The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-08-26
Of ny motives sad the sincerity of mY con.


acter of our oppoaents. I would not, if J
could, pluck one leaf from the lsurels OF
Gen. Grant. Whatever may be his ability
as soldier he has stood the test Of sue.
cess, and, so far as / have known, he has
borne himself with moderation and mag
nsnimity in bis high office. have known
Mr.. Coltax well for many years. have
seen him in possession of great power lie
is an amable and estimable gentleman, ana
would perform with dignity the duties OF the
high office to which he aspires. have had
pleasant associations with the members o'
congress from your state, and ! remember
with satisfaction that we passed through
many years of service in that body, iH'eF'
changing the courtesies which soften me as
perties Of political excitement, Indeed
gentlemen, my observation Of such has LED
me to expect the most erroneous OPINION
coupled with the purest motives ana Tue
most destructive policy associated WIN '2e
lohiest aspiration for the pubiic goon' J 10
not, therefore, deal, here or a! any other '!IHe'
with the personal character with the. mo.
tlves or with the intelligence Of men !
deal with their opinions, aud their actions,
and their party as an organization.
/ have described to you IN the bt'e''''
possible terms,
THg PHILOSOPHY 0T OUR SYSTEM "F GOV.
ERSNEET.
union. aud not a unity. 1t IS
union Of states, not Of municipal corpora
tons: of states sovereign, except IN So lar Us
thev have contracted TO abate the exercise
Of some power, and have contracted TO
abate the exercise Of others independent
except in go far as they have bound them
selves by the terms Of the constltuuon'-
This system Of government has solved the
great problem. Ii has recOnciIed vaslhess
Of territory and strength Of government win
liberty. 1t has made it possible that we
sbonld he one people, and this is the crown
| mo glory of our matchless constitution
| Great applause A free people IL mas
insured strength to the federal headi ana
health and yigor 10 the constituent parts
The states have grown in numbers, IN popu'
Iation in mower. They have developed ev-
arv local interest, they have secured to their
| o;ii,aus such institutions and such measure
If liberty as they desired for themselves
The general features Of the state govern
ments have. Of course, slight similarity
but the diversity of their policy IL wonder
full. The policy Of each is adapted to the
interests, the tastes, the habits Of It's people.
| The manufacturing states, the commercial
states, the agricultural states, haze their re.
snectfye systems, and adapt the laws to Their
| matpriaI interests. Laws which are poplar
in New England could not be passed, and
| if PASSED could not be enforced, in the West
| MANY of the customs transpauted be the
people who have built up our thriving towns
and cultivated our fertile prairies would
shock the feelings Of your people. Has not
this system of government proven beneficial
to us all? Has it not proven beneficial Il
YOU and me? Have YOU not enjoyed lib
erty and prosperity at home, and protection
from all your enemies abroad Have you
not directed your local affairs in your owl
way? Have not your relations with you
sister states been agreeable and useful
Have YOU not been represented with dignlt,
and power and splendor in the great iamtIy
Of nations?
WHAT THE RADICALS WANT.
Yet, my felIow.citilens the republican
party desire to change this government an'
substitute one Of their own creation. The
hate this system, they hate this diversity
They hate the doctrine of state rights. The
! hate the constitution as the fathers made j
| They prefer "a consolidated government.
| They prefer a stronger government. The
prefer to break down the barriers which tn
states, with their reserved rights, can int
pose; to create government so sensitiv
that il will feel the least impulse of popnla
will. and so strong that it will execute thf
will. They believe this will be bette
feer government. They believe that ratht
= Than have the Limitations imposed by IN
constitution they ought to have Limitation
y imposed only by the unbridled will Of an
= responsible majority.
i" WHAT fliEY HAVE DONE.
n Twice, since the close OF the war, the
= have used all the power which the posse
=. sion Of the governments, both state and ie
eral has given them, to amend the const
tptiou, and in each case the amendment Ia
q, been in derOgation Of the substantial, II
h portant, recognized rights OF the state
=, By the hrst Of these amendments the pow,
@ of the states over slavery within It's Ilmi
,, was abolished By the second, ctlhensh
= in the state il to depend upon the will, II
- of the state, but OF congress, and the excl
~ tion from suffrage Of the negro is punlsht
y by the loss Of representations Not Satisht
/ with this attack upon the states themselyt
with the true spirit OF revolutionary leade
they have turned upon the federal Cover
ment itself The constitution has vested
III the President the powers Of depa
IL ment, and made him responsible tor t
4 management OF the army and tor the exec
NJ SION Of the laws. The republican party ha
OF stripped him OF his constitutional powe
81 deprived him of his patronage, taken aw
-- from him the selection Of his cabinet a
ey the appointment Of officers. 1t was chic
la' owing to the iudomitable frmness Of one
Ia your own senators that ii did not depC
IT. him from office and put its own leader
W. his place.
o. At this point Gen. Roberts propo,
he three cheers for Hon. VIM. Pitt Fessend
wv the senator alluded to, and they were gi'
M with the greatest enthusiasm, the audier
u :, rising,
II Mr. Pendleton resumed
TT1 The state governments were in full Vi.
ro, and operation before and during and al
- the war. During the war the state COVE
ment Of Virginia was called upon to g
, its assent to the creation of West Virgin
ne aud members Of congress were admit
We from Louisiana so soon as federal troops
eo tanned foothold in that state, After the Y
,gn the states of the south were invited to raj
ms and did ratfy, the 18th constitute
ing amendment, and it derives its validity #
ere their assent. The republican party, hy
iIy reconstruction acts, abolished these COVE
leT ments and established in their stead mi
al ~ governments, which no man will pref
lon was within the constitutional powers of {
na' gress by the aid of the army they h
wv hnilt un other gOvernments. not nCCordin