas-
ten upon it. The present attitude or the
Republican party grew distorted and re-
pulsive as he proved that until March, 1867,
in every possible form President LINCOLN.
Secretary SEWARD, the Republican majori-
ty in Congress and Republican State Con-
ventions had recognized the Southern States
a. existing States competent to exercise the
highest right of Statehood, and now legis-
lating to place them under the heel of a
military General, clothed with the most alb
solute dictatorial power. Never did
experienced surgeon more completely dis
sect human form than he dissected the
Constitutional Amendment known as the
l4th Article, from which Ohio's assent has
been rightfully withdrawn by the Ohio
Legislature. AS he laid it bare and separ-
ated it joint by joint, its iniquity and mon
strosity became apparent even to the most
obtuse perception, insomuch as it sought
to consolidate the rights and po,oers of the
States and of the citizens of the States, re.
served to them by the Constitution of the
United States, in Congress. The Republic
can members who sought to consummate
this objectionable wrong against The State
and the citizens of Ohio must have felt
abashed as he proceeded with the dis
section. Nor was his examination of the
GRANT Dictator bill and the bill that seeks
the abrogation of the powers of the Su-
preme Court of the United States
any the less skillful and thorough,
SioWiuS, tucm as IL ulu, TO De
entitled to the scorn and opposi-
tion of every sincere lover of his country.
Several times during the delivery OF his
speech the admiration OF his Democratic
colleagues broke out in strong applause,
and when he concluded, he was greeted
with their warm and continued applause
and congratulations.
Throughout the discussion of these RcsO-
lutions in the House, the contrast
between the Democratic and Republic
can speakers has been most marked,
resulting in every instance, to the advan-
tage of the Democrats. Thrice is he armed
who hath his quarrel just, Is accepted as a
tfuism, and it was because of this circum-
stance. in measure, that the Democratic
speakers so eclipsed and confounded their
! Republican adversaries. Standing upon
the Constitution, pleading the cause of
Union, and in grand eloquence and stern
! logic demonstrating the superiority of the
White race. they stood on high ground,
holding at disadvantage thosewho assault
ed the Constitution, denied the integrity OF
the Union and plead tor the establishment
of a Dictatorship until the White race could
be so far degraded as to recognize the po-
litical equality of the Negro race.