Year: 1870

upon this political canvass rather
lazily.. We have had q long and


wearisome session Of Congress,
where talk flowed in an uninterrup-
ted stream. The heat was sometimes
more sitting than in any harvest
field in Ohio. In the Senate we have


no way to stop debate, except to


wear out the longest talker of them
all-and sometimes it required all
night for this. You can imagine


how charming a change it was from


heated sessions to the country air of
Ohio and to the freedom of social
life at home. 1 was, therefore, glad


that the Republican Committee,


charged with the management Of this
canvass, left US to rest awhile, and
it is now in obedience to their requst


that 1, as one of vour public agents,


come here to discuss the political


questions of the day.


/ congratulate you on the fact that


these questions are comparatively


unimportant. 1t is true they affect


the material interests of forty-two


millions Of people-but they do not
involve our national existence or


fundamental principles. like those


that have occupied US for more than


fifteen years. The slavery question


excited the deep, strong and i'm


passioned interest ofus all. The war
involved the lives of millions of our
people, moving them to extraordin-


ary activity and bringing into our
political contests the passions in


scparable from war. The questions


of reorganization affected rights of


States, or large masses OF citizens g.
Now slavery is abolished, the war is


over, and all the States are in their


proper sphere-a part ola great and
powerful nation.


We still have some vestiges of the


war in lawless violence in the South
but considering the magnitude of


the contest, no war ever ended more


happily. or. in its general results.


has been more beneficial TO friend
and foe. 1t is quite natural for peo-


pie after the long excitement of such
a struggle to fold their arms, and
let politics and elections go as they
will. But in Government like ours,


where everything depends upon the
popular judgment, we can take but
little rest. New questions arise or
old questions are revived; and if
these fail, you have still at your an
nual elections to pass Judgment on
the official conduct of your public
agents.


Now it so happens that nearly all
the questions in which you take an
interest were debated and acted up
on by Congress at it's last session,
and the principal interests of this
election turns upon the election of
members of the House of Represen-
tatives.


One would suppose that if Dem
ocratic member of Congress. who
was himself candidate for re cleo
ton, should appear before you to
make speech, he would either dis
ouss the policy of his party during
these trying times, or he would ar
raign the measures adopted by the
Republican patty, or he would pre-
sent some grave question for your
judgment and connect it in some
way with the approaching cleo
ton.


l have always regarded Gen. Nor
gan as one of the most respectable
and astute members of the Democra-
tic party, and hoped and expected
that would find in his carefully
prepared speech here the other day
a text for a candid and Intelligent
discussion of the past and present
issues between the great issues of the
country but with commendable pru
dence, which proves his sagacity, he
says not one word in defence of the
Democratic party for the last fife en-
years.


Now before 1 refer to what Gen.
Morgan does say, let me recall to
you the state of affairs in December
last. The Republican policy of re-
construction was then practically
settled by the election of Gen. Grant.
1t only remained for the rebel States,
one by one, to conform to fhe law
and be restored to full representation
in Congress.


This has now been done, and at
the next session, every seat will be
filled and every State represented.
No rebel has beeu deprived of his
life, his liberty or his property since
the war closed, by reason of this
rebellion, however, cruel and bar
barous may have been his. conduct !;
and no civil or political disability |
whatever, now rests upon any rebel |
by the laws of the United States, ,ex-
cept, that few who committed per-
jury at the outset of the war cannot
now hold an office of honor, trust
br profit in the United States, with
out the consent of two thirds of
Congress. We may have to pay the
penalty of this great liberality. 1t
is certainly unexampled in the his
tory of mankind, and could only
have been adopted by a liberal par
ty in a Republican Government.
Now in the whole process Of recon
struction the Republican party was
guided by generous and liberal
spirit, taking its steps slowly and in
harmony with the people. Their
work now rests upon an enduring
principle. The Constitution is now
in harmony with the Declaration of



No fair man, however strongly
prejudiced against the Republican