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

HueHce, resolved that, upon Inc pros
ecution and results of the war, they
would establish a political power
which should permanently control the
government. Involved in that scheme
was also the purpose of concentrating
in the federal government jurisdic-
tien and authority far beyond that /
conferred by the constitution. 4
. The first heresy adopted in support T
of the scheme, was, that the executive |
was the government, and that to ques-
ton or oppose its authority or acts |
was an act of hostility, and akin to /
treason. Upon this was based the
claim that opposition must be sup !
pressed, and to that end the military
power of the nation was unemployed
and abused Men who honestly be-
slieved that the political policy of the
administration was unwise, subver-
sive of the constitution, and detrimen-
tai to the public welfare, were seized
at their homes, at their places of busi-
ness, and upon the highways, and car
ried off to prisons, to trials by tribu-
mats unknown to our people, and to
cruel punishments. BY these bold
proceedings it was intended that the
people should be stricken with fear;
that the popular voice should be
hushed into silence, and that the
4 11cf% bo onrrAnnt of
government must be regulated by the
win of the people, as expressed in.
their constitution and laws, should be
suhYented.g .ga3se .-rs
1t was intended to paralyze men,
and then the ambitious and venal
might, with impunity, prey upon the
! rights and the substance of the peo-
! pie. It has cost us some of the an
| cient, guards and securities of liberty,
and great sums of money. 1t has
made some men rich, but has greatly
augmented the public debt. eL
*aG * L.oG sslii f8FElte :: 60
Is there any good man whose heart
/ does not send up to Heaven the aspi-
| ration for the return of government
| that is blessing only, and protec-
| ton. Such government NAV again
be ours, but we must first return to
the doctrine of Washington, that the
military power shall be subordinate
to the civil authority. 'aE- ->r.s.fs'9=
4 3
1 need not speak of the excellence
of a system of government SO arrang
ed. Before the breaches were made
/ in the walls, our great statesmen and
orators pronounced it the most per-
feet structure ever devised for the pro-
lection of man, and the security of
public and private rights and expert
ence has justified their highest en-
comiums, and the most sanguine hopes
of its founders. The rapid increase of
wealth and population, the develops
: ment of our resources, and the indi-
4 vidual and collective happiness. of the
4 people, all attest how well it was
adapted to our condition and wants as
people.
q But now the work. of our fathers
remains only in part. For eight years
: the spirit of innovation and encroach-
; ment, taking advantage of the war,
has controlled the political councils of
the nation. One by one the rights and
powers which our fathers retained to
the states, are being withdrawn from
) them and absorbed in the central au-
J thority. The states grow weak, and
: the federal government becomes very
strong. The. stars of the states that
! once shown with clear and steady
light upon our banner, grows dim,
whilst the central sun dazzles and
) bliuds with its brilliance and burns
with its heat. The states are our
} home governm ents, the guardians of
onr fireside rights. Under their
shields the families, schools, churches,
i. labor, capital, trade and enterprise
: cluster in happy security. -' ,''.
My countrymen, under what delu-
/, sion, and upon what false philosophy,
: have you consented, and do you now
| consent, to their destruction, and
: founding upon their ruins a colossal
> power. Is it possible that you have
: been misled into the opinion that your
: domestic and home governments, un-
7 der your immediate eye and jealous
e watchfulness, cannot be trusted, whilst
e a stronger power farther removed
r from the people and defiant of thei1
e authority, will not be swerved by am
: bition or corrupted by the influences
: of degenerate times? a9.'-
3 The experience of few short years
e alrerdy teaches us lesson not to be
: misunderstood. No sooner were the
e doctrines of the fathers abandoned
Y than the schemes OF ambition and lust
: of power appeared in Congress, and
j, the profligate expenditure of the peo
S pies money, exhausted their treasury
: and increased their burdens. l an
n not ignorant of the earnest desire O.
: the people. especially since the war
t that the federal government shall pos
e sess sufficient authority for its owr
e protection; and with that desire
o sympathize. Iwould have it clothed
: with power to compel obedience to it,
e constitutional authority at home ant
e everywhere, and at all times respec
y abroad. But to that end, l would pro
: tect and preserve the states i'll thei
IS rights, dignity and yigor, for upor
d them, as well as upon the shoulders o
}, the people, the fathers placed the fed
1, eral structure. -..
e All men would proclaim that archi
II tect mad who, to strengthen the beau
In tiful and majestic dome in its granl
It eminencee upon our national capitol
d would strike repeated and heavy