The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-04-08

phia-Nobie and. Patriotic Ut.erances-
Able Exposition OF the Doctrine of State
Rightsgz&c., &c.ff,!9d 8dt lo s9aiiGl
.Bysinvitation of the hedemocratie club
of Philadelphia, Senator Hendricks,
ofIndians, delivered an oration at the
Academy of Music in that city,. on the
evening of the 22d Of February, the
anniversary of Washington's birthday
His address was remarkable for a
patriotism so genuine, the things he
said were so eminentIy fit to be- said
at the present time, and taken into
earnest consideration by every Amer
lean citizen, that we wish we could
afford the space to present iourireaders
his entire speech. But we are obliged
to content ourselves with liberal ex-
tracts. hani I'd iaiHz g'5ty- Il Tgl.laqs
'iAftef5 an eloquent preordium,
sketching the early career Of Washing
ton, and the influences which went to
make up his character, Mr. Hendricks
said: 5e:. a1.sat..,l p .4fff iay,.+s
To-day we celebrate the one hum
dred and thirty; and seventh anniver-
sary of his birth. Seventy years after
his death, here in Philadelphia, the
city that witnessed, SO much of his
public service, we do honor to- his
memory. And now, standing in the
presence of his august character and
invoking the Inspiration of his patri-
otism, what lessons of, wisdom may.
we learn from his preeept and exam
pie? Of all our illustrious dead, he
alone has the honored title, of g father
of his country His admonitions
come. .to US from the grave with a
pateEnalappeal.YYi From his youth he
was soldier: and after,a long COM
lnand he became, s'frst in war :n,and
at some periods of great public ankle
tya he was clothed with almost dicta-
torial; yet at all times he maintained
the civil authority, and preserved the
people from military rule. [Applause]
When he surrendered his commits
sion, the president of congress- insre-
ceiying it, bore testimony ito the wis
dom and fortitude with which he had
conducted the great military contest,
invariably regarding the rights of the
civil power through all disasters and
changes Injhis farewell address he
said: /" If in the ,opinion of the people
the distributionior modification of the
constitutional powers bel any par
ticular wrong, let it be corrected by
an amendment in thelWay which the
constitution designates. But let there
be- change by usurpation; fo1
though this in one instance may be
the instrumental good, it is the Gus
tomary weapon by which free govern.
ments are destroyed d4iGra.os p
Anxious about the great contest, the
result of which was to decide in his
tory whether he and associates were
rebels OF patriots; embarrassed by
the inadequacy of his forces and sup.
plies, and surrounded by loyalists
ready to communicate his movement
to the enemy, he was clothed by Con
gress with the largest power, yet Ill
the midst of all vicissitudes and temp.
tations, he forebore is exercise excep
in the legitimate prosecution of the
war. He tore no robes from tn,
shoulders of the judges; he drove III
Ha..
juries from the court house; he sup
pressed none of the ancient writs !; h,
arrested, imprisoned, and killed non,
of the people under the vicious pre-
text Of military authority or necessi
ty. Under the banners of his armie
none of the people did shiver ant
crouch in terror of dungeons, torture
t illegal trials, banishInent and death
$ but all, the rich and the poor, tn
strong and the weak alike felt owe
. them the protecting shield of thei
a country's laws. The land did no
r swarm with spies and formers; an,
h midnight assaults by lawless band
2 were not made upon the homes of tn
people; but the house. of the freemel
then, as for a thousand years it hal
4 been, was his castle. LAS the year
h and centuries and ages come rollin.
!. by, the fame of Washington will
7 grow brighter and his name NOR
Z illustrious, because, whilst he tough
for the rights of the people, he woub
i not enslave them, but did presery
3 their liberties and maintain their laws
: [Applause.l ,..-
, During the earlier progress of til
late war, there sprung up class Q