New-York tribune., 1868-09-21

SPEECH AT JAMESTOWN or THE ISSUES OF
THE CANVASS

CclfaN meeting has nten held here to-day Al IedN'
1900 people participated The vast assembiaee was
addressed 10y Horace Greeley, Chauncey NJ Depew'
Coz. Fenton. Gen + N. IIite. and MessIs John H.
White and WIN. s Andrews of your city. torch
light procession OF the BOYS in Blue is paradng the
streets. Tie widest enthusiasm prevails Ola
Cl,utauqua will give 5000 majority for Grant and
Gri,wald in November. The followings
GOV. TENTONs SPEECH
FrIIow-crTIzINs: cannot conceal from you the
embarrassment feel on personal grounds IN coming
from the Capital Of the State to speak TO you on the
political issues OF this canvass. The meeting OF
ueiylbors and friends brings up associations and re-
Elections that could best find expression in social IN
terconrse and visit with You, and which cohtenu
against the more rugged duties relating to poli'io"
discussion In q short time. however, almost concu,
rent with the close OF this canvass am TO lay asiuS
tbe cares of public positon and return TO your mdst
and then shall not hesitate to express the ooliga
tion am under ~ you, and the friendship ana the
r,titnde feel The principles involved in the poll
1cal conflicts which aIe incident to organized society,"
ARE few and not bard 10 be understood The enthu-
tiasm excitement and 8CrimOny OF party feeling are
carried 10 a greater extreme under form ot OoVern-
,nent like ours than u those where there Is less free
dom of public opinion ami more restricted elective
franchise After ALL thi. free popular outbuTst ana
discussion in which our people indulge, ought to tend
10 greater intelligence upon controyerted ques-
lions. and therefore to greater security
for our rights and our liberties. In the case
before us and upon which we are caued
TO decide at the ballot-box in November 1t seems to
nc that no one hot msled by prejudice, or ignorant
of facts need be I'm doubt as TO what is correct IN
,riucipe or due from him in the discharge of duty.
do not mean by thS that the acts of one party are
all right and OF the other all wrong 1or thtre ls
doubtless, something 10 condemn IN oOt1, out thae M
Al Ig4lp eft
aarty in great trial period such as that through
which we passing, are right and benehclal 10 the
country, and of tho o. her wrong ana dangerous. III
other times the pohcicS OF parties are not aPo ~
kut in evil disorder, whatever the varying FORTUNES
Df political organ cations Ii IS struggle "l.hh lie
forms of established government ana each Palt{
alike devoted 10 the Union ana alike lovers ol
liberty But ia thc present contest we are mol Tree
20 indulge the hope that the safety OF puDhc alalIS
NyOuld be equally protected and secured by the &C
ression to power of either OF the contestants 40
NOT say that the patriotic and eminent men connected
with the Democratic party, nor generally the mem
hers of that party, mediate embarrassment ana as
honor TO the Government but that the platform OF
the party the declarations OF many OF Its represent
tative men, and the spirt whlch seems 10 contoi
them and TO animate the canvass on their part tehd
strongly TO this result You 90 not expect me 10 ul-
nsrtake a review al p8rHeS with reference 10 theu
adherence TO or departure IRON the spirit ana power
OF the Constitution. The events OF our history and
the views OF leading statesmen molcate
hi Interpretation which the majority OF the
people willingly accept. - MI PendIeton' IN
his = Bangor speech dwells upon what he
ls pleased TO term the philosophy of our system of
government. Ee says II Is a Union aud not unity,
and he refers II TIE danger from centrahzatlon OF
power lie did not tell us that the natural deduc-
zion from hls theory was thtt upon Whlch secession
was attempted 40 be justified. 1t IS better TO have
declared that, while our Government is built up
maintained, cOuiucted ana defended Dy ourselves,
there is no power within ourselves, less than
majority of all the people, that can change IT, ana
the attempt do H. outside of the forms prescribed,
J. treason and forfeiture of political privileges. Ot
rOurse do not touch the point OF successful reyolu
iOn. After the i@ Ot the Contederacy the States
obi
md while they failed TO escape from their
obligations by destroying the Union, they
succeeded in rehomcing their political rlghtS
nnder the Constitution and in destroying their local
State organizations IL Is plain that on the dssolu
government in any Of the lnsurgent States; nor was
there then any authority IN the people of those States
tOTegan their lost power Having thus lost the tunc-
lions of government m the states, what power was
competent TO restore their lost condition. 10 was
not in the States themselves lnuependent OF
Congressional action and recognition. There was
no lawful local Executive to call an election, and
there was no lawful local authority to evolve an
Executive. The President competent to pro-
rlaim peace and he doubtless had authority TO hold
these States under military rule until provision coud
be made for their reorganization under the authority
of public law but he could not institute clVll gov
eTnments, for, under the S0hsuV9toh congress
nlOne could guarantee o republican form OF govern
Inent the States. Jie bad power to enact or to
repeal an act of Congress. Clearly these were ques
lions for the law-maAing power OF the government
md to be determined not by his Will. but by the wl
of the nation, expressed III the form prescribed 10y the
Constitution. Tue policy OF President johnson, as
disclosed, was 10 assume the prerOgatlVes OF Con-
ITeSS and 10 exercise in those States the powers
tnauished by the Confederate leaders. He not only
proposed his terms 20 them, but also To the ma
tion, and by reinStalug tile Rebel authority win
Increased political power 10 confer upon them the
fruits of victory. HIS plan embraced no less than
Immediate approximation az Washington, 1t was
proposed by him To restore those who had been de-
seated in 10 the position of govern
inc class; ruling those whom they had recently
held in bonds, and making laws for the nation which
they had tried and failed TO destroy. Instead of a
Union aud not unity their doctrine plainly leads
20 Union and a unity, under the direction OF the
President, and Capitalization Of power III the Exc
Dutiye. not authorized by the Constitution and dan
Rerous to che Tlehiul authority Ot the law-Inaklng
voting 10 the general of national justice and
manhood and hostile 20 tho gcnns and practical re-
uuirements OF Onr institutions. Themanner in which
the authority of reconstTuctng or restoring these
States should be executed by Congress is another
ching and TO that shall have occasion to refer be-
fore / conclude my remarks. j have said
that the tendency of the Democratic party
was dangerous to the quiet OF the country,
pnd that the continued power OF the Republican
party would strengthen social order ana civil liberty
hardly need say that the candidates Of the two par
ties embOdy views Of our present condition and the
true mode of the Constitution and OF
future progress almost opposite peace and war
rTecOncilablc as prosperity and adversely. 1t Is
fortunate at least 10 correct understanding OF the
matter that each party III tins respect Is faithful to
The leading ideas which marked lts career from the
first gun fired at Sumter 70 the close of the late
Bion of Congress. IL will not be found easy to d.
vert the attention OF the people from the true state
Df the question. Our party sIoye 10 MAINTAIN the
nationality, go assert the integrity, OF the Union,
and to supply the means adequate to this
end the other seemed willing to impair
st 10y unworthy concessions, disheartening
the people by magnifying It's difficulties multiplying
ats dangers bettilng its successes, destroying its
.Hecessary regulations and by repeated declarations
of the utter mpOs,bility of attaining the end sought
and of the wickedness Of the means employed. The
one had faith and courage throughout the long dark
might of war; the other deemed the war wrong and
failure. These Will be recognized as some OF the
syel-known views OF the parties which lived through
fhe war; and hat continue with positions very little