The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-07-12

| upon the Wabash, the orator gave lengthy
| sketch OF the boyhood Of the deceased states.
| man. He then referred to the first appearance
| OF the deceased Vice President In public life as
| o representative from the county Of Shelby in
| the General Assembly, and In which capacity
| he left upon the minds OF his colleagues such
| an opinion OF his abilities as laid the foun.
! dation OF that respect and esteem in which he
| always continued to be held by them and their
| constituencies.
Coming down to war times the orator SAID
| that as a Senator Mr.. Hendricks constantly
acted and voted in aid OF the Government in
| every measure looking TO the suppression OF
armed Instructions against its authority, al
though he always reserved the right, us Sen.
ator freely to discuss the civil policy of the nd
ministration. His suggestions and amend
ments to the pending bills for the maintain.
| ance Of the National forces then in the field
| were so timely, useful and important as fire.
quently to command the approval OF the ma
jority of the Senators politically adverse TO his
| views.
| At the conclusion OF the civil wa-, in that day
| which saw the surrender OF the Confederate
| forces, there came the question as TO what dis
| position should be made OF the States whose
| people had taken part in the insurrection de-
| signed to subvert the Government. This grave
| problem was presented to Hendricks in the
midst OF his term as Senator; while in the
| whole range of former legislation and juris-
prudence there was II precedent for the solu-
tion thereof. The problem was peculiarly
American only TO be solved by wise and com.
prehensive consideration of the laws, the insti-
tutional theories, political traditions and his
tory of our own States and people. In this
crisis of deliberation Hendricks stood, upon his
side, almost alone. With the immutablc calm
and quiet which sustain the high spirit upon
such occasions, at u very early period in the de-
bate upon the bill for the establishment Of mill
tary governments in the Southern States he
took this position:
II desire this to be Union in form under
the constitution and in fact by the harmony of
the people of the North and South, deny that
Mt the close of the war there were no State gov
ernments in the Southern States. The constitu.
tion of n State when il has once been admitted
becomes part OF the National compact.
deny that the people of that State have the
right TO destroy its Government, and thus
cease TO be within the Union. deny that n
convention, n Legislature, or any other assem-
bly, whatever, can voluntarily terminate the
existence OF their State government, and thus
cut OFF their connection with the Federal
Union" And again he said: Il deny that any
act of the State, rs u question OF law, can have
the effect TO destroy the relation Of the State
To the Union"
Practically the relations were disturbed,
practically the State was for time not in
harmony with the general Government. But
its existence as q State, its constitution and
laws, except those enacted in aid of the re-
bellion continued all the way through the war,
and when peace came Is found the State with
its constitution and laws unrepealed and in
full force holding that State to its place in the
Federal Government.
In this course taken, OF q regular and legiti-
mate reconstruction of the Union Of the States,
few followed him. This doctrine, from the very
day and hour Of its utterance was rejected
with every epithet of reproach and contumely.
II was beaten, submerged by large majorities
In both houses OF Congress; decried as an un
conditional surrender 10 the enemy. In the
pelting storm OF detraction and opposition its
author and advocate remained unmoved; not
only waiting but labOring with all diligence
for that reversal of opinion among his country
men, which, after years OF toll and strife, came
at last. Hendriclts lived 10 see those princi-
pies, once SO much denounced, universally ap
proved - soc this policy OF reconstruction
adopted as the basis OF all legislation upon
the subject; ultimately, TO behold these tcnets
sanctioned and declared to be the law OF the
land by its highest tribunal, tho Supreme
Court of the United States Thus he taught
the lesson OF those days, never 10 DO forgotten,
that the war had been waged fer the preserya.
tion OF the Union. not Tor the destruction Of
the States. II Webster be styled the eX
FOUNDER OF the old constitution. with its hall
truths and compromises, upon subject noted
but unnamed therein, Hendricks may be as
Justly called the expounder OF the new.
Referring to the controversy in the Hayes
Tildon campaign, Senator iurpio said: I'm
Dns suprenely critical juncturo OF our National
nnairs, for maily days, like Fabius OF old he
walked and safely l.ept the q - ~ peril. merit
ny IN this .he simpe ye' august decree Of the