Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-12-25
Speech or Mr. Blaine, OF Maine, on the
Results OF GRANTS Election,


IL Committee Of the Whole, in the
House, 10th inst, Mr.. Blaine said
MIR. CHAIRMAN: The three Presiden-
tial elections which have resulted In vic.
tory TO the Republican party are by far
the most memorable and momentous In
the history Of our country. The issues al
stake each time have been grander, the
contest on either side fiercer, the verdict
in each instance more decisive and sienifi.
cant, than ever attended previous struggles
for the control Of the National Govern.
ment
In the first victory of 1860 slavery pro.
pagandisnl received It's fatal blow the
American people decided that at all haz
ards the further spread Of human servi.
tude into free territory should cease This
decision was resisted by rebellious war,
and the war led to the necessity of entire.
ly abolishing the institution whose exist.
ence had been merely checked by the
expression Of the popular will. The cleo.
tion Of 1864 turned upon the point OF con
tinuing OF disseminating the bloody con
test which up to that time had ragged with
undated fury, and with enormous sacri
fee of life and property. The vote OF the
people demanded the prosecution of the
war until the rebellion should be sup.
pressed, the national unity secured, and
slavery utterly abolished throughout the
length and breadth of the land Had the
verdict then rendered been enforced in the
Cabinet as faithfully as IL was in the field,
the Presidential struggle Of 1868 would
not have turned upon the issues which
actually entered into IT, But the uncx-
pected and unprecedented course of the
Executive, the revived malignity of the
Southern rebellion, and the manifold at
tacks on our national character and credit
by the Democratic party, rendered
the victory of 1868 as absolutely essential
to conserve and preserve the fruits of our
great triumph, as was the victory of 1864
to secure the prosecution of the war to
successful conclusion. And now that vic.
tory, complete and unsullied as now, and
the passions naturally engendered in the
heat of the canvass are gradually cooling,
it may not be Improbable TO take hasty
glance at the ground we have passed over,
and TO make brief summary of the
points that have been solemnly adiudicated
and permanently settled by the Amcri-
can people In the election of Gen. Grant
TO the Presidency.
And first: The Union of the States has
been maintained, and its perpetuily guar.
anteed by this election, in a sense aud
with force that we're never before enun-
ciated when the question was involved.
do not mean to assert that the election of
MIR. Seymour would have necessarily led
to a separation of the States, though there
are not wanting facts of great significance
that might well Justify such an inference
and such a fear. But what do mean is,
that the triumph Of the Democratic party
under that Rebel lead, and the formal in
stalling OF that element in supreme oxecu'
tive control, would have destroyed the
true aim and spirit of the Union, and re.
duced our Government, as Mr.. Webster
SAID the same perniciOus theories would
have reduced It in 1880, "to the worst
forms of the old confederation" in which
the lost cause would have regainCd it,
paradise of State Rights, and its privilege
OF ruthlessly trampling on many of IN,
most precious principles and priceless
guarantees of our Constitution. Genera
Grants election has averted this great evi
NOT merely by temporary triumph
leaving the contest to be renewed herGai
ter with doubtful issue in the end, bu
with victory that removes it from tn,
list of questions on which parties will di
vide in the future. The election of 1868
is the last in which the lately rebellion,
section, even fit could he wholly CONTROLLED
by rebels, will have sufficient power in the
electoral vote OF the country to make il
the object either of hope or of fear on the
part Of political organizations striving fol
the government OF the nation. The tend
ency has been in that direction ever since
Mr.. Calhouns famous theory of an cuui
poise of free and slave States was de
stroyed by the admission of California il
1850. The relative power of the two sec
uons has been changing since that date
with startling rapidity, even without the
intervention OF war; and the approach
ing census Of 1870 will disclose the fac
that the ten rebel States, viewed as on,
compact power, will no longer have suill
cient strength to offer temptation to tn,
Democratic party of the North to sacrific,
its loyalty and its pride for the profit o
an alliance with them. The Withdrawal
of Northern Democratic support from
these States will give to the loyal inhabit
ants, who are clear majority in each on,
OF them, the power of governing them il
the interest of loyalty, whereby the sec
uonal and clsnnish spirit that has beei
their bane and their destruction will b
expelled, and broad, generous nations
sympathies taken In its place And IN
effect of this result on the Northern Den
ocratic party in turn will be to enforce
the end an abandonment of the disloyal a
titude, by which it has lost its anciel
prestige aud Tenown. Tho SoutheI
rebels and Northern Democrats, havtr
derived no honor nor profit from the
persistent cooperation, may find mutu
advantage and gain by q separation
which each, disencumbered of the othI
may atone at leisure for the joint silks
the discreditable partnership, This pre-
pectiye and penitent attitude of the "
great classes of offenders heral1s the dav
OF that day when Presidential electio
will he contested and decided without
melancholy prediction or savage mena
OF dissolution Of the Union. There a
few voters now living in this country w
ever participated in u Presidential ca
paigu In which the fate OF the Union W
not involved, either in the angry threats
political malcontents, or in the umid 1
prehensions of well-meaning citize
That day has now passed. We hs
heard the last Of that alarm in 1868. I
Union was actually saved by Gen. Graz
victories in the field. The menace of
destruction ceases with his victory at
polls. fr
Second. The reconstruction laws
Congress have been vindicated and S
tanned by Gen. Grants election. The st
governments erected under those Ia
win be upheld and the basis of impeI
loyal suffrage without regard 70 race
color, will be accepted as the perman,
rule In the lately rebellious States, as
win at no distant day throughout the
tire Union. This result is certain TO
achieved, either through the ameliorati
Of prejudice and the conquering force
justice in the individual States, or by
comprehensiye Influences of q COnsti
uonal amendment which shall affect
the States equally alike The decision
iavor Of the reconstruction measures m,
bring peace TO the Southland with pea
Will COME cententment and afluence. i
teoslllous element in those States, seei
tne hopeless folly Of longer resisting I
Anaate OF the nation, will acquiesoe
the oselslon, II with no better grace th
merely accepting the inevitable A
WIN lGis acceptance will begin the r