Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-02-22
QDbio Statesularl.
sP EE @ II
-oF-
HON. HENRY !. DICKRE,
Delivered Before the Pendlefon
Club of COlumbus. Thursday
Evening. Feb. Gosh, 1865.


Club of Columbus. Thursday
Evening, Feb. 20th, 1865.
lfr. President, and Gentlemen of the Pendle-
ton Club:
L regret to have appeared before you
to. night without having had the oppor-
tunity of devoting any time to the con-
sideration of the political questions
which are attracting the attention of the
people. and which you meet here to hear
discussed. is ~ Eie Y
They are Of the utmost Importance,
as affecting the nature of our govern
ment, the welfare of the present and fu-
ture generations, and upon them the two
great parties of the country are widely
divided, contending earnestly, strongly
and deeply.
That party under whose administra-
| tions the country had prospered for
more than seventy years, and who now
is, and has been battling for govern
ment of law as against government of
force, and under whose banner we are
proud to be enrolled, bears for its motto
The Constitution-Esto Perpetual!
But in an evil day, by slow APP
proaches, by gradual encroachments,
there came party with tair promises,
with liberty, free soil and rec speech
emblazoned on its banners, whilst hid
den beneath its smiling face, and lurk-
ing in the secret recesses of its heart.
as its shameful record proves, was fraud
and deadly fostering treason.
1t no longer conceals its true charac-
ter. but boldly and de6antly shouts. TIE
obliteration Of States, and the centralized
tion of posoer, is our watchword and l
but repeat to you the warnings of the
fathers of the Republic, and of the Dem
ocratic party from that day to this, when
say that the glorious recollections of
our prosperity and happiness, the proud
anticipations of the friends of constitu-
tional liberty will be all destroyed, un-
less its unholy crusade against our Gov
ernment is soon arrested.
Ignoring the great and fundamental
idea that the power of the General Gov
ernment is limited and regulated by our
written Constitution, Congress. who by
their oaths are bound torespect and sup
port all its provisions as sacred and in
violable, vauntingly declare and unhes-
iatingly admit many of their leading
measures outside of, and in direct con-
hict with it, and within few days an
other startling feature has developed it,
self, adding to the long list of susurpa-
tions, launching us still further into dark
uncertainty, and making more certain
the destruction of our Government and
the erection upon its ruins of some un-
defined despotism.
"Avoid," said Washington, "in the ex-
ercise of the powers of one department,
to encroach upon another. The spirit
of encroachment tends to consolidate the
powers Of all the departments in one,
and thus to create-whatever the form
of Government real despotism." =
"But let there be no change by
usurpation, for though this, in one in
stance, may be the instrument of good,
it is the customary weapon by which
free Governments are destroyed"
Jefferson said: "Ths support of the
State Governments in all their rights as
the most competent administrations for
our domestic concerns, and the surest
bulwarks against anti-republican tend
encies; the supremacy of the
civil over the military authority; econ
omy in public expenses, that labor may
be lightly burdened.; encouragement of
agriculture, and of commerce as its hand
maid; the diffusion of information, and
arraignment of all abuses at the bar OF
public reason freedom of religion, free
dom of the press and freedom of the per-
son under the protection of the habeas
corpus. and trial by jurirs impartially
selected = form the bright constel-
lation which has gone before us and
guided our steps through an age of rev.
olution and reformation"
| In. this connection I cannot refrain
from reading the fourth resolution of the
platform of principles laid down for Mr.
Lincoln at Chicago, and which he &C.
cepted without qualification or amend.
ment, and upon which he was elected tc
1.-The Presidency, though nearly million
of votes in the minority. 1t is as fol
lows: "That the maintenance inviolatt
of the rights of the States; and espe
] cially the right Of each State to order dnc
control ITS oson domestic Installations &C
cordsng to its oacn judgment, exclusively
is essential to that balance of power OF
/ which the perfection and endurance o
our political faith depends. and we de
nounce the lawless invasion by arme,
force, of any State or Territory, no mat
tier under what pretext, as among tn
gravest of crimes"
Were I to arraign this party to-nigh
before the bar of public reason. woul
say that, never before in the history Q
an enlightened people, has there bee
witnessed such wanton violations Q
fundamental principles, such reckles
|. disregard of most solemn pledges an
such degrading legislation, as has mark
ed its progress since it came into power
II / would charge it with the seizure an
imprisonment of hundreds of privat
citizens without warrant or trial, i
States where the courts were open an
the laws unobstructed, in open defanc
of the plainest provisions of the Consti
tuition; with the suppression of hundred
of newspapers, and the incarceration {
their editors, by illegal and unheard c
military orders and the tinkling {
Stewards little bell; with declaring ma
tial law in places where no war existed
with suspending the writ of habeas col
pas in places and States where the court
were open and unobstructed and war di
. not exist. would charge them wit
. depriving States of their places in til