The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-01-18
NuHdfaL
HON. GEORGE Il. PENDLE7ON.
His Speech at the Columbus Meet
ing of OhiO's Democratic Rep
resentatiOn,


GENTLEMEN OF THE CoNvENTIoN-l came
this afternoon to hear the report of youl
Committee on Resolutions. That, as
understand 1t, is the main business tc
which you are expected to give your at
tention, and would not presume for one
moment to occupy your time, even though
invited by these friendly calls, except
that / have heard your president pro-
nonnce that the committee on nresolutions
is not ready to report.
Mr.. President and gentlemen, | rejoice
to see this immense meeting. rejoice
that this call Of those who are in favor OF
a fair. honest, legal peaceful solution of
the G isis which is before us has brought
forth this mighty assemblage Of the peo-
ple The popular instinct has given warn
inc of the danger which threatens our
institutions. The popular heart responds
promptly to the call to avert it. The
memories of this anniversary have re-
awakened all our patriotism. The emer-
pency demands that patriotism rising
above the plane Of partisanship into the
purer realm ofunselfsh love of country
and devotion to constitutional liberty,
should inspire all our cOunsels and our
actions Let us lay aside the passion
which ''tendeth to folly" and remember
the Injunction: "Be ye angry and sin
not"
Gentlemen, what is the condition that
confronts us2 The question is not as to
whether Governor Hayes or Governor
Tilden has been elected the question is
not whether Governor Hayes or Cover
nor Tiden shall be inaugurated; it is no
question of personal preference; no Re-
publican in the land possesses public con-
fidence more fully-or, as | think, de-
serves it more full-than GOvernorHayes;
it is no question of partisan advantage;
these questions are important 70 individ
uals or parties, but they dwarf into the
smallest ns,gn6cance in comparison to
the real question so vital to free govern
ment. which confronts us. The question
is. whether the true result of The late
presidential election shall be fairly and
legally ascertained; and whether, when
so ascertained. the candidate actually
elected shall be peacefully inaugurated
and sustained in the duties and RESPONSE
biites of his great Office
This is the question, Alasl that in our
first Centennial year it should have aris
en-. Consider how it has been brought |
forward.
In early September of last year the At. |
torney General of the United States is
sued his famous circular to the marshals |
in the Southern States, 1t provided that;
l. Every impediment or hndrance to
registration or voting every interference |
with the personal freedom or security of
the voter; every act of violence on ac'
count of a vote to be given, or COM piracy
on account of vote which has been Civ
en-; Everything in general which hin
ders or prevents free exercise of the
elective franchise" is breach of the
peace" of the United States, and justi6es
arrest, and suppression of the riot Incl
dent thereto.
2 Marshals must prevent such "breach
of the peace"
8. To 90 this they must be present, Ell
thei in person or by deputy, at every
place Of registration and voting.
3. They may appoint any number OF
deputies.
8. Any marshal or deputy may at will
summon the posse.
s Every person, military organization,
officer of the army or navy, troops of the
United States, officer OF a State, Sheriff,
Governor, even The posse of a Sheriff al
ready organized to keep the peace of the
State, must serve and obey the marshal.
And having stated these duties, and re-
cognzed these vast discretionary powers
the Attorney General warns the mar
shals tlat notorious events OF recent oc-
currenCe render it grave duty to be pre-
pared to preserve and defend that peace
at the coming Presidential elections, and
to counteract that "partial malice; wrong
headedness or reconsideration which
sometimes trumphs at critical moments
over the conservative forces of society,
and to which the present and passing
condition of the count gives more than
ordinary strength" N
The Indian campaign in the West was
abruptly closed. The troops were re-
called. They were distributed freely
throughout the Southern States. They
were placed there subject to the call Of
the marshals and their deputies. The
deputies were greatly increased in num-
bers. for the marshals were instructed to
have a deputy continuously at every
place of registration aud of voting, and
those deputies we're instructed that ev-
ery hindrance to a fair registration and
election, whether by force of threats of
harm to be done for intending to vote, or
for having voted, was breach OF the
peace for which they might arrest with
out warrant by the aid of the military
power. The States of South Carolina,
Florida and Louisiana swarmed with
these marshals, and were bountifully
supplied with these troops. ...
For what purpose were these provis-
ions made? Certainly not to aid the
Democratic party. Certainly motto keep
the peace, tor there was absolute peace.
The object was-everybody knows it per-
iectly wel-to aid the Republican party.
hav, heard good men palIiate this ac-
ton by saying. though illegal and unnec'
essary, it could do no harm. Fellow-cit-
izens, every exercise of illegal power in
civil administration does harm. Peacel
order this is the pretext of despotism
everywhere and at all times. Napoleon
maintained order in 1895 by masslng the
army against the sections, and the direc-
tory power soon passed into the empire.
Marshal Soult called into requisition
the army to maintain the peace of Paris
for the citizen king in 1880 and eighteen
years of despotism followed. Lamartine
used the army to preserve order against
the working men in l848, ,andin 6 months
his Republic, with liberty, fraternity
and equality" had given place to Napol {
con ia the palace of the Elysse. Presi. {
dent Napoleon used the army to save So {
Cial order in France in 1851, and in one
year he was Emperor. Burke, in his in
dignation exclaimed, "You make des- {
ert and you call it peace" Beware lest t
we may have it in all sadness to say
"You maintain the qiietude of military I
despotism, and call it the peace of Ii er.
ty."" Imltste rather the sturdy virtue Of t
our English ancestors, who, more than a
hundred years ago, during the most cor; {