Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-12-04
Speech of Gov. Rigler.

/
in Washington Ci,y or lie euenaiihHg {
Monday, the 23d inst.
Gov. BigIer said that, unprepared as h
was for the occasion, he should feel him
self unworthy Of the personal respect Of hi
friends were to fail to acknowledge, a
best he could, u compliment so fattrrinI
and gratifying 1t speaks (said he) Ian
guage more eloquent than words can ex
press, and had excited tie strongest emo
Itions Of his heart. Offerings Of this kin,
to successful contestants for power ant
place ale not.uncommon but such greet
ings to those about to retire from publ,
Ilife--to defeated candidates and prostrat,
Iprinciples--are less usual for, even il
our dav of dIsinterested friendship, tn
rising sun is more attractive to some thai
the setting But Mr.. Bigler SAID, he pre-
ferred 10 believe that the demonstration
before him was more than personal com
plifheht to himself. He regarded it as in.
tended to evince the attachment Of The
people present TO the great princip pies
which he had the honor to represent in
the late guberna.orial canvass in Pennsyl-
vania-as manifesting their confidence in
the motto inscribed OH the democratic flag
now PROSTATE in the Old Keystone. Such
sentiment and sympathy he could recfto-
cate most heartily. It is. said Mr.. B. MAJ
ter Of cougratuIation that whilst the can
dldates Of our party in that contest have
fallen nct one void had been erased ffoul
the motto on the flag under which they
eontended-not one sentiment Of demo.
cratic truth had been abandoned--not one
nor the slightest forbearance asked at their
hands.
Mr.. B. described the contest in his State
as one OF all extraordinary characteI--one
that III many Of its phrases stood without a
parallel in the partisan struggles OF the
country. For the frs, time in our history
setret and oath bound societies, organized
Tor the avowsd purpose of controlling the
political affairs, had entered the partisan
arena. For the first time, too. we have
witnessed the potent and mischievous
workings of an institution against which
the wise aud sagacious Washington had
warned the American people. He alluded
to the mysterious operations oil this organ
ization, and said that, developed in myste-
ry and dignified with solemnlty Of oaths,
its approaches were most inslduous and
seductive. He regarded it as we'll calcu-
lated TO mlslead, Tor the moment, the un-
wary aud the weak. But he had an abb.
ding confidence that mature reflection OIL
the part Of its members would work its
dissolution. An institution whose tenets
OF filth are inimical 10 the laws OF the
land aud in derosation OF the rights aud
dignity Of large cIass Of American citi-
Aens cannot long endure the scrutiny Of all
intelligent aud just people.
Against this, aud similar Organizations,
said MIR. b., the democracy of Pennsylva-
MIA have taken most positive ground. ~
they are against all secret societies to ac-
compIi h political ends, no matter by who II
formed. The eviftend .ncies OF such cr-
gsnizatsons are 100 manifest, said he, to
long command the confidence OF the PEG.
pie. They are moral as well as political.
For an apt and eloquent des cription Of the
later. be would refer his hearers to Wash.
inaton's Farewell Address. He looked
upon this organization as truly grea,
machine, through the operations OF which
a lew designing and skiful mcp could rule
the masses with rod Of iron. Among the
mora evils nay be counted the opportu-
nifty, il not the necessity, which it presents
for the practice Of dupIic,ty-its tendency
to destroy that mutual con ssence which
should ever exist between members Of the
same communicate corrupt and make
bitter the channels Of social intercourse
to stultify that free declaration Of opinion
and purpose so essential 10 the promotion
o. intelligence, mutual confidence, and
manly bearing-its restraints upon the free
aud independent exercise OF the elective
franchise. Gov. B. declared himself op.
posed to all societies of this kind that he
deprecated them as Prejuditial to the dig.
nifty and welfare OF the people--to the ad.
vancement of Christianity and republican.
ism--as Inconsistent with tbs sAnnins d
our institutions and the American charac.
ter. Ia country where the people enjoy
TO such an eminent degree the freedom o
speech and the liberty Of discussion, ther.
can exist no necessity for secret societies
II there be, said he, moral or political evil
amongst Us which demand correction, IL
that work be an open and daylight bu
siness. Let it be applied in manner con
sistent with the laws OF the land and tn,
character of the people. Let every maj
declare his opinions and intentions frank
", and freely. and endeavor, by fact ant
reason, to eonstrain his neishbor to III,
right. But let Them shun an institution
that teaches ITS members to say oae thin.
and do another.
Mr.. b. said il was a painful reflection
that the democracy Of Pennsylvania GO
ing into the contest the advocates OF In
doctrine Of self-goyernmen for the peopl
OF our Territories, with an avowal OF thei
determinali9lF Is sAsfain the constitutions
rights Of all classes ana demon, nations q
American citizens and each the ttib}el df gu
national rontederacy, and 10 see equal an,
exact justice melted out to all, should hav
been defeated. But thst glorious party
the party Of progress aud the party Of tn.
constitution--said he, are not vanished o.
disbanded. There is still solid phalar,
OF some 1875 900 who have not yielded Il
the power Of the new party, besides man!
thousands Of good men who were mlsle.
by the willy schemes Of the enemy, an,