Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-02-07

J0rity against 1t, Ihey were not will
ing to have negro suffrage,in Ohio, and
they repudiate the idea of placing ne
groes over white men in the South
They regard the African race as unfit to
make laws for white men, either in Ohio
or in the Southern States.
These gentlemen exult and boast over
their little victory in the Sth Congress
sional District the other day. Let me
tell them that that is no victory-it is
the last expiring glimmer of the taper
before going out forever. He was not
gifted with ability to prophecy, but he
would predict that. Notwithstanding all
the exultation over the Sth District af-
fair, that the people of Ohio would over
whelm those who favored military die
tatorship this fall with disgraceful de-
feat. I
This Governmentcan be destroyed
by secession The Southern insurrec-
tion was put down. Mr.. Douglas de-
clared that war among the States was
eternal disunion The General Govern.
ment had no power conferred on it to-
make war on the States. If the laws
were violated, and State called on the
Government to assist in putting it down,
that was as far as the Government could
go. In his opinion there never could be
peace among these States again, till a
National Convention is convened that
can inquire into and redress all the
grievances on both sides. 1t is Il ques-
tion of harmony and consent, and till
that can take place there can be no peace.
When the South proposed to with
draw, your party encouraged it in 1861.
Mr.. Wade and Horace Greeley were for
letting the wayward sisters go; and
Greeley advocated that idea through the
Tribune for over six weeks, during the
darkest hours of the controversy in the
halls of Congress.
Mr.. SCOTT, of Warren - If Ben
Wade and others decided that the Gov
ernment had no power to restrain the
seeding States, was not Mr.. Buchanan
and his supporters of the same opinion
Mr.. FIELDING-I presume they
were, and so am l. Wendell Phillips
said he had labored nineteen years to
take nineteen Northern States out of the
Union, and if he succeeded, then We have
no Union. These States have always
had their old Constitutions-have never
changed them-are now in. the Union,
and assert that the Republican party
never discovered that they were out of
the Union, till the war was over! They
always denied that the South could
secede, and now they have changed
about for purpose, and contend that the
Southern States have overthrowu their
Governments and are conquered prov
inces subject to the will aud control of
the conqueror.
These States hold the same relation
to the United States since the rebel
lion that they did before the insurrec.
ton, an, are entitled to Representatives
in,Congress. Their rights are. to all in
tents and purposes, statu quo ante bellum,
and they now hold the same relations to
the United States as before, and this be
ing so, there is nothing clearer than that
they should have their rights under the
Government.
Every proposition made to the South
by the Government since the rebellion
has subsidized, has been evaded or refus-
ed them, and the Government has shown
an unwillingness to let that people have
representation in Congress and secur-
ity under their own laws; and this is
done for party and political ends, and
fear there are men who would sacrifice
all to attain party ends and achieve po-
litical power.
He did not propose to discuss the
Supreme Court question-he would
leave that to abler hands-but one thing
he would say, that it appeared to him,
that Congress intended to usurp the
right to make laws and decide upon their
co@stitutionality. Congress seemed de-
termined to exercise sovereignty over
the decisions of the Court, and the issues
that might come before it for decision.
He was of opinion each department of
the Government was independent of the
other. He did not think that Congress
could create a reconstruction act, and
then deride its constitutionality by tying
the hands of the Supreme Court.
In reference to the dictatorial powers
conferred on General Grant, he would
say, that he did not think fair reading
of the act would show that he was re-
strained in the exercise of the almost
unlimited powers conferred by that bill.
He was fearful of its effect. He had
once opposed the election of military
man because he thought such men dan
gerous to the perpetuation of our insti-
tutions.
If the South is out of the Union, he
regarded the war as fearful failure. 1t
had cost more than four thousand mil
lion of dollars-it had cost the lives
nearly of one million of people North
and South-it had made thousands of
widows and orphans-brought distress
upon the whole country. Its ravages
had marked almost every section of the
South. and yet We are told it was sue
cessful in taking the South out of the
Union!
The opposition are very anxious to
divide the Democratic party. This can
not be done. That party has heard the
wall of distress all over the land-they
see that the pledge to restore the Union
is broken-and they intend to appeal to
the people, till all these things are made
| right; and in his opinion, new triumphs
await the party in the campaign of 1868
The Democratic party intends to stand
| by the old Constitution-this old Union
of our fathers, and it will defend and up
hold the Constitution against all its foes
secret and public, till every State in this
broad Union shall have its rights, and
peace and content once more reign in
every section, and the old banners shall
have emblazoned on its ample folds