The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1886-01-20
SENATOR SHERMAN.
Eloquent Speech Of the Distin-
guished Ohio Statesman
On the Occasion OF the Reception Ten
dered Him at the State Capital in
/ Honor OF His Reelection as
Senator from Ohio.

The reception accorded to Hon. John Sher-
man, Senator and SenAtorelect from Ohio,
in the hall OF the House Of Representatives
at Columbus on the afternoon of January
IA, was one Of the most brilliant and happy
affairs Of the kind ever held in the Capital of
Ohio. The hall was crowded and distln.
.guished visitors from all parts of the State
we're present. Upon his arrival, Senator
Sherman was escorted to the Speakers desk
and given the Speakers chair, Lieutenant
&overnor Kennedy sitting to his right and
Speaker kntrekin on the left. Lieutenant
Governor Kennedy then introduced Senator
sherman to the legislators and guests, after
which Hon. George g. Washburne delivered
an address Of welcome in behalf of the
Legislature. Mr.. Sherman responded as fol.
lows:
SENATOR sHERMAN's SPEECH.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and the House OF
My first duty on this occasion after the
magnificent reception you have given mo is
TO express TO you my profound sense of the
nigh honor you have conferred upon me.
have often. In a somewhat busy life felt how
feeble were words TO express the feelings of
the heart, When all has been said that one
can say, there is still something wanting TO
convey an adequate expression OF gratitude
and obligation. This feel more now than
ever before when you have selected me for
the NTH time TO serve as a member of the
Senate of the United States. Such trust and
coincidence reposed In me by the people OF
Ohlo through their chosen representatives,
imposes upon me an obligation of duty, an
honor more sacred than any words or prom.
1ses cnn create. / have often felt when per.
forming the public duties required Of me- a
doubt whether have not done those things
II ought not to have done and left undone
those things ought to have done, and have
often had occasion TO appeal TO the forbear.
ance OF my constituents. Still, I claim for
myself, during the now more than thirty
Years spent ~ the public service, that have
honestly and with industry endeavored to
nnd out what was best for the good of the
whole country, and, with reasonable cour.
age, have supported such measures as be-
ileyed to be right and none others. II /
have failed 10 this at any time, IL has been
an error Of Judgment which the wlsest OF
you may, without fault freely confess.
Ano now, gentlemen, for the future term
OF service TO which you have elected me-
can only, with increased experience, do what
have done In the past and with every mo.
tive that can infuenceapy man seek to pre-.
serve the favor and oestidence OF a people
as Intelligent as any on the face OF the globe.
election to the Senate. sincerely felt that
there were many citizens Of the State of Ohio
of my political faith who might rlghtfully
aspire to the dignity OF the office OF Senator
OF the United states; was very willing 10
Thought il best to continue me In this posi-
Zion IL comes TO me without solicitation or
intrigue, or any influence that is no. honor.
able to you and TO me. trust 1t win not
prove Injurious TO any portion of the people
of the State Of Ohio, whether they agree with
me In political opinions or not. accept the
ONCE as trust to be performed under tho
active vigilance OF political adycrsarles and
tho partial scrutiny of friends, but with the
sole object of promoting the honor and pros.
perity OF the United states. I can have no
motive Of solhshness or ambition to turn me
from faithful performance OF every duty
attached TO the office.
The great body Of the questions that come
before the Senate of the United States arn
non-partsan in their character. They are
as var ed AS the wants and interests OF the
most powerful republic In the world, con.
tanning nearly sixty millions of people, and
tho range OF these duties not only extends
10 making laws, but embraces also important
executive and judicial functions. In the dis.
charge OF these duties ] may reasonably
nope to please you all without distinction OF
party. for on the great body OF non.partisan
questions have voted and will vote pre.
cisely as judge Thurman the distinguished
citizen. jurist and Statesman. who has been
the choice OF many OF you for Senator, and
who was for long time my colleague In the
Senate. There Is no man living for whom
have higher respect. Upon tho few well.
defined questions that separate the two great
and will probably differ in the future. They
arise from difference OF view as TO the
nature and powers of the National Govern.
ment. Upon these questions you will expect
me TO be, and viii no doubt lnd me on the
Republican SIDE. in favor Of the exercise OF
all the powers of tho National Government
IN such way as to diversity the indus.
tries. increase the production aud add 10
fhe prosperity OF every portion OF the peo-
pie OF the United States, without respect 10
State lines, or creed. or sect, or condition.
Two great parties are Indispensable In n re.
public In order 70 present and take the judg-
nent of the people npon opposing measures
of public policy, This difference OF opinion
ought not 20 be the occasion Of heat or con.
troversy, for the mass of both parties are
sincere In their convictions. and have alike
an honest purpose to promote the common
good and general welfare Of all. The ques.
tions that come before the Senate are main
U such as affect alike all parts OF the country
Tho support of an army and navy for the
common defense, the regulation of com.
merce between the States and with foreign
nations, the raising OF revenue. both inter.
nal and external the coming OF money, the
maintenance Of the public credit and the
government Of Territories and the Indian
tribes. All these and other kindred powers
are national In their scope. and naturally
fc-med End upon which all political contests
will'turn.
Most OF these questions have been settled
by the civil war. The flag floats in undIs.
puted ascendancy In every part OF the United
States.
As we recede from tho war its issues and
its passions are disappearing from our poll
tics. All we ask is that its constitutional re-
suits shall be frankly and freely aoknowl.
edged by all; that equal rights and free and
fair elections shall be observed In every
,1state. and that the will OF the majority OK.
pressed In accordance with the Constitution
be recognized as the supreme law In national
affairs. This settled. all we have left 20 do
In Congress Ia 10 decide such questions as
arise in regard 10 our currency, our coinage,
our revenues, and to apportlOn among the
greet objects OF national legislation the
taxes collected under national laws.
But these duties, though important TO the
whole country, are notso important TO the
people OF Ohio as those imposed upon you
as the lawmaklng power OF the State. You
are charged with all the domestic concerns
that affect most nearly the life, the habits,
the education Of the people the administra.
zion of justice and the Infinite duties and
obligations that grow out of the organization
of counties cities, townships and school dis
trcts. Your duties touch the home life,
and child In the state. never could see
why the excitement OF party politics grow
fng out Of national analrs should disturb the
needed order and careful management Of
State affairs. IL would seem thar party poll.
tics should scarcely enter into the details OF
State legislation, or, II at all, only when some
question distinctly political Is presented to
the people.
Ohio, when allude to three or four sub
jects Of paramount Importance upon which
you are called upon TO legislate, neither OF
which. in my judgment, is partisan in Its
character.
The greatest OF all, because everything de.
ponds upon II, IL to secure to the people OF
Ohio fair and honest elections, an honest
count and true returns. Upon this every
thing depends without II you have an.
archy, riots and civil war With such nn
election every man will readily submit 10 the
Judgment OF the majority. Our system of
sIections has superseded klngly preroRatlve
and the domination or few. our expert
enoe has shown that tho average judgment
OF the people. fairly presented In popular
sieotions 10 the highest wisdom and tho