Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-09-29
Extracts from Speech by Ex.GOvern'
or Oslesby, before the Recent
Illinois Republican State
Convention.

| 4
1t is in grand Iepose but let the finger of
patriotism but touch the soul OF that q eat
party, and you will see it spring up again,
take 1hold7 lof the helm of this
government and run it yet for long years
to come. [Applausel. Sirs, we are the
friends of human liberty, we are friends of
human justice, we are the friends of the
rich and the poor. [Applause.1 We are
the friends OF liberty the world over
While our forefathers are ever entitled to
honor from US and the world for their
great efforts in behalf of human liberty,
and for having conferred on us the best
government on the globe, our great and
noble forefathers were not quite able to
reach nj to the highest point toward
which,theylaimed. They dealt with ter
rlble foe. Human slavery was about them,
and they were a young and weak nation,
contendiug against prejudice and against
power aud life of a growing institution,
Theys gave us the most perfect liberty.
They gave us government that was cal
culated to protect life, liberty and proper
ty; and no other government in the
world can do more, and be perfect gov.
ernment, for the sole object of political |
government is to protect the people, and |
the liberty and property of the citizen. IL |
gave US that form of government, but II |
was not quite able to lift up the govern
ment, its citizens and inhabitants, to per |
feet equality with its other citizens, and in |
the enjoyment of personal liberty. This |
grand party, after years OF solemn ex-
perience, this great political organization |
called the Republican party, gathered up |
from all the corners OF the republic, came |
together, took hold of the Constitution of
the Union, took hold of the institution OF
slavery, purified, finished and perfected the
one, and exterminated the other forever.
[Applause1 Tell me that the party
that stands on basis like this can
ever fail to meet the approval of
the American people! Sir, who is the
man that is ambitious to have the time
come when he can say, l was once a Re;
putlican-I used to bo Republican
SffJhow much more splendid it is to say,
"Ihave ever been, and ever shall be Re-
publican" Applause. The Republican
party is the rock of the nations safety to
day, and its brow is crowned with the
wreath of imperishable glory. 1t is en-
titled to the affection, confidence and re-
spect of all mankind the world over. Our
Constitution is altogether changed now.
Your liberties are not increased, nor are
mine--not at all. The government of the
United States to-day, and the people living
under it. are incapable of confetring any
more liberty upon you than you enjoy now
You are free and indepenoent-whlte,
black, and all others within the jurisdic-
tion of the nation, standing upon perfect
equality before the law. No government
can confer higher powers upon you, or
greater liberty upon YOU We are the
treest government to-day the world has
ever seen. 1t is of no use to talk OF
ancient history, no use to talk about the
republics of Greece and Rome, and all
other forms of government that have pre-
ceded as upon the globe. We are the only
government that ever was absolutely free
Tapplausel, and man with such impulses
and inspirations as these, who cannot af-
ford tocbs a Republican, even in a dull
time, is half unfit to live at all. Laugh
ter The party is full of the pure. warm,
hot bleUds of patriotism it is full of love OF
country, full of love of liberty, full of the
love OF the rights of man, full of the love
of Justice, full of the love of public tran
ouilityand public peace, and the preser-
vation of,public order; and day let it
alone, 4etsit remain in power, and 1t Will
go forward with the affairs of the nation,
Beautifully and powerfully. There is not
question to-day that we cannot manage
sensibly snd coolly.
s5suA t7'F 4
Do you intend to pay the national debt9
Every dollar OF it. Do we intend to tax
the bonds held by bondholders? Not at
all it Is not honest. ADVISE no Amerl-
can tddo it, and cannot trust any party
in political power which threatens that It
will ever do it in the remotest degIee.
Why did the Constitution give congress
power to borrow money! Inc power "
carry on this government o ongress i%ey shall
Seo W oe Aver TO Law and collect IaAes, 1S, ~
t;as ipnosts and excises. What lott ~
nav nav the public debt, provide for thff ,tlhffare re of
mon defence aRe bb&eff- of taxation was
the peoprTomplete, but we chose not to
ample>9 that during the war. What did
or0 d0A We took up another clause
Congress shall have power to b .rroW
moneyry5Anu, when the National Con
gress and national people borrow money,
it is like an individual who borroHs
money, who borrows it intending to pay
it back, If he is an honest man, and it
makes no difference what we receive for
the bonds. They can make no difference,
and we%afe bound to take them back at
par. l call tnis political morality, person
al honesty and personal integrity, and it
is that way the American people are fol-
lowing to-day. The Democratic party
may call till doomsday, but it cannot
drive them down the plane of descending
dishonesty.
No; the Republicans should retain
control of this government until the pub
lie credit shall have been assured, and un-
til there shall be no question concerning
it. want the people to understand it a.
thoroughly as they do that other provis-
ion of the Constitution, the validity OF
which no man has ever yet denied. What
is that? That the United States shall not
grant a title of nobility. Is nybody op,
posed to that Whenever the public SEN
timent Of the country shall come to such
pitch that 1t can sustain the national
credit to that extent, it will be time to
quit the, discussion of this subject. hold
1t of essential importance that this national
credit be maintained, and the platform of
1868 pledges you to it,
Ought there be any misunderstanding on
the TARIFF You cannot have your views
no particular man can have his exact views
upon the question. 1t is q very delicate
and difficult financial question: ques
ton of political economy-that requires
greatstudy, and great investigation, to ar.
rive at proper solution. Then what po-
sition does this Republican party occupy
upon this question? How would | vote
derstand 10 be the sentiment of this ma.
tional party-not the Republican party OF
Illinois or Indiana, but The Republican
party of the whole great Union? | should
endeavor TO vote according to what 1 un.
dersand to be the sentiment of the Re-
publican party upon the question as il is
that atsriR shall be raised under the tax
ing power conferred by the Constitution
in pain and simple language; and tariff
shall be levied upon imports-that duties
shall be imposed upon imports-for the
purpose of raising a revenue to carry on
the government and discharge the ma,
tional debt | understand that to be the
cardinal point settled upon by the Repub
llcan party even as far back as 1860; and
in levylpg that tariff Tor revenue a just re-