Oregon Republican. [volume] (Dallas, Or.) 1870-1872, 1870-09-24


ordinances of secession, you shall not de-
stroy this Union. But the war came !;
the people, irrespective of parties, di-
vided on that line, and our nationality
has been maintained. But how has ii
heen maintained, by the second, sober
thought? No, but by the sword. Did
'he sword ever settle political or re
lisious question? Never; for if the
people shall 60 to the ballot box and
BY their vote. do just what the seces,
sioDists desired to accomplish by the
use of the sword, then Of what avail
was the pouring ont Of all our blood
and treasure. And what has been done
hy the General Government to correct
this evil siuce the war through the civ
il channels, by way Of amendment TO
our fundamental law or otherwise ?
Nothing, simply nothing. And why
has this measure-of such vital i'm
portance-been overlooked aud neg
lectcd Because, in our Judgment,
many of the men who are assisting to
manage the ship of State, aud who
cried out SO loudly against secession for
the last ten years. do not desire it.
They want TO reserve the right and
continue on record an excuse for them
selves to secede, if il should become
necessary for their particular benefit,
instead Of amending the Constitution,
So as to rivet upon us the principle oi
universal suffrage Our servants in
Congress assembled should have len.
their whole energies to have procured
IN amendment which would have set
ted the question over which so much
blood had been spilled, one that should
settle this'vexed question Of cons,rnc>
ton, aud declare explicitly either that
We did or did not possess nationality
but instead Of doing what We onght
We have become guilty Of sins Of onis-
sion and commission. We have omit
ted to settle the main luestion at issue
and we have actually iuaugurated an
extreme as dangerous 10 the existence
of the Government as that which has
been the cause of all our trouble, dis
tress and disgrace The moment We
ceased the cry Of on to Richpunti, vi
raised the cry of on to universal sui,
lrage; and, in spite Of the many pro
tests entered by conservatives aud mcr
Of sense, who desired the perpetuity o
Republicanism above all other consid,
erations, we have gone on, step by step
until to-day. as a party, We are in sigh
of the precipice over which we ar,
soon to 90, unless We retrace our hast,
steps; and if we shall dash ourselves
TO pieces agaiGst ibis rock, then H.,
Government goes quietly into the hand
of that party in whose ranks are fount
the very men who advance the othc
extreme, States sovereignty"
But we are asked how shall this re
! - T
oarchial government be stricken out
| We answer, in the language of Grov
er's message, let the Legislatures OF th
several States concur in demanding
national convention composed of meu
fresh from the hands Of the people b,
election. who shall revise the Constitutio,
IN accordance with the cry OF the pop
ulace, and let the rights Of fhe State
! be stated and settled in such nlanne
as shall forever establish the national
ity of this Republic, the supremacy o
the General aGovernment over that q
an individual State, and place the sea
OF condemnation upon the doctrine Q
peaceable secession heyond the hope q
possibility Of resurrection. Then, an
not until then. shall we have hin th
| foundation of perpetuity. and theschie
corner stone Of a political iustitutio
, that shall bless the world.
The Ieoiaiators of Oregon have pel