The Plymouth Democrat., 1869-09-16
Pendlet0n.

In Cincinnati, on the 10th instant,
large number of the friends of Hon. Geo.
H. Pendleton called at his residence and
insisted on speech. Mr. PendletOn finally
consented, and spoke over an hour. The
following portions of his speech are re-
ported by telegraph
"I cannot agree with Gov Hayes, that
all vexed questions of our national poll
tics are wisely and happily settled-that
the great questions of liberty and union,
and the reconstruction of the Union, have
been made safe. | cannot agree that re-
trenchment, economy and honesty have
been introduced into the management of
the Federal expenditures-that the debt
has been decreased, and is in the course of
decreasing, as he states it-that the bur
dens of taxation have been reduced, and
their weight upon the people has been
hghtened-that sound judgment and free
dom from bad influences have been
brought into exercise by the immense
power of the Secretary of the Treasury;
that business is active-that enterprise is
active-that vigor and energy and indus
try are bountifully rewarded-that en-
plOyment is abundant-that daily toll Is
fairly cOmpensated-that commerce on
the ocean and on the land is prosperous;
and, therefore, / cannot screnely, as does
all the questions of Federal politics, and
look only at State affairs. 1t ought to be.
ii it were not for schemes of consolida-
tion-if State affairs were left to State
management-if Federal affairs were kept
within the scope of the constitutional pro-
visions, it would be So But | cannot pre-
terd 10 believe what | know to be false.
/ cannot say that the Union is restored
when Virginia and Mississippi and Texas
are under military governments; Union Is
restored when Justice is administered by
drum head cOurt-martial; the Constl-
tuition is maintained when we know
that the Supreme Court Is only
waiting an opportunity TO de
clare the reconstruction acts unconstItu-
tional / oppose the adoption of the FIJI
teenth amendment, because it is materl-
al, radical change in our system of gov
ernment 1t DESTROYS the relation OF the
States of the Federal Union which the
Constitution established. The Govern
ment then takes away from the States,
without their consent, that essential at
tribute of a self-governing cOuntry-thc
right to determine who shall exercise the
right of suffrage, because it was Intended
to. and viii. introduce negro suffrage III
Ohio against the Will OF the people. Two
years ago the people of Ohio, without dis
tinction of party, by an immense majority,
refused TO amend the Safe Constitution,
after full argument and full consideration
of negro suffrage. | see no reason to be
licve That they have changed their opinion.
| object to its adoption, because by the
strongest implication it cOnters upon Con-
gress and reserves to the States the right
To exclude from the ballot persons of our
own white race, because of their nativity,
creed, want of education, or poverty, and
prohibits the exclusion OF another race. Ii
the Interpretation of Senator Morton and
Senator Howard be correct, under this
amendment of Congress, States may ex-
clude Irishmen, Germans, Catholics, Prot
estants or poor men from enjoying suf-
frdge, but no negroes Or MOngOlianS. /
object to its adoption, because it is part and
parcel of n scheme to flood the country
with the forced importation of an immense
number Of Chinese, OF coolies, and bring
into our midst an alien race, and repeat in
more difficult form the social and gov
ernmental questions which have 50 unhap-
PLY divided our people.
The last report of the Secretary of the
Treasury shows that he is boarding $l01,-
2l4, ,3:}6 in coin and $12,1fi,000 in curren-
cy. Why? To what good purpose :
The customs of half year are thus pay
ing six per cent. iii gold interest on the
public debt, and the Secretary is boarding
this immense amount each month with q
great parade. He sells six or nine mil
lions, and with the proceeds buys bonds
giving III the market for them p per cent
above par. They are now rcdecmable OF
their face, by law,-in legal-tender notes
Holders gave lcgal-tender for them whcr
legaltender notes were worth not NOR,
than half what they now are. Contrac
ton brings Il universal fall Of prices O
goods and labor, while debts, taxes an,
money obligations remain fixed. The mai
who has money becomes richer The svs
tenn is radically unjust The debt cor
tracted on our expanded currency shOul
be paid IN the same currency. The do
lar which is paid should he of the sam
whole policy Of the Administration shoul
be reversed. Pay the debt; pay it honest
ly, according to the contract; pay it i
money as valuable rs that which wa
received for it, pay it in lcgal-tende
notes; abolish the national bank svs
tem pay of the bonds on which the
are founded; save the yearly intcres
use every appliance of economy and maj
agement in advancing this pOlcy-theI
when the debt is paid, when the taxes al
reduced; when seventy-fiyc millions wi
suffice for the Government, when all proI
erty is subjected to a just rule Of taxation
If 1t be advisable to contract the currenc
and resume specie payments, IL can be q
iected without disaster, and the incYitabl
suffering can be borne"