The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-10-26

were brought against me-lcheers1-andn now
these same men come before the public and
try to alarm the people with the idea that If
we succeed in this election the peace OF our
land would be imperilleG. Is there anything
IN the history Of the Democratic party during
its long continuance in power; was there any
thing in its conduct during the war, when we
filed our armies with members of that party;
when ne stood BY the administrations politi-
caly opposed to US; is there anything IN our
actions and teachings since the war that makes
us open to this charge OF beng men who do
try and the welfare of its people? Cries Of
mo, no." and cheers.] But it is said that il
we get into power we shall with violence de-
stroy all that they claim to have done right
fully, legally and &C 1stitutionaIly. Now, MS :!
said before, we seek lot only constitutional
ends, but We mean, whatever we 90, to follow
constitutional modes of action. [Cheers. Who
is it that makes the charge? AGeneral IN one
OF our Southern States, acting under the ad-
visement and in accord with the sentiments OF
the Republican party, and subordinate OF its
candidate for the Presidency, has recently pat
forth an order in which he directs that at the
coming election the soldiers OF tho South, in
the preservation of peace, need not be gov
erned by tho technicahtles OIL the law. Law
has no tecnnicalities. The proceedings of q
court are sometimes technic u, but for the first
time in our land we hear tho declaration that
the language or requirements OF the laws may
treated as technlcallties to be set aside
not by your courts, but by milit ry
power. 1t was never before heard in this
land, that any court had the right or power to
set aside the language or directions Of the
cal directions. The day was when the nero
assumption of military officer to sit in judg-
ment upon the laws would have aroused this
whole people. but here the proposition goes
further than that They arc not only to decide
what laas are, but they are to take upon them
selves to disregard the provisions OF those
laws, if they SEQ fit to claim that they are
technical. What are these laws which are e
thus to be trampled upon? You have heard it
charged against me and against General Blair
that if we could obtain power We would tram
pie upon the Reconstruction laws; and yet ut
the very moment they make these charges one
Of their own partisans, acting under their own
influence, is trampling these very laws under
foot by direction that his subordinates shall
not feel themselves bound in their action, if
they see fit, to regard any Of the provisions OF
these laws as technical [Cheers.] Let us
look little further at this charge. I repel
with indignation tho suggestion that any mem-
Der OF the Democratic party, or that party as
an organization, or that myself as an individ-
ual OF that party, will ever do violence to law ur
order. [Cheers.I Let us inquire into the
reasonableness Of this charge. Suppose the
people Of the United States see fit to elect
Democratic President -Iyoices, ''they will,
cheers]-and o Democratic Vice-President,
what then? Is your Government changed2
Do we hold unqualified power? Could we make
WARP Could we control the legislation OF the
country What will our powers be under the
laws as they now stand2 You have seen o
Chief Executive ofthese United States shackled
by legislation; you have seen him arraigned as
1~oc1 ~. how hna IN
majority OF that tribunal pronounce him
a guilty man, and he would have been
deposed from power had Ethey not lacked
one vote to make two-thirds OF the Senate to
sanction that action. Those statute laws
which to-day shackle and hinder the action oil
Andrew johnson would equally shackle De-
mocratic Executive if we succeed in this elec-
ton. Our Republican friends would control
the Senate; they will control the House Of Re-
prasentatives; they will control the army, for
their candidate is the General who commands
that army. How absurd, then, is this cry hat
there is danger from al Executive thus shack
led and powcrcss, even II lie desired to dc
wrong. [Cheers.] 1t may be asked, then,
what do wo gain If we change The Executive
nnd place one of different party in the Execu.
tive chair when his powers will be so limited
Just this, my friends: While he can affirmative
" do but littlo he can do much to check The
unwise action Of the party, now in power. He
can do much to protect tho labor o.
this country from unwise legislation. HI
can do much 10 check, in the future
the dangerous policy which threatens the dear
est and most vital interests of this coun
try. [Cheers. But more than that, it is ne
cessary for the welfare of the American people
| that there shall be given popular verdict
which will say that the policy OF the men II
mower is not such as meets their approval
What we hope and aim to d. in this contest is
to stay the progress of confusion, usurpatlon
and unwise legislation. The men in power
have neither established success sful system
reconstruction, nor done anything to lighter
| the burden which oppressed the people OF thu
North. [Cheers.] My strength, my time, this
vast audience, prevents my attempting TO ad
dress you at length. or in any detail upon this
great subject. We ask you now that by YOU
votes YOU shall put some check upon the un
qualified power exercised by the Congressiona
party. IF we do we'll in the place you put US
and our conduct shall be such that we gali
your confidence, then we shall ask you al
another time and ut future election to go OF
with the work of reform and reinstate in full
power that great and glorious Demo
cratic party, which is identified Will
all that is glorious in the history O
our country. have but one word more to say
and then I will give place to my friend Air.
Herman. T implore every man within tht
sound of my voice, whatever his political
yiows NAV be, before he casts his ballot at this
election, 70 seriously ask himself whether 1t Ii
not better for this whole country that polltlca
power shall, in somo d gree, be divided be-
tween political organizations. L ask those
who in their heart seek the welfare OF our lane
and the permanency OF our institutions, II 1t !!
well and safe for another four years to give TN
restrained, unchanged and unqualified power to
those who have failed during the past tou
yoars to bring our affairs into q satisfactor,
condition T? We do not ask you to give us un
restricted power. You could not il you would
All Won can do ut this election is to place some
one m the executive chair who can check th'
excesses OF the Congressional party, and to ad
minister rebuke to those who, giving way t.
passion and acting upon the policy OF hate ant
discord, have prolonged the dlthculles o
ou: country, have continued Its burdens
and have made it's people uncertain a
to Its future. trust that when this election
shall have terminated it shall be the judgmen
OF The people OF the United States hat tn
intention Of the trainers Of tho constitution
shall be carried out +; that power shall in suci
decree be divided between the great political
ORGANIZATIONS so that they can hold each Other
in Check. and that it shall neither be in tn
power of the Republican or OF the Democrat
party to plunge our country into the evils y
civil war, even il they could lind 1t IN thel
hearts to do thing SO unwlse, so Wickea, ant
SO unpatriotic. [Cheers. l thank you, m.
friends, tor this great exhibition OF your KIN,
partially to myself. From my heart L thanl
vou at tIis lime. when 1 have been the objec
of so much obloquy. for lie demonstration
Kindness and consideration 1t strengthen
nv arm and makes me feel confidence tha
hc who with sincerity and humble zeal tries t