The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-21
GOVERNOR FENTON.
Ee Takes the Stump in His
Native County.
And Speaks to His Fellow Citizens
Of jamestown, N. Y.


embarrassment feel, on personal grounds, in con
ing from the capital OF the State to speak to you
the political issues OF this canvass. The meeting
neighbors and friends brings up associations and r
nectons that could best find expression In social il
tercourse and visit with you, and which conten
against the more rugged duties relating to potca
discussion. In short time, however almost con
current with the close of this canvass, am to lay
aside the OF public position and return to YOU
midst and then l shall not hesitate to express the
obligation am under to you and the friendship ano
the gratitude feel.
The principles involved in the political con-
inicts which are incident to organized society are
Few and not hard TO be understood The enthusi-
asm excitement and acrmony of party feeling are
carried TO greater extreme under 10TH Oh gov
eminent like oursg than in those where there IS less
freedom of public opinion and more restricted
elective franchise After ALL this free, popular out
hurst and discussion in which our people indulge
onrbt TO tend to greater intelligence upon contr0-
yered questions and therefore to greater security for
our rights and liberties. In the case before us
and upon which called to decide at the ballot
box in Novemberi 1t seems to me that no one not
mised 10y prejudice or ignorant Of facts need be in
0oubt as to what is correct in principle due from
him in the discharge OF duty. do not mean by this
that the acts of one party are all right and Of the
other all wrong for there H. doubtless something to
condemn in both; but that the purpose and general
effect OF the conduct Of one party in great trial
period such as that through which we are passing
are right and beneficial to the country aud OF the
In other Times the policies Of parties are not apt
to result in civil disorder whatever the varying for
tunes Of political organizations. 1t Is struggle
each party alike devoted to the Union and alike
bowers OF liberty. But in the present contest we
affairs would be equally protected and secured by
the accession to power OF either Of the contestants
do not say that the patriotic and eminent men con.
nected with the democratic party nor generally the
members Of that party, mediate embarrassment
and dishonor to the government, but that the plat
form of the party, the declarations OF many OF its
representative men, and the spirit which seems to
control them and to animate the canvass on their
part tend strongly to this result.
You do not expect me to undertake review OF
parties with reference to their adherence to or de-
Parture from the spirit and power OF the constitu-
don. The events OF our history and the views OF
leading statesmen indicate an Interpretation which
the majority of the people willingly accept Mr..
he s pleased to the philosophy Of system OF
government. He says 1t Is q union and not unity
ana ne refers 70 Ine danger from centrai5ation oil
from his theory was that upon which secession was
attempted TO be justified. 1t Is better to have de-
cared that, while our government Is built up main
tained, conducted and defended by ourselves, there
n no power within ourselves, less than majority
Of afl the people that can change it, and the at
tempt to do it outside OF the forms prescribed
IL treason and forfeiture OF political privileges. or
course do not touch the point OF successful revolu-
which composed 1t were disorganized communities,
and while they failed TO escape from their obliga-
stOns by destroying the Union they succeeded In re-
nOuncing their political rights under the consttu-
ton and in destroying Their local State organiZa-
lions. 1t il plain that on the dissolution Of the
armies, In 1866, there was no lawful local govern
ment In any OF the insurgent States nor WAS there
then any authority in the people OF those States to
regain their lost power. Having thus lost the func-
lions OF government in the States, what power wSs
competent to restore their lost condition. 1t was
not In the States themselves, Independent OF Con-
action
lawful local Executive to call an election, and there
was no lawful local authority to evolve an
Executive. The President was competent 10 pro-
elam peace, and he doubtless had authority to hold
these States under military rule until provision could
OF public law; but he could not institute civil gov
ernments, for, under the constitution, Congress
alone could guarantee a republican form OF govern
ment to the States He had no power 10 enact or TO
repeal act OF Congress. Clearly these were ques-
tons for the law making power OF the government,
AMI 10 be determiped NOT by his WILL but by the Will
Of the nation expressed In the form prescribed Dy
the constitution. The policy OF President Johnson as
disclosed, to assume the prerogatlves OF Con-
Rress and to exercise in those states the powers re-
Gnqushed by the Confederate leaders. lie not only
proposed his own terms to them but also 10 the ma
ton and by reinstatng the rebel authority with in
creased political power to confer upon them the
fruits OF victory. HIS plan emprased no iess tnan
Immediate representation at washington. III was
proposed by hun to restore those VINO had been de-
feated in war to the position OF governing class,
ruling those whom they had recently held III bonds
and making laws for the nation which they had tried
and failed 10 destroy. Instead OF "union and not
r
2 unity under the direction Of the President, and a
Capitalization Of power In the Executive not author
ed by the constitution and dangerous TO the right
fu authority Of the law making department OF the
government. IL Is policy revolving 10 the general
sense OF national justice and manhood and hostile
70 the genius and practical requirements Of our sti-
tutOns. The manner In which the authority OF recon-
structlng or restoring these States should be exc
cuted by Congress Is another thing, aud 10 that I
shall have occasion 10 refer before conclude my
marks.
have said that the tendency OF the democratic
party was dangerous TO the quiet OF the country
and that the continued power OF the republican party
would strengthen social order and civil liberty
hardly need say that the candidates OF ,he TWO
the true mode Of settlement under the constitution
And OF future progress almost as opposite as peace
and war-as irreconcileable as prosperity and ad-
yersty IL Is fortunate at least, TO correct under
standing OF the matter that each party In this re-
spect is faithful to the leading ideas which marked
rs career from the first gun fired at Fort to
the close OF the late session OF Congress- IL VIII not
be found easy TO divert me attention OF
the people from the true state OF the ques-
tion. one party strove TO maintain the ma
tionality to assert the integrity OF the Union
and to supply the means adequate to this end the
other seemed willing to impair it by unworthy con-
cessons, disheartenlng the people by magnifylng ts
difficulties multiplying its dangers peiittllng us
successes destroying ITS necessary regulations and
by repeated declara ions OF the utter impossbiity
OF attaining the end sought and or the wickedness
OF the means employed. The one had faith and
courage throughout the long dark night Of war; the
other deemed the war wrong and failure. These
Of the partec which lived through the war and that
continue with positions very little changed by the
lessons which II taught, or by the entreaties OF
peace.
The nomination OF General Grant by the republl
cans alike the natural expression OF their prin
ciples and signal mark OF gratitude and honor u
the great captain VINO led our cause through ths
difficulties and perils OF war TO glorious triumph
II should be remarked, too, that his cours
throughout the war was hardly more gallant anS
faithful than II has since been true to the principle
involved 10 the struggle and wise In their applica
ton Equal 70 great emergencies and exhibiting
sngleness Of purpose and devotion TO principle
rarely equaed his ability to administer the affair
OF the government with usefulness and hOuo
seemed to be generally conceded and Ion.
before the Convention he became the almos
unanimous choice Of our party. No one cal
doubt his honesty, but few even OF the oppO
cite party question hts ability, and nom
should hesitate to give him their confidence ant
support who prefer the peaceful contamination %
the great work which the war, in the mysteriou
ways OF Providence has placed before u. In lik
manner and with equal consistency with their his