The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-01
WASHINGTON, ID. G.
SPEECH OF MR.. TOwNsHEND, OF OHIO,
Onpe Present Position qfhe Democratic Party.
Delivered in the Ho. Of Reps. june o. 1852


Mr. TOWNSHEND said: Mr. Chairman, |
propose TO make some remarks on the present
position of the Democratic party; but before
proceed to the discussion of that subject, have
Il word or two to say, in reply to the gentleman
from North Carolina Mr. SrANLY.l
The only portion of his remarks referring to
me which think worthy of notice is his sheer
ing allusion to the fact that was born in Eng
land. Since man does not choose h9 birth
place, have not been accustomed to consider
1t subject either of glory or Of shame But
could | have chosen the place of my birth, |
would not have selected any other spot. On
one hand was the field of Naseby, where that
stern old apostle of liberty, Oliver Cromwell
overthrow the power Of the royal tyrant King
Charles on the other hand was the Avon,
whose waters flowed by the birth place of
Shakespeare. Could any spot be more sugges-
tive of all that is heroic and glorious in action.
or Of all that is true and beautiful in thought
and expression How much ! owe to these
associations cannot tell but this know. that
Cromwell, and Milton, and Pym. and Vane.
and Hampden. are among the chief saints i'm
my calendar and cherish something Of their
love OF liberty, and something Of their hatred
OF oppression might add further, that in
that nelghborhood, too, received my first les.
sons OF religious truth, in the place where John
NlcklIfe, the morning star of the Rciorma-
ton, and OF clviI and religions liberty lived and
preached. Many hours have | spent by the
stream, and at the very spot where the ashes
OF his burned bones were cast by the minions
of tyranny and superstition If the impressions
then made on my mind had anything to do
with forming my character, or inspiring me
with the sentiments now entertain as be.
Ieve they had then what | have said. or NAV
say, in behalf of human rights, il but another
veritcation Of the oitquoted prophecy
The Avon 10 the severn runs,
The Severn 10 the sea
Aud Wicklifes dust shall spread abroad
Wide a. the waters be"
But that gentleman doubtless alluded to the
matter to cast doubt on the gcnuincness of
my repubcanISm. OF aS u rebuke to me for
presumrng to speak Of public affairs in the
presence Of the American born think men
may understand and appreciate the principles
Of civil liberty, though not born on this cont
nent the Pilgrim Fathers were not behind in
this particular, although foreigners like N.Y.
self. ! am also reminded by the portrait which
hangs before me Of another foreigner Nafay-
ette) who understood the advantages Of free
government, and to whom this country owes
her gratitude for efficient aid in ESTABLISHING
IN the limits OF monarchy are not necessarily |
monarchiSts The fathers of the Revolution.
Washington. Jefferson. the Adamscs, and Pat
rick Henry were born under the same mo
narchcal Government rs myself | am far
from believing that men born under free
Government and who have known no other
necessarily have thr-b best appreciation of the
value OF freedom on the contrary. | think those
who have themselves felt the iron heel of op-
preston upon their own neCks, and consequent
y have sighed and struggled for freedom. are
the most likely to understand its true value
How else will You explain the fact. that the
sons and grandsons Of those who fought and
died to secure the liberty we enjoy are now in
the Southern State, IabOring with zeal equal
to that OF their fathers but for an opposite pur-
pose, to extend and porpctuatc the curse of
slavery! The true friend of freedom would
sc0rn alike to be or t. own slave But some
men are republicans from choice and some are
only SO by accident have the honor to be
republican from choice; after seeing and feel
ing the evils OF other forms of government,
prefer that under which live The gentle
man from North Carolina had the good fortune
to be born in Il republic. and is therefore bv
accident, what he has not proved he would
otherwise have had the sense or energy to have
become
Considering the number of foreigners in this
country amounting to almost one fourth of the
Tree white population, | think the fact that
there are two out of two hundred and thirty
members IN the House and two ont of sixty
TWO members OF the Senate will not be thought
very large or dangerous proportion Aud it is
Dut justice to the Democratic party to say that
through It's liberalty to foreigners these al owe
their election. shall make no other remarks
ct party character; for had this manif,sta
ton of the contemplate spirit Of Natiyeism
come from any other member ON this floor of
either party should have been SURPRISED
regret TO say WAS mot surprised to hear it from
the gentleman from North Carolina.
nave only to say farther to that gentleman
that my constituents consider themselves abund.
antly competent 10 select their own Rcprcscnt
auves they certainly will not take the trouble
To ask ms advice and should he offer it UNI
asked they wall probably tell him to mind his
own business And for myself add while
nave the honor to represent on this floor n hun.
dred thousand irccmcn, shall take the liberty
to speak when and how think proper with
out asking permission of any man, and least
OF all OF one who comes here the representa-
tive OF whips, and manaclcs, and slaves In
these few words ! trust have not FORGOTTEN
what was due to the place or to gentlemen by
Whom ann surrounded. | have no ambition
10 contend Tor the palm of hhckguardsm, cs-
'peclally with one who would have so much the
slart Oh me- and whose uncnviable reputation
mas already reached beyond the limits of our
own country
Mr Chairman, | am ardcntlv attached To
the Democratic faith | believe thnt q II men
IN respect to their natural and inahcnablc
rights are created equal That civil Govern
ment has no legitimate purpose but the pro-
lection ct those rights and no rightlul author
ny except what ~ derived from the consent of
'he governed. That, rs all persons have the
sAihe inherent rights To protect all are equally
interested and equally entitled to he partcipt-
toIs III Nh"' pertains to government deny
'n"' uo'Crn'h'nt has the right to confer spc-
cial privileges on some and impose uncounI
burdens and di~ab tics ON others JoIiorn
IN the sovereignty of the people and of the soy.
eral States, and therefore oppose all assun,n.
tons OF power or cncroachmcnts on the right,
OF the people or States by the Federal Govern
ment. do not think that any wrong can he
sanctlfled by age or legislation, or that the
dead past has any right 10 control the living
present look forward to rational progress
and good time coming and protest against
the sleepy conservatism that for fear of mno-
walton, would prevent all reform
And the Democratic party recognise II. the
best agency through which just ideas of civil
government can be established Its history
proves 1t to possess the elements and spirit Of
progress TO be the party of the present and
iutnre' rather than the party of the past Hence
have co-opcrated with this party, and work.
ed with aud for it, with whatever zeal or nbli-
ty ! could command But the Democratic
party IL not my owner, or body whose meas
ures | am bound in all things to support, right
or wrong u rs but means or agency which