Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-27


uyself. gentlemen. bow myself in rev.
erence before the form Of government
which has bound these States together,
and which has reconciled their different
and discordant interests into the harmo-
ny Of one people and one government.
| The men OF 1887 were self denying men.
| They feared consolidation power. They
nut behind them the allurements of im'
perisl pomp. They denied themselves
the Vaccinations Of q strong government.
They contented themselves with the sim.
plicity yofconfederation. They committed
to the Federal Government inter State
and inter. national affairs All the rest
they reserved to the States themselves.
Within this narrow sphere they made the
Federal Government supreme. All
beyond remained TO the unimpaired
sovereignty of the several States. Ifyou
would seek to know our Federal system,
to determine what are the powers OF the
Federal Government, 20 TO the plain pro.
visions Of the Constitution. II you would
desire 10 know what are the powers Of
the Stasss, go TO that vast reserve OF
power which by the laws of enlightened
civilization is lodged in every sovereign
community. Massachusetts understood
this system of government we'll in the
beginning. She knew that the rights Of
her people were safest 10 her hands that
| their lives, liberty and property were
best preserved under her guardianship
and therefore, first of all the States, at
| the very instant of her adoption Of the
Federal Constitution, she proposed that
amendment which decreed that all the
power not given by the Constitution to
the United States, nor provided to the
States, remained to the States and the
people respectively. Unfortunately, in
these latter days. Massachusetts has wan
dered from the faith, but she will return
| to it with renewed zeal when power shall
have passed into another section, and
she feels the doom of isolation. Wise
men of 1871, purified in the trials of the
Revolution, experienced in the lessons of
the confederation, virtuous themselves
and upheld in the practice Of virtue BY
the public sentiment of an extraordinary
people--they laid SO strong the foclda-
lions of the government, which can
alone accomplish this result, that neither
force, nor time, nor the progress Of
the ages can possibly shake them. They
will endure until the degeneracy of our
race shall call from indignant heaven
denial Of such blessings as punishment
for our manifold sins. Gentlemen, the
philosophy of our government will die.
ltate to me the subject upon which shall
bpeak to you. do not understand your
\ ,Aocal politics; / do not propose to take
hart in them. shall confne myself to
nlbose matters which concern US all alike.
IN bhall speak with no partisan bitterness.
N dpt accustomed myself to yield any.
relHg to harsh words, / seek not to apply
= itlm to others. Confident in the purity
sits py motives and the sincerity Of my
hat Hictions, / am ready to admit the
am e integrity of purpose in all my fell
hen Ititizens. / shall not disparage the
tell ~ or character of our opponents. !
,rd y not, if could, pluck one leaf
,tcb tthe laurels of Gen. Grant; what
we epay be his ability as soldier he
non nod the test of success, and so far
ate ave known he has borne himself
ita- w.pderation and magnanimity in his
tb;s nifce. I have known Mr.. Colfax
ion weImauy years have seen him in
,rv poAn of great power. He is an
4 10 amt and estimable gentleman, and
and wout utform with dignity the duties OF
ave the lofice to which he aspires. l
inn have pleasant associations with the
bors memf Congress from your State,
ired and 1mber with satisfaction that we
nant passeshgh many years of servicein
this tnat phterchanging those courtesies
most wnlcnh the asperities of political
ther excite Indeed, gentlemen, my
ught ooservI such has led me to expect
we're the mo eous opinion coupled with
sky. the puI,Eives, and the most destruc
ace. i've polt ltciated with the loftiest as.
tub pira'ioh be public good. ! do not,
The tnereiorh here or at any other time
cad, with 'ne II character, with the mo.
igor. yves, ~ intelligence of men. l
that dea' WIN binious and their actions
veen ana tse'r las an organization. l
1u of nave oesc YOU in the briefest pos.
, ne. siole term osopby Of our system
and md unity 1t w. of % States not. Of
, The municipal q d;onsNof States soye.
lucts reigo' eAcep far as they have dele
sturn ga.sc 'ne of some power
'outh anu nav Ned to abate the
Is of exercise u -independent, ex'
! and cepe as they have
Iden- pouuo "pgether.-disunited,
ed o exeep, ,u as they have
ween unl'eo ,neus't the terms Of the
I Ir;on meut has SOLVED , os., nrnh,sm - II
scite- mas reconei,eu | of territory and
souri strength q sove with liberty. II
given mas maoe y posat we should be
Tho glory of our mf Cons,;tut;onE
A The [great applause] VneonIe II has
y - assured strength gsod, gEada.a, head
onv ps, and health and vi nnn.,;,nent
ystem parts ine o.H rown in mum. |
,eived 6ers, IN popSisp bower. They |
IF re- nave Veue'e'opeu ~ Interest; they |
de to nave secsreu W s. such inten-
.e ,ea.s desired for themselvs rw rawnors, 20 fss.
~ ~ lures of the State gdss 80 of |
T,s;s- course, striking siu En-, he Al
sS 90 versity Of their policy se,i tn. |
s, ess policy of each is adsTf ;a,.ras,s
- the tastes, the habits q ,ia Tbs
no manufacturing States - @o.o;sI
,g my o's'es, .ne rs,sms and lave their |
autiful respecuVe ;.,s heir laws |
b the 10 their msie'is, rs which |
broad are popular in New Ent tuld not |
Makel be passed, and If passed hs en-
Of The forced in the West. M cns
Ohio, toms transplanteo oy h who |
rthern have bailt up on, 'nr1s.nhd cul |
,haust- tivated our fernie prAi shock |
~. ~ he feelinas Of your peo
ner;ca. this system Of government @
: ,nore 6cial 10 us allf Hss It nd
,S.S eo;.I N vou in Maine2 Rrue