Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-02-04
when the Devil was sick.
Tho Devil . Saint would be,
hsa hen ,issi3 The pevii got, got, we'll well . > % %s.s'

1t was unkind, we admit in Speaker
FoLLETT to show up the perfidy of the Re-
publican party as represented in Congress.
In 1851, when the whole country was suf-I
fering FROM panic occasioned by the Bull
Run disaster, the Republicans in Congress
grew eontrite and they resolved that "Con-
gress, banishing all feeling of mere passion.
and resentment, will recollect only its duty
to the whole country; that this aoar is not
toaged on their part in any spirit of oppression,
or for any purpose of conquest or suHugation.
or purpose Of ocerthrosoing OF. fsterfering aoith
the rights or established institutions of those
States, butto defend and maintain the suprem-
acy of the Constitution, and to preserue the
Union. aoith all the dignity, equality and rights
Of the several States uninepaired; and that as
soon as these objects are accomplished the aoar
ought to cease" Doc f+'fs2s ,yss@s iississ
They then declared that they did not
propose to revolutionize the Government; !;
but that they were animated by the right
eous purpe SO of defending and maintaining
" the supremacy of the Constitution, and
to preseroe the Umon, stth all the dignity,
equality and rights Of the several States ,xntns-
paired; and that as soon as these objects ars
accomplished the War ought to cease"
That was a solemn, deliberate resolve of
the Congress- Of the United States, and to
it the people of the United States said
amen.s Inafl particulars it was contract
entered into'with the people, and the peo-
pie have right to demand that that con-
tract shall be fulfilled to the uttermost,
especially as its non-fulfillment up to this
time has seriously affected the prosperity
Of the country. What object was, con-
templated by the adoption OF, the resolu-
ton? Was it not for the purpose Of
satisfying the public mind, that the war
would not be used as a pretext to revolu-
tionize our form of government? EVIDENT
ly, in the minds of Congressman there was
a belief that throughout the country an
apprehension prevailed that our form of
Governments would be revolutionized. It
was to allay this apprehension that the
resolution was adopted. That resolution
enabled the Government to prosecute the
war successfully to a close. 1t enabled it
to obtain volunteers and to borrow money.
The avowed objects of the war were accom-
plished on the surrender of the confederate
armies by LEE and JOHNSTON. So far as it
could be done by arms, 1.-THE supremacy of
the Constitution" was defended and main
tanned, anu .'the Union with all the dignity,
equality and rights of the several States"
was preserved "unimpaired." That is the
precise condition in which affairs were left
at the termination of the war. This,
however,was not satisfactory to the Repub-
lican politicians. They claim, as does the
Journal, virtually, that instead of having
defended and maintained ''thesupremacy OF
the Constitution" and preserved "the
Union, with all the dignity, equality and
rights of the several States impaired
we have passed through "Revolu-
tion,o and that we should not, therefore,
consider Congressional resolves as hav-
ing any binding effect upon us, but that
we should adopt the opinion that "all land
marks are swept away"-that the Consti-
tuition is no longer to be respected, and that
the preservation of the Union, with all
the dignity, equality and rights of the sew
eral- States unimpaired," is of no conse-
quence apart from giving the Me-
grocs in the South political Su-
premacy over the Whites. Had such
a Revolution been proposed in the outset,
the Federal Government could neither
have obtained men nor money to prosecute
the War. Alone could these essentials to
successful War be procured upon the
faith of Congress that the War
would be prosecuted in the spirit and for the
purpose set forth in the CRIrrENDEN Reso-
luton. Although the Republican faith
breakers may squirm and experience un-.
pleasant feelings, it is due betrayed peo-'
pie that they be continually reminded
Of the covenant they made when in con-
trite frame of mind. Thanks are due
Speaker FoLLETT for the masterly manner
In which he did this on Friday last.