Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-28
She-man's Speech.

publican leaders. his specOh was u"
tended 10 furnish the keynote OF the
campaign. 1t was deliberately thought
ont and written out no doubt, and will
be regarded by the small-fry stumpers
Of Ohio Is orders from headquarters
directing them what sort OF speeches
10 make.
MIR. SBERxAN's reference to the
Confederate leaders who, with the
oath of Office to support the Constitu-
ton fresh upon their lips, conspired and
confedersted to overthrow it," dis
cracos nobody but himself. In that
declaration he attacked General LEE
and every man in the South who ever
held an office, State or Federal, and
afterwards went into "rebellion." He
we'll knew the charge Of perjury to be
false. and be made it with intent to de-
ceive the unthinking masses. 1t APP
plies. of course, as much to Ma
HONE, LoSGsTREET, and SHERMAN's
most distinguished allies in the South
as to the leaders Of the Democratic
party. II there had been Democrat
present at Mount Gilead privileged to
reply to SHERMAN, he could have over
whelmed the Ohio Senator on this point.
For look at the facts. Where is the
Federal Constitution of 1860? Gone,
buried out Of sight forever, so far as re-
CARDS number of its provisions; and
MIR. SHERMAN, who had over and over
again sworn to support that Constitu-
ton as it then existed, is one Of the
men who made those changes in it.
Does he, therefore, stand convicted Of
perjury? We won't say that; but we
will say that his conscience cannot be
as clear as those Of the distinguished
men whom he attacks for he knows
that the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fif-
teenth amendments to the Federal Con-
stitution were ratified under duress,
and not in the manner prescribed in the
Constitution itself, whereas the distin-
cuished southrOns whose States passed
ordinances Of secession conscientiously
believed that their several States
had the right to secede and
thus TO free them from the oath
to support the Federal COnsti-
tuition. The said amendments have,
however, been recognized as valid by
the Supreme Court Of the United States,
and are, therefore, to all intents and
purposes, an integral part Of the Con-
stitution.
Where was SHERMAN's oath to sup
port the Constitution when he voted to
erect West Virginia into e State with.
out the consent Of the State Of Vir-
ginia, and in violation of the provision
OF that instrument which declares that
no new State sh,ll be erected within
the territory of an existing State with.
out the consent Of the latter State
Well did he know when he cast the
vote that the State OF Virginia had
never given her consent to the erection
Of the new State.
The charge of perjury, we repeat, il
"mean " one, intended to deceiv,
and mislssd only the ignorant but if i
were true, neither SHERMAN nor any
of his osth-breaking associates VIII
were parties to SO many unconstitu
tional acts during and for years ate
the war between the States could safely
refer to the subject. But SHERMAr
had the impudence to say, 1--WE tough
for the abolition Of slavery" thougl
the Constitution he had so often sworI
TO support recognized, and rs far as i
could protected, that institution.
Mr.. SHERMAN compares the resto
ration Of the Democrats to power {
the restoration Of CHARLES III. I
the throne Of England. Certainl
CHARLRs's title to the crown we
sgood one. 1t was indisputable. Th
entire people of England appeared {
favor his return. Where are IN
enemies? }" he asked, as he made hi
triumphal progress to London. An
CHARLES remained King as long as h
lived. That's good sign for tn
Democratic party If Mr.. SHERMAN
illustration is worth anything.
Mr.. SHERMAN first attacked tn
leading "rebels," or those who, h
would have the ignorant Buckeyes be
lieve, were guilty of perjury, an,
then went on to wave the blood
shirt rs warning to all tn
"rebels Of less note. lie mourn
because these "rebels" did not con
tinue rebellious. BE complains be
cause SO many public Offices are flllec
by gallant Confederstes. He has pu
down the "rebellion too efectually
lie did not want the rebels to becom,
devoted TO the Union, bat merely de-
sired them 70 return to the Union as tar
payers. We doubt not that SHERMAN
and all others Of the Republican lead
ers who are no more patriotic than he
is would rather have seen the southern
States out OF the Union than CLEvE-
LAND in Office.
Bot the worst Of al is that we have