, 1869-05-14
Judge wyche,s Address.

on the pOlltiCai toPiSS " e-AS NSJ' AHS
Judge said he had always thought there
was all impropriety in Judges engaging in
the political cauvasses of the times; and so
for the last eight years, while he had been
on the bench. he had made but one politi>
cal speech. He engaged in the canvass
now, because he was about to retire from the
bench-both in accordance with bis own
purpose, and what was more to the point,
the purpose of President Grant. However,
he had no reason to complain, as he had
enjoyed the confidence and favor of the
Government far beyond his merits.
The Judge said he would say few words
in reference to the candidates, before he dis
cussed any of the political questions. 1t
was said that Moore was not sufficiently iden,
tilted with the democratic party; and while
there might be some force in the objection,
10 democrat would doubt about which Of
the two candidates was the more identified
with the democratic party and so, while
there might be force in the objection that
Moore had not resided great while in the
Territory, he thought it was stand of on
that point between the two candidates /: as
Moore had not lived long enough in the Ter
ritory, and Garfiede had lived too long in it;
or TO express the idea in different words
Moore was not 'ceH enough knoaon in the Ter
ritory, ard Garffelde was too peU knowD.
The Judge then spoke briefly in difference
to the characters of the candidates. He
thought the characters of the men should not
be overlooked uood and true men could be
elected only by defeating bad men. Some
said they would support yellow dog, if
nominated, bur while he believed in party
fealty, and in supporting the nominees of Il
party, yet, he wished it understood that he
did not belong to the yellow dog wing of
any party; and he never would use any in
fueuce he might have in impressiug upon
the public the belief, that bad men should
Command support equally with good men.
The Judge then said the claims of the re-
publican party, to the confidence and sup
port of, the people would be examined un>
der two general divisions.
|. The general course Of the republican
party in reference to the Southern States,
since the close of the war, as cvinced in
the " reconstruction measures" as they are
called
.. The general finance policy of the gov
eminent the proposed fifteenth amendment
to the Constitution, and the general deprsv-
ity aud corruption Of the republican party.
The speaker said he had ouly time to discuss
the first general division Of the subject,
which discussion would embrace the merits
OF the fifth resolution of the democratic
platform adopted at Vancouver. The Judge
then proceeded to show that the late rebel
States, are States in the Union and always
have been; and hence the legislation of Con-
gress was subvcrsivc of their rights as
States aad in support of this position, the
speaker cited lrst, the history Of the forma.
tion Of the constitution; second, the debate
in Congress, in 1929, in which the charac-
ter of The government was discussed by Mr..
Webster; and since the stately steppings of
that great argument in history it was as
with mans puny hand to turn back the
waves OF the advancing sea.
3. The declarations Of President Lincoln,
in his inaugural address, Of March, 1861
his message Of May, 1861 his different
proclamations and messages during the war;
the Crittcnden resolution Of Juy 22d, 1861;
and the various acts and votes Of the repub>
lican party during the war, and after its
close; and lastly, the decision made only last
month by the Supreme Court of the United
States, in the Texas case" as it was call
ed, where seven out OF the eight Judges
held that Texas is one Of the States of the
Union, and has continued to be SO ever since
its incor poration in the Union Of the States
OF the eight judges, five were appointed by
MIR. Lincoln, and were republicans and SO
the decision has the greater weight The
Judge said these authorities overthrew the
position advanced by Garfelde, and sustained
tie resolution Of the democratic platform
The Judge then proceeded to show, at a
late date the republican party abandoned this
notion. or ground, aud held that the late
Rebel States were territories, and no longer
States Of the Union and republican Con.
gress proceeded to legislate for them. The
Judge then proceeded TO say that this
change in the position Of the republican par,
ty, was for the purpose Of keeping the South
disorganized, and preventing these States
from having voice in the Presidential cleo.
tiou, and SO perpetuate the. party in power
To carry out this fixed purpose, u variety of
iniqHitous measures were inausurated. The
speaker proceeded to show some of the fruits
Of this policy; such as the obnoxious pro.
visions Of many Of the State constitutions
the giving of the ballot to oil the uneduca.
ted and ignorant negroes, and the wholesale
disfranehsement of the whites SO that
while the whites in the rebel states had a
majority of over Il million and quarter, yet
under the iniquitous disfranchisement laws
the negroes had majority Of some forty,
Eve thousand votes.
The speaker then proceeded to show the
iniquity of the act recently passed by Con.
sress, requiring Georgia, Mississippi and
Texas 10 ratifv the fiffepnth I,onst,,ut;on.l