The Arkansas banner., 1848-01-10
SPEECH OF MATHEW F. WARD.


 SPEECH OF MATHEW F. WARD.
 Mn. CHAIRMAN: Bruius, the Roman fool, at his country's csll forgot his folly and became her lbe- rator. In ancient times, fired by that noble pstsio- tisn that burns in every human heart. even women have risen the willing and able defenders of their ecunirys rights. Dinger has been known 10 give 10 dumbness itself tongue to shriek with startling ciearness the coming ruin. How then, in thseaten- ing times like these, can be silent:
 The demon of diseord seems let loose among us In our councils. in which peace and unanimi,y alone should reign there IS peacethere Is no unahimi- ty; and if here give the rein to our fiery impul- ses, and yield the supremacy-to our angry passions we may now defeat the very object for which we came hither--thc concentration of Democratic strength This is no time for ceremony. This Is no season for difiideut hestaen It IS the dnty of every De- mocrat, old and young, to raise his voics in behalf Of union and to lend his aid fer the overthrow of an- archy: and were years younger. more unknown. and less experien, ed than am. as a Democrat of Arkansas, would still struggle 10 be heard. advo- ealing tba, unanimily which alone can save from ultimate defeat.
 The Democratic party in this S,a,e have become confident by success. Its power has grown iu- to huge, unwieidy mass that now threatens with its own weight to break asundef But warn those who, bytheiT ineinperate zeal for individuals would hasten this dismemberment, to beware, lest they themselves. Sampsen-lke, be buried in the ruins they have made. Having 10 oppose us no party whose strength is sufficient to cali into action our latent energies, those energies are turTcd against each other, and seem bent on self-destfuciio1 In the presence of some enemy worthy of our proudcst efforts, would cur safety consist. We have nothing to fear from outward dAnsers--it s only ourselves we have 10 dread. Our power seems doomed to be our destruction. In the absence of all opposition from our foes, the victorious legions Of our party have drawn their swords against each other and are now wasting in domestic blaws that strength which ho ta ha def off fhafx tvs principles or their coun;rys rights. Why this ruipous contest? For what do we thus msdly con- tend Is cur constitution assailed .-taat from our infancy we have been taught to love? Are those principles endangered, which, in youth, Commanded our admiration-in manhood. gained our support {. Are we not all Democrats, and not eagned together in support of the same great cause! And are we not bound together by common interests Pause pause, 1 beseech you, ere Il be tco late Remem- ber the Congressional election 10 fill the vaeancy- Let us rally in support Of onr tcttering strength Let us bind still closer the bonds of union ere that power, which now defes all opposition, shall hc crumbled into imposent factions that like the scat tered bundle of rods, by may be easily bro. ken. but If united would siil defy the utmos; efforts ot opposers.
 The strength of the Wings, in this State. only ceases to be formidable when opposed to our united efforts, and should schs;n take place among our leaders fear they would at once and for years gain the ascendaRcy. For when We are scattered, where is the political architect to build up once more union and order from tie chaos of materials that must be the consequence of the dismemberment of the De- mocratic party l have no fears oT the great body of the people. The spirit of Democracy has tenn. pe in every log -cabin-has an altar in every heart The political principles of the people based up on their patriotism, and long, very long, will it be ere either are shaken. But, alas what can th ,r disuni,ed strength and undiscpned zeal do against the welI-organIzed phaanx of the Wing party!
 fba nf nm :.. dependent nation, has there been period when the united power and undivided strength of our party throughout the Union was cessary for the sup. port of onr great principles and the triumph of the great points at issue, the present The entry of the Wings into power will be the signal for the re- peal of inc just aod equitable duties laid in IS si6-
 By those duties the unnatural burthen, which weigh. ed down the agricultural interests, has been remo-> yed By them cur commerce has been exfendedZ every channel of industry vivihed and inygorated and made to few more copi0usly. Oar shippIhg has been increased, and our sailors have made he peace fu conquest of evety where enterprise has pen. etrated or commercial interest is known Happi. ness and prosperity pervade every rstk in society. the drawbacks iI,eiden to the war And an increased revenue of ten millions in one year. has been poured into the treasury by the tri- umph of this great Democzatie principle. On the ascendency of the Whigsths unjust tarif of ls4a will be renewed. Those galling shackIes to soalh. ern prosperityd ose draining imposiiions south ern rights will again be forced upon us to minister to the bloatea weath and oycrgrown capital of nor thern manufacturers I coa'd brar the sacrifice without Indrmar if it could improve the condition of the laborng classes. could quietly submit to the injustice ii it would calse an increase of ;eT wages proportionatc to the enlarged profits of their employers. But such being RotoEousiy not the case there is not reason which fo rest the toleTA- ton of such extortion. The necessity 10 support the moaopoiies of these northern nabobs might be st. fu possession Of these privileges secured to by the consultation. But, constantly warsihg with our do- mesc institution Of slavery, they advance, hand upfted, to place these heavy contributions upon us, aud the other ogtstfeiched to rob us of the only means of meeting them. The stMilnot proviso' is but an experiment 10 feel the political pase of the country IL is ths first step to secure The future pre- ponderance of northern influence by the farther sifietiOn of slavery. Let this be passed, and the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia will follow. One by one the bulwarks to southern inte- rests that now exist in the western States will be broken d1wn and the full tide of theIr furious op. position will burst upon us; the time will come when we must calmly submit to the loss oi those rights which are secured to by the inviolate tenets of the constitniion--those privileges which we claim as men, ana which are founded on the common laws of society else bid long adiea to much loved confederation. We must gracefully surrender every noble attribute of reemen, or else witness the tall of our Union, that would maintain with our lives, but not at the sacrifice of our honor.
 That long standing favotite of Whig poicy-a Ma tienal Bank-has not been forgotten. "We have oaiy seotehed, not killed, tbe snake, ,"-and she may yet s'turn and be herself again" Give the power into Whig hands. and the old Bank, with it's long list of aud gross corupticns will be renewed, and il is the duty of these who know the poisonous evils of the dying monster to prevent it's resurrection.
 We are now enoassd m ,yay that all at,r feeiioOs as Ameficans, prompt us to prosecute with yigor. For years previous 10 this the Mexican Govern. inent, with lightness treachery truly unaceognt able, again and again appointed commissioners for the pay ment of ndemnties dae our citizens, and as often have violated their most sacred promises Aud yet we. influenced by love for peace, and reilc- tance to disturb the amieable relations with sister republic. bore 1t all with patient renonsrances Al last fnisiaking our spirit of fsrbearlnee Mexico samed inc bullying tone of superior and declared that the adoption of independent State, desirous Of being admitted into the bosom of our Union, was with her isef fat,se of ,xar s,ha