Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-07-08

" nil, relativs 10 the Sense of the
PsonIs of Ohio on the Subject Of Con-
zr,er;ouai Reconstruction Of The Southern
1Satss. Impeachment, de-, IN the Ohio
Senate, May Is, 1868.
Nh PREs1DENr r:-When these reso-
lutions offered by the Senator from
Highland. we're under consideration
some days ago, L determined to SIT
Silently in my seat, and not engage IN
their discussion, but on their passage
ouietly cast my vote against them.
Rnt .ceiug the speeches of the Senators
from WyAndot and Defiance IN the
public press of this city, indorsed by
the Democratic Senators on this foor,
has induced me TO alter my determi-
nation, and ask the indulgence OF this
body while 1 for a short time discuss
some of the issues presented by the
resolutions and speeches OF the Sena-
tors to whom have referred.
These resolutions ought not to be
adopted. They assert, in substance,
that whereas, the people of Ohio have
rejected negro suffrage. by over MY
thousand majority, and with other
Northern States do not desire to force
upon others a measure they refuse
themselves, therefore this State will
not consent to the recognition OF the
State governments now in process OF
construction in the States lately IN re-
bellion, but will maintain white man
government in those ten Southern
States, and unless white mans gov
ernment is there re-estabhshed, those
States shall have no. part in choosing
electors of President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, and Senators
and Representatives 10 Congress; that
the people of this State should hold
invalid and void any amendment to
the Constitution of the United States
sdopted by Counting the negro vote OF
any State where such vote Is cast BY
virtue OF any act of Congress ). that our
people will not submit to have the
voice of the electors Of Ohio overruled
by electors from Southern States, if the
latter are chosen under the Congress
sional plan: and that impeachment,
and the bill introduced into Congress
regulating the jurisdiction Of the Su-
preme Court, are revolutionary
schemes, intended to destroy and over
throw every Testige of Constitutional
government.
These resolutions have been adYoca-
ted by the Senators from Wyandot and
Defiance, who have given certain rea-
sons in favor Of their adoption. Permit
me to say, that though cannot agree
with these Senators in their line OF
argument and conclusions, l have been
interested in their manner of discussing
the propositions now before the Senate.
The introduction of these seresolutionsr
no doubt, was intended by their author
to bring before the Senate discussion
of the great political questions OF the
day. But whether that was intended
or not, the Democratic Senators who
have addressed the Senate upon them
have given the discussion an entirely
political direction and have made most
1 furious and terrific attacks upon the
Republican party, and have endeayor-
ed to wing before the public and into
the approaching campaign, the old
issues that were so prominent urlng
the progress of the rebellion, to wit :
The business Of the rebellion and the
divinity of slavery. / shall attempt to
i reply to some of their attacks, and
shall confidently hope to show thai
the party remains uninjured, unim-
paired and entitled to the support oi
every lover of his country and his race,
even after receiving the blows given
by the able Senators to whom have
referred. For a number of years past
the enemies Of our Government have
sought its overthrow, but 1t has with
l'stood all assaults made upon it. The
foundation upon which our republic
4 rests Is lrm Notwithstanding the thun-
der-bolts hurled at it by the devilish
eDginerY manned by traitors.
So the party which has been in powel
the last eight years has been attack
ed, assaulted and charged upon, ano
yet it shows no signs of yielding-eyeI
the outworks have not been taken
The interests of our Government and
of the Republican party are, in m!
Judgment, identical.
Let US examine some Of the remark
upon these resolutions, made by th'
chief Of the Wyandots. Listen TO thu
warrior as he marshals his tribe ant
comes down with rattling of arm
and mighty war-whoop upon the Re
publican party. He says:
81 charge it upon them (the Repub
licans) that their whole party from 1t
organization to the present time, ha
been a fraud upon the people. 1t
i based upon revolution and fraud. II
main idea is revolution, and if not 500
! checked in its mad career, it will haV
accomplished, its purposes, revolution
lied the Government, destroyed tn
liberties Of the people. and placed, no
: the South alone, but the whole country
: under an unbearable despotism."
Mr.. President, l shall be very glad I
:. learn what are the Senator's ideas c
: the liberties Of the people-aud of tn
: unbearable despotism which seems I
! menace the future, and If l mistak
E not, slight review of his speech vii
: fully answer the inquiry. Thes
: charges, which he makes, are Of yer
: serious character, and awaken th
: : interest of our people. They would b
more serious if they had any POUNDS
ton of truth; but unfortunately fc
the Senator and his compeers who il
dorse him, and for their cause, th
charges are baseless like the fabric {
:. q vision.
I. Let us examine the history of tn
e Republican party, which in the eyes
: Democratic Senators, is such tearfI
Is thing-a sort OF living monster, whic
craunches and then gulps down into il
dreadful NAV governments and col
stitutions, and the liberties Of million
!. of people. This is not an aged part
y Let US see how well the Senator'S cha
ges are sustained. ! have observe
that the people, the voters, do nj
n have such horror Of this party as q
J, Democratic leaders. The Republica
party, which has been so popular wit
,r the people, and been the salvation
!, our government, was organized abor
i IA years ago, its object being to preveI
the further encroachments OF slayel
' upon free territory. This was its cei
trail idea. 1t did not design to abolis
I'd slavery, nor to divide OF disrupt Il
~ Union. And had the Democratic part
been in principle what it is in nam
the dre2dful scenes of thehl last seve
Il wears would not have been witnesses
and slavery would yet be one of the i
stitutions Of the country. This is an
= always has been a democratic COVER
S. ment, a government OF the people, an
OK therefore changes and reforms shoul
: be inaugurated and carried on throug
D. the ballot box.