The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-09-23

date.
On the 10th inst, a large number of
MIR, ,Pendleton's friends called at his
residence on their way from the Fair,
and insisted upon speech. He beg
ged1off, but finally consented and
spoke for an hour, supported, on his
crutches. He said:
Ny FRIENDS: AS you insist upon it,
Isuppose [ shall have to submit If
you shall repent, say but aWord, and
l will relieve you. Since [ have been
confined here, have had leisure, and
have taken pains to- collect some sta
tistics which have expected to use
during the canvass. To-day my ply
sician has ordered me to be more qui-
et-to taks less exercise gives
me little hope that l shall be able to
leave the city before the election. AS
you desire that shall give my views
on political questions, will have to
ask your indulgence for whatever
want of form or conference there may
be, as put these facts and reflections
together without further preparation.
1 ask your impartial attention.
ask you to hear me without prejudice.
1 will say nothing in the way of fact
OF argument which l do not believe to
be true. s8G ol.5G@s
I have strong convictions. You
know 1 am bound by strong party
ties; but am happy to believe that
you know also that love my country
and that hold every opinion, every
party subordinate to my desire to pro-
mote its welfare and the happiness of
its people. Many of my acquaintan-
ces, of my relatives, of my friends,
differ widely from me- They are
members of the Republican party. 1
am glad to possess their personal good
will and confidence I am glad to
have such pleasant social relations
with them, that even in this little. COM
pany / find some of them. frankly
confess that 1 covet their good will. 1
am sorry we differ in opinion. The
difference is honest. I cannot ques-
ton their motives, Ihaye full conf
dence in their integrity. 1 respect
their judgement. 1 would not say
one word to wound their susceptibii-
ty., we have the same interests and
the same duties. We have the same
county, to love, the same liberties to
preserve, the same Government to
maintain, the same posterity to pro-
vide for, the same history to answer
unto. They know that freely con-
cede to them the same patriotism, the
same sincerity, The same sense of 70
sponsibility, which believe they ac-
cord to me. 1...s-
can not agree with Governor
Hayes, that all the vexed questions of
our National politics are wisely and
happily settled-that " the great ques-
tions of liberty, and union, and recon-
struction of the Union have been made
safe" I can not agree that retrench-
ment, economy and honesty have been
introduced into the management OF
the Federal expenditures. I can not
agree that the debt has been
decreased, and is decreasing, as he
states it. 1 can not agree that the
burdens of taxation have been reduced
and their weight upon the people has
been lightened. cannot agree that
sound judgement and freedom from
bad influences have been brought to
the exercise of the immense power of
the Secretary of the Treasury. | can
not agree that business is active that
enterprise is active; that vigor, and
energy and industry are bountifully
rewarded; that employment is abun-
dant; that daily toll is fairly compen,
sated; that commerce on the ocean
and on the land is prosperous--and
therefore, can not serenely, as does
our worthy Governor, turn my face
from all questions of Federal politics
and look only at state affairs.
1t ought to be SO. If it were moi
for the schemes of consolidation; Il
state affairs were left to state manage
ment; if Federal affairs were KEEP
within the scope of constitutional pro
visions, it would be so.
But L can not pretend to believe
what I know to be false. I cauno
say the Unionis restored when Vir.
ginia, and Mississippi and Texas arr
under military Governors, and Geor
gia is without representation in Con
gress. san not say peace is restored
Il when Justice is administered by {
drum-head court martial. 1 can no
say that the Constitution is lnaintainet
when we know that the Suprem,
Court is only waiting an opportunit!
to declare the reconstruction acts un
constitutional.
T can not say that the harmony o
our Federal system is maintained
whenFederal power is brought to bea
with all its force Of law and of arms
to compel the states to change thei
Constitutions and the Constitution O
) the Federal Government.
1 can not say that the people are no
burdened, when q debt of Sc, 100000,
600, is piled upon their shoulders all
this immense amount is increased 81
hundred millions by Il resolution G
Congress "to improve the publ
credit"
can not say their burdens are ligl
when $43o, 100000 are annually draw
from the products of active labor, an
nothing from dead capital,
can not say that taxation is equ;
when bonds are exempted and labc
q is crushed beneath its exactions.