Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-04-11
SPEECH OF
HON. JOHN A. BINGHAM,
delivered at the
Opera House, Columbus, Wed
nesday Evening, March
9th, 1872.

| FELLOW CTTiZENS: we nave entered
upon the twelfth year of the struggle
for the integrity of the Union, the SUI
premacy of the Constitution, and equal
rights of the people.
| These twelve years, from 1860 to 1872,
constitute an epoch, as marked in Amer
can affairs, as the twelve years succeed
ing the Declaration of Independence.
The first period, from '76 to 'ss, close
with the establishment of American
nationality, the formation of more
perfect Union, the adoption of that Con-
stitution which made us one people and
declared us nation, and the election to
the Presidency of the man who success
fully led the armies of the Republic
through the war for independence.
The period from 1850 TO 1872 is clos
ing with a yindicated and amended
Constitution, restored Union, revived
and unprecedented prosperity with
the man in the Presidency who led the
armies of the Republic to victory, in
defense of the nations life and the SUI
premacy of the nations laws.
The party of the first period, which
formed the Union and established
American nationality was the Repub-
lican party, the party of Washington ;
the party that saved the Union and
maintained inviolate American national
ity, was the Republican party, the par
ty of Grant. sa4s- -
As the first period closed by the cleo
ton to the Presidency and the subse-
quent reelection of the foremost man
in the struggle for our nationality, it is
fitting that the last period should close
by the reelection of the man who, un-
der Providence, saved our nationality.
This seems to be the judgment of the
people. They have so declared by i'm
plication in. the recent elections in the
States of New England, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio
and all the States of the Northwest and
the Pacific.
In this last year of the conflict for the
Union, and the supremacy of the laws
the same parties that contended in 1860
1864 and 1868 now contend for the mas
terry, inspired by the same motives and
representing the same principles.
In the contest of 1860, American ma.
tionality, the supremacy of the law:
and the faithful administration of the
government for the common defense
the general welfare and the interests O
the whole people, were put in issue. The
respective positions of these contendins
parties in that memorable contest can
not be questions of doubt.
In 1860 the Republican party con
tended for the maintenance of thu
Union, the rights of the States, th'
equal rights of the people and for thu
supremacy of the laws of the United
States, "anything in the constitution
and laws of any State to the contrary
Notwithstanding" .. .......
In 1850 the Democratic party con
tended against the supremacy of the
national constitution and laws, for th'
sovereignty of the States, and agains
the equal rights of the people. Let tn
4 facts be considered The Democratic
party declared that the several State
might, lawfully, secede from the UnioI
and assert their separate and exclusiv
sovereignty. The Republican party de
MED this alleged right of secession il
the States. The then Democratic Pres
ident of the United States (Mr. Buchan
an declared officially to the Congress
that it was unconstitutional to coerc
E seeding States, unconstitutional to de
fend the Constitution, and unconstitu
tional to enforce it by arms within tn
limits of seeding States. He was SUI
= ported in this by his party in Congres
and his Attorney General. And fol
mer Democratic President, Frankli
. Pierce, as early as January 9th, 1856
addressed letter to Jefferson Davis,
which he said: sgf the dire calamit
(disunion) must come, the fighting wi
not be along Mason's and Dixon's lin
merely. 1t will be within our ow
borders, in our own streets"
Can any man doubt that this languag
meant that the Democratic party, Mort
and South, East and West, would col
!. tend in arms for the asserted rights
=. the South, and for her reasonable s.
cession from the Union.
,r The position of the Democratic part
le in 1860, in brief words, was this:
seeding State could not rightfully
I, cOerced to submit to the National Al
thority; while the Republican par