The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-10
MIR CARTIER ON PARTY, FINALITY, AGITA.
TON, AND THE FUGITIVE LAW

Ertract ola Speech delivered IN The House @
Representatives., May 2Sh, by Mr.. Cartier o
OHIO.
IL has beer said by almost every speaker OF
this side of the House, that the perpetuity o
our Government depends upon the permanenc'
and wisdom of the Democratic party--whicl
means, being interpreted, the success Of the
| great Democratic party. If believed that any
party organized in this Government rose supe
rior to the vital principles of the Government
| itself, or rose superior to those elements in il
| and under it, which constitute the great cords
| OF love on the part Of the citizens towards il.
would raise hand that never spotted Demo
cratic ticket yet to destroy it. Talk to me about
| any political party having the great oyerpow-
ering, and conservative keeping Of this Govern
ment in it's hands Sir, the moment you do
| that, you let down the constitutional sanctions
of the Government and destroy the vital prin-
ciples that circulate in il and around it, IL |
believed that that old and yenerated party
whose gray hairs have been my devotion from
the time ! was baptized into it under Jackson
up to this hour-if ! believed that that old par
ty possessed such power ] would say to it, you
have outgrown your destiny. When any par
ty rises superior to the functions Of the Federal
Government, it is time that it was destroyed
But it is not 80 This argument is merely
brought forward for the purpose Of efecting an
end which will perhaps allude to before sit
down, if ! think Of it
Again it is said, for what purpose ! know
not--though perhaps the divisions and subdi-
visions of the various parties on this floor and
in the country may explain it-that unless the
great Compromise principle is canonized and
brought into the platform Of the Democratic
party, not only that party bat the country is
lost. Well, now it is n singular state Of thingr,
if il be true, that n set Of measures which have
struggled upon this floor for n doubtful exist
ence, and in the production Of which all the
Executive influence at the other end OF the
avenue was brought 10 bear--a set OF measures
produced here ont Of the alarm created in this
Capitol, and alarm meetings originating in
Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York-alarm
Eliminating meetings; and it was not a matter
of great surprise 10 some Of MS upon this floor,
that the country was not aroused ] recollect,
however perfectly we'll, that those who wanted
the Compromise passed and had committed
their political fortunes to its destiny were most
alarmed mt the alarming iDsensibility prevail
ing amongst the people. Laughter They
were perfectly astonished that the country did
not burn and blaze and break forth with the
astounding conyulsion that was going on In the
political elements Of the Republic. say il
would be little remarkable that a set of meas
,rres that struggled for a doubtful existence
here and could hardly command majority,
with all the patronage that could be brought
H. bear--a set OF measures that belonged t,ho
party, nor to any man, but that were e1oP'ed
reluctantly by those who voted for ths,h, shoa'u
hare become NO vitality necessary I" the NAM
tenlnce Of the Republic II ga remarkable
stae Of things IL Is be 80. lot u IL not no. ~
il IL Nd. our country is j. an alarming condi-
ton today. U.anght5r Where will be It's
Destiny? why, half Of il will be transferred
10 Baltimore next week And into whose hands
IL it committed there? Why, into the hands
Of act of men who are good patriots, good cit
izens good politicians, but who come up there
10 make candidates not 10 resolve high constl-
tutional questions, but TO endeavor to make
their friends--a President This is the high
,fice Of the gentlemen who make their sppear-
.ncc in the Convention ut Baltimore. Just look
It the destiny Of this great Republics Re.
public that everybody fears They are afraid
a w abroad, aud Il yon are TO believe the
speeches made here in Congress, they are vast
" afraid of US ut home Laughter. A Re-
public whose power and prosperity everybody
fears, il 10 depend upon single resolution to
be adopted in the Baltimore Convention, Us