The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-07-29

experienced STATESMAN q brave n
able soldier. His father was the near
est friend of Gen. Jackson-his broth
err, the confdants and adviser of Mr..
Lincoln, and he himself the disciple
and protege of Benton. TApplause.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY-wHAT IT Is
RESPONSIBLE FOR.
IF anything more were needed to FIRE
your heart with the enthusiasm which
marked their nomination, let it be
drawn from The contrasts which our
country to day presents. The repabli-
can party las been for eight years in
absolute possession of every department
of the Federal Governmental has had
the executive, and the legislative, and
The judiciary, ohedient to its behests.
It has had possession of every State
Government in the Union, with very
few exceptions +; SO few that they scarce,
ly serve to illustrate the rule. 1t has
had every department of governmental
power, both State and Federal, entire
ly in its hands. If vetoes have been
interposed, they have been overridden
by a two thirds vote. If adverse judi
cial decisions have been expected, the
Court has been reorgonized by q di-
minution of the judges, or the case has
been taken from its cognizance by q
change of the law of appeal IF Sta'es
have i%uterposed an obstacle, their as
sumptions have been deridcd, and their
efforts have been met by the strong arm
of the Federal power.
Having thus had absolute possession
Of the Government during four years
of the war, it has also had possession
Of it during mere than three years of
profound peace. 1t has mad the enjoy
ment of power, and it is responsible for
its use.
But in what condition do we find the
country to day Where is the Consti
tuition which they swore to uphold +?
Where is the Union which they swore
to maintain? Where are the rights of
the States which are essential to the
maintenance of that Constitution and
Union ?
HOW THEY HAVE tREsToRED' THE
UNION, 81.
We have had three years of profound
peace Mt u hostile arm has been rails
ed in opposition to the Government,
and yet TO day ten States are held by
ohe strong arm of military power in ac'
knowledged suhjugation, or else are
compelled to submit by that same pow
err TO lr. mes Of State constitutions and
governments which they abhor, whose
foundation and sole purpose is the en-
reimbursement of the negro and disfran.
chisement Of the white man. l know
they tell US that the work of recon
structiou.goes bravely on 1t does, for
sooih. but it is not the restoration Of
the South not the restoration of the
Union !; not the re establishment of civ
il government! Read your telegraph
ic dispatches to day, and you will see
that in Geor, ia men are being tried by
military commission, upon charges OF
murder Read the telegraphic dis
patches Of Yesterday, ard you will see
hat the military commander OF that
State declines to recognize the validity
OF the Legislature until the House OF
Representatives shall turn out the Dem
ocratic members.
PERIPATETIC CoNGRESSMEN.
Read the dispatches of the daY be-
fore. AID you will see that one Of the
newly elected Senators from Louisiana
was, six months ago, a citizen of Hi
nois, and the other Il citizen IF lndi-
ana , hat the Governor of Florida was,
a year ago. the President Of an Agri-
cultural Society IN Iowa. IF 1 am not
mistaken the State of Virginia rejoices
in the possession of Il Governor fresh
from the soil OF Ohio :; ,>laughter) and
If the newspapers do not belle him, a
citizen of our State hes declined to be
a candidate for Congress in tie Dis
trict in which he lives, for the reason
that he expects to be a Senator from
Alabama before the fall elections IN
Ohio shall take place. Laughter and
applause
CONGRESSIONAL INSPIRATIONS.
Congress has usurped to itself all
power over the State governments of
the South. 1t has destroyed them. 1t
has made use of the Federal Govern
ment to destroy the States, and now,
with the insatiate spirit Of revolution,
& Turns pom the Federal Government
itse..' 1t has destroyed the independ,
ence of the Judiciary ; it has struck at
the existence II he Executive. Our
fathers thought they had SOLVED the
problem of free Government in the
creation of the three departments This
Rel u~llican Congress has destroyed Ill
she divisions which were thus created,
and seeks to collect, in Its own hands,
all the powers Which belong to the sys
tenn, and by an incxorable law of its
existence, it now stands ready, in case
of party necessity, to transfer them TO
the grasp of the military dictator. 1t
is reproducing to our country the les
sons of all history.
LEGISLATIVE DESPoTISM AND THE Sc
oUEL-HIsToRICAL EXPERIE c
The despotism of a legislative Assem-
bly, is the worst despotism in the world:
it is the most selfis h, the most cruel,
the most short-lived !; it ends in an
archy, and is speedily followed by the
calm repose of tyranny under the order
Of the sword Recall the history Of
the Roman senate and the Emporors ;
recall the history of the Legislative
Assembly OF Fra nee, and of the Consul
late and the Elm pire, and read in them
tie certain prophecy OF the fate of this
government if Congressional usurpation
shall run its course
OUR OWN EXPERIENCE
Have we not already a part fulfill
ment OF these exan piles? Congress
has despoiled the Executive of the just
L. .az.al