The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-08-24

And so, when half seas over,
Over the seas went he-
In fixing up the family
He'd brook no slow delay;
And while his Uncle Samuel
Was filled with wild dismay,
To find his soldier President
So in the family way.
-#asAington City Capital
SPEECH OF
d. S. WALLACE,
The Democratic Candidate for
attorney General,
At Van Vert, Ohio, August 14th,
81 1871.
MY FELLow-C CITIZENS: Permit me
to congratulate you tesday upon the
cheering prospects of the Democratic
party. That party of reform, of pro-
gress, and of constitutional venera-
ton is again about to assume control
of the destinies of this great nation,
and with renewed energy, enlarged
facilities, and continued devotion to
constitutional liberty, it Will rescue
the foundering ship of state, reman
her, and, avoiding Scylla on one side
and Charybdis on the other, guide her
triumphantly to the hayen where is
secured peace, prosperity and protec-
ton to all.
The Democratic party has profited
by experience. Unlike the Bourbons,
it can forget and does learn. Itis not
the sickly growth of fanatical preju-
dice or sectional animosity il was
not brought into existence by an over
weaving desire for public spoils, nor
is it dependent for its life upon the
misfortunes or jealousies OF the peD-
pie. 1t came into existence in the IN
fancy of the Republic, when freedom
needed fostering and liberty demand
ed care. 1t is not a thing of shreds
and patches, organized for transient
purpose and thrown hap-hazard to-
gether in undistinguishable mass,
without form, consistency or propor-
tion by some sudden and temporary
pressure, and passing away with the
occasion which gave it being, or mold
ing itself to the form of every popu-
lar humor, and seeking to fill its sails
with every new wind of doctrine as
il passes either in zephyr or tempest
over the waves of public caprice, born
and dying with the breath which
made it. No, the Democratic party
is founded upon principles which new
er die. 1t may altar its forms and
originate new measures, for as in
principle it is essentially conservative,
so in policy it is the party of true pro-
gress. 1t possesses within itself re-
Operative powers, and it is this nat
ural vitality, this self-generating force.
which distinguishes it from all other
parties. The Democratic party has
always been true to itself, true to the
great principles which brought it in
to existence, and the teachings of the
fathers. There is nothing in the re-
cord of that party which can not bear
full and complete discussion ; and, as
Democrat, glorying in the tradi-
tions, believing in the principles, and
revering the maXims of the party, |
sayit should be a matter of pride to
every member of that great organiza-
ton that he belongs to party pledg-
ed to do away with the abuses and
corruptions which have been permit
ted to grow up and endanger the re-
publican institutions of this land.
The union of our States sprung not
from the Revolution, like Minerva
from the brain of Jove, but was the
growth of centuries of struggles and
discipline; for, while its principles
inspired the genius of Milton, and
were written in the blood of Hamp-
den and Vane, it was only after years
of training that the American Colo
nists had become prepared for trea-
son. British tyranny brought remon-
STRANGE and finally revolution. Then
came the cont1ict-then freedom un-
der the Confederation. And in the
year l7SS the people of the thirteen
States which composed the Confede-
rate Union, /" in order to found more
perfect Union, establish justice, in
sure domestic tranquility, provide for
the common defense, promote the
general welfare, and secure the bless
ings of liberty for themselves and
their posterity," surrendered por-
ton of their sovereignty, and, as the
browning glory of all, ordained and
established the Constitution of the
United States of America. That in
strument was not intended to provide
merely for the exigencies of a few
years, but was to endure through
long lapse of ages, the events of which
were locked up in the inscrutable pur-
poses of Providence. 1t, being the
parent and founder of the Federal
Government, expresses in plain and
concise terms the power and authori-
ty delegated by the people. And the
powers not delegated by the Consti-
tuition, nor prohibited by it to the
States, are reserved to the States re-
spectively, or to the people. The
powers of the States depended upon
their own Constitutions and the
people of every State had the right
to modify and restrain them accord
ing to their own views of principle
of policy. The sovereign powers
vested in the State Governments by
their respective Constitutions re-
mained unaltered and unimpaired, ex-
cept SO far as they were granted to
the Government of the United States.
The States were only less powerful
after the adoption of the Constitution
than before, to the extent that their
sovereignty had been expressly sur
rendered. Each was, in fact and in
law, a sovereign, whose sovereignty
was only abridged by the delegation
of certain powers to the Federal Gov
ernment. The people of the States
were the grantors, and for the pur-
poses expressly stipulated in the char
ter. The Democratic party have al
ways demanded that the charter
should be strictly construed. They
cherish, and uphold the system of
State, government of State and local
purposes, and a General Government
for general purposes only. They be-
lieve in the rights of the States; in
the duality of our Government.
Fifteen amendments to the Consti-
tuition haua hQan adnntad Tho first