The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-03-21
EIGHTH OF JANUARY BANQUET AT WASHINGTON
Speech of Hon. Henry Stanborry Ills
First Appearance at . DemoctatiC
Meeting.

! ~
the 9Th of January Banquet in Washing
ton by Hon. HENRY STANBERY, Attor-
ney General of the United States:
The next regular toast was "Tho Constitution
IA compact Of perpetual Union. When disturb
cd IL needs reconstruction, but only the remoy-
al of an obstruction
Attorney General Stanbery said: Mr..
Chairman and Gentlemen-I feel o.night
something of the novelty and excitement
of new situation. For the first time in
my life find myself at Democratic eel.
ebration. find myself here not merely
as one of the conviyes, but selected by
the committee to respond TO one of the
regular toasts. am reminded of an old
adage-that politics, like poverty, some.
times brings us acquainted with strange
bedfellows. trust, Mr. Chairman, !
may escape the charge of egotism if
take few minutes to explain how il hap.
pcned that | have never been at a Demo.
cratic meeting in times past, and how il
happens that am here tonight. feel
that do not speak for myself but for
thousands of others whose past aud pres.
ent political associations have been and
are the same as mine. For more than
thirty years | belonged to the Wing par.
ty, aud fought in its ranks so long that |
was classed as one of the "Old Guard. +"
| was with il in its successes, which were
few, aud was constant to il in its rcvers-
es, which were many. | never deserted
it while its organization existed, and only
ceased to be Wing when the party it,
self ceased to exist. My last vote was
given to that party in the Presidential
contest Of 1860 Then came the REBEL.
ion, and with it new issue which over
shadowed all former party issues. | lost
sight at once Of all former political asso.
Citations and joined that great Union par.
ty which saved the Republic. When
this great fact was accomplished, when
the work Of tho soldie, was done and the
work of the statesman was 10 be resumed
new question arose only less in magni-
tude TO that Of the preservation of the
nation. aud that was in what spirit and
according to what policy the victorious
North should deal with these Southern
States aud that Southern people who
have been engaged in insurrrcclion -
They gave up the contest and all the is
sues OF the contest; they repealed their
ordinances of secession they abolished
the institution Of slavery they repudia-
ted the debt which they incurred in wag-
ing war, and again asked TO come under
the protection of the old flag TO he re.
stored once more TO the rights and privil-
eges of American citizens. II did seem
at first that the policy of forgiveness and
restoration would prevail. II was inaug-
Grated under the leadership of Mr.. Lin
coin, and he proposed in good faith to
. carry out the pledges and hopes held out
to the South during the struggle. that
the object of the war was not 10 destroy
but to preserve that the Southern States
had never lest their places in the Union.
but were only temporarily out of their
proper relations. aud that as soon as the
war was over these constitutional relations
should be resumed. But even before the
death Of Mr.. Lincoln there was develop.
b ed in the Republican party formidable
opposition to that policy and a new party
e was soon formed, which held that we wag-
cd war for conquest and not for restora.
tion that we had not merely put down
an insurrection, but that We had conquer
ed provinces, not States. and n foreign
people, not American citizens; that these
States, instead Of being restored, were to
. be reconstructed; that as a conquered ter
ritory Congress was to legislatc in all their
t domestic concerns, and if ever they were
again to become States of the Union
@ they were to come in by new title, pre-
cisey as in some future day We may
E choose to make State of the newly ac-
quired territory of Alaska.
f Gentlemen, the Constitution is the text
OF the sentiment to which have been
called upon to respond. Let US stop one
moment to look into that sacred instru.
mcnt, in order to solve the question when
it arises here. The case which has oc.
CURED is not, in the language of law
e yer, cdsus onsissus the constitution is
: not silent. 1t has anticipated what has
happened. 1t provides for insurrection,
whether small or great, whether in one
! State or many. 1t provides for insurrec-
ton against the laws of State, and fol
: insurrection against the laws of the Uni
ted States. 1t gives power in both cases;
the power in one case to put down insur-
: recnon against the State by enforcing
a obedience to the laws of the State, and
the power in the other case to put down
insurrection against the laws of the Uni
n ted States by enforced obedience to those
: laws. So, too, the Constitution gives the
: protection against the foreign enemies
and the power to declare war, and as in
g cidental to that, the power to make con-
quests. Where is this instrument, pro-
vidiug for the very remedy to be applied
where do you find the power to put
d down insurrection in State and then to
= destroy the State and hold it and its peo-
y pie conquered and subjugated? And yet,
gentlemen, this is precisely what has been
a done, not By change of our Federal
= Constitution, but by Congress, who must
| find for every act warrant and authority
in the provisions of that Constitution
!, The Reconstruction acts passed by Con-
y gress have converted ten of those States
. into lower condition than mere terri
/ tories, have destroyed every vestige of
r State government, and have stripped mil
lions of their people of every character
!. istic that belongs to an American citizen.
. Under this extraordinry legislation the
y vast territory covered by these ten States
e and the millions o. unhappy people which
D reside there have no more protection un-
|, der our Federal Constitution than if they
! occupied so much territory In the interior