The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-19
SENATOR Doasias.s

se--.--.-5
49, SENATOR Doaslas.s p. q <
Rzpssiejoa AZ ne Forsigm Policy Of he Democratic
Psyty-bsingh his Spesck at ne 7Dsmocrotic Ratif.
essss. . Msssiag n tie CITY n Washirgton. June
Hon. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS, Of Iliinois, being
next introduced 10 the meeting, was greeted with
deaiening applause. and proceeded to speak as
FsIIow .Crlz.ss: We have assembled here this
and the country upon the cordial and perfect re,
union Of the Democratic party. The National
Convention which recently assembled at Baltimore
has presented q platform upon which all Demo-
Gratis can stand with honor and with safety--a
platform worthy Of the best days Of the party I'M
der Jefferson and Jackson. CCries of "Good,
good."l They have also presented the names Of
po. eminent ststs ~ Tor our support Tor the
Statesmen whose principles are in perfect har.
Inony with that platform, and whose lives and
character illustrate and adorn that system OF gov.
eminent which II 10 the aim and mission Of as as
aparty to maintain and perpetuate With such
platform, and with such q ticket, q glorious
victory awaits us. tIGreat applause.1 My fel-
low.citizens, II 10 unnecessary on the present
occasion for me 70 detain you with a dis
custom Of the various measures and principles
which divide the Democratic from the Wing party.
shall be ready to enter into that contest with a
good will and energy as soon as our opponents
shall present to the country their platform and
their candidates. GGreat cheering1 l do not
wish to make the charge until we have the enemy
directly before Us, 80 that we may have fair fight,
and then let the weakest sink beneath the blows.
[Laughter.] will premise, however, that all ex-
perience has proven that the Wing party is utter
ly unable to administer this Govern IGreat
apPiause.] Without questioning their integrity,
that sympathy with the masses Of our population.
that confidence in the virtue Of the people, which
should pervade every branch and department Of
free government. ICres Of "That's It, that's it."
In
ton az they desired It, and failing in Their efors
TO incorporate into that instrument those provi.
sions and features which would have rendered II
acceptable to them, they now attempt 70 accom- e
that which they would have done by direct consti.
tutional enactment. ''.'''
The Wing party of this nation have never been
e hold the reins Of power for two successive sd'
m mil, Laughter and cries Of Never
obtain power except when the Democratic party
was rent asunder by unfortunate divisions No
Wing administration has ever constituted fair
and perfect representation Of the popular senti.
ment OF this country; and for that very reasons
and for the further reason that their principles,
and their practices and their instincts are at war
with the genius Of this Government they have
never been able to retain the confidence Of the PEG.
pie long enough to secure a reelection. laugh.
ter and cheers.
The question is now presented whether there is
any thing in their administration Of the Govern.
ment for the last four years which contrasts favor
ably with the conduct of the Wing party during
the previous NIFTY years, and gives assurance that
with the feelings oil the people and the spirit OF our
institutional say for the previous fifty years; for
draw no distinction between the Federal and the
Wing party-a change Of names being Of no con-
sequence when the principles remain the same.
repeat the question: ls there any thing in the his
tory and the conduct OF the Wing party for the last
four years which commends 1t to the special favor
AkSA 81 ID
tthe Whig party that summoned its energies and
exered ito power to suppress and allay the fearful
sectional agitation which has arrayed State against
State, section against sections and even father
against son, and brother against brother, until
they have made the very pillars Of the Republic
trembie? Upon the other hand. are not all the
usurpations of power by the Federal Government
al the arrangements upon the reserved rights OF
the States and Of the p.ople-the necessary and lie
Ultimate consequence of that loose construction Of
the Federal Constitution which forms the basis Of
the Wing creed?
Looking to the administration Of the Govern
ment with reference to our internal and domestic
affairs, what do we find in the action of the Wing
party TO entitic them to especial commentator
Where is that system of economy in our public ex-
pcnditures In the various branches Of the Govern
ment, which we had right to expect If we placed
confidence In their professions before the election!
You find the expenditures nearly doubled, running
up to about sixty millions Of doilars year in times
OF profound peace; and when you cast your eye
over the long list Of this enormous expenditure,
you will find Galphinism, and Gardinerism, and
every other sort of ism peculiar to Whiggery,
%arrng and deiacing every gage Of the account
very system Of peculation and extravaganza, in
the free use Of tho public money, which has pre-
vailed under this administration in all of its
is not evidence that they themselves have utterly
despaired Of being able to retain the public conf
dencc, and hence are determined to provide iiber
ally for themselves while yet they have the power?
~ nryhf l~h
My fellow citizens, epeak these things not in
the way Of abuse, not with the view Of wounding
any mans feelings, but call your attention to
them 40 q necessary result Of a Wing administra-
ton of the Government. This lie the practical re-
suit Of the loose and unauthorized construction Of
constitutional provisions and legal enactments
which lie at the foundation of their political creed
You can never bring this Government back to that
Democratic administrations, until you return to
that rigid system Of accountability, holding every
public officer responsible for the performances Of
his duties according to the letter and spirit Of the
law, and confning the expenditures Of the Gov
eminent within the limits of appropriations previ
ousiy made by Congress: And, fellow citizens,
let not this Wing administration of the Govern.
nent escape under the plea that the Democra-
tic Congress has furnished them with the means
Of this unjustifiable extravaganza and Wholesale
pcculation. Under the Constitution, the Presi
dent Of the United States makes his communica
tons TO Congress. and the heads of the Depart.
ments make their estimates Of the necessary ex.
penditures. They tell us they can administer the
Government with 90 much money, and not with.
out that sum, md If we do not give then, the mo-
noy the wheels OF Government stop, and the adj
ministration ceases to perform its functions. But
sir, the history of this administration shows that
they have been 90 utterly incompetent to the per-
forlnancc of their duties that they have been una
bic to tell, even within the limits Of millions OF dol
lars, how much money they would require to sue
tain them during the current fiscal year! Laugh
teri You find now the public works suspended;
many portions Of the public service inactive; the
troops upon the frontiers refusing to march across
the plains to protect the emgrants; and the admin
istration furnishes the excuse that Congress has not
passed the Deficiency bill. daughter. And
Wherein consisted the necessity Of the Deficiency
biIls Simply in the fact that this administration
were unable 70 tell at the opening of the year how
much money IL would take TO sustain them in their
extravagance through the whole year. Laughter. ]
MY fellow. citizens, repeat, there 10 no remedy
for these grave abuse: but in a change of the ad.
ministration. speak not simply of tho admins.
tration Of President Fillmore speak of all Wing
administrations; because it matters not who the
Executive 10, II he be Wing he must follow Wing
instincts, Wing practices, and come to the Same