Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-01
Masbingtan Seminal.
SPEECH OF HON. R. II. STANTON,
OF KENTUCKY,
At Caralsi7s Saloon. Sept. %. 1854.

At Cd,7e1s Saloon, Sept. %, 1854.
FELLOW CITIZENS: think it likely, as your
chairman has announced, that
nv name is somewhat familiar to the people of
Washington. For more than thirty years have
known the city, and since my boyhood have
been familiar with many of her people.
Much of that sunny period of life, my boyhood,
was spent among you, and through all the
changes which have since occurred, / have
never forgotten the interesting associations of
Washington City. [Applause.] Though have
been here during the last five years as repre-
sentative in Congress of distant constituency,
l have never before had an opportunity of pub
licly addressing the people Of Washington.
feel proud that my debut is before an audience
like this. Applause. ! see before me an
immense concourse of the most worthy citizens
of the metropolis Of our great Union, mostly
democrats, friends of civil and religious free
dom-men who have Quilted their workshops,
their contingencies, their Offices, and their
homes, to vindcate the great cause of reli
gious and political federation, as secured by
our glorious Constitution. Applause.
am not here to-day to deal in denunciation
Of any persons or party; am not here to say
aught against the present democratic admins
tration, nor am / here to laud and endorse all
it has done; but am here to raise my voice,
feeble as it is, in aid Of the great principles Of
the democratic party, which have for their OBJ
iect the perpetuation of civil and religious
liberty. [Applause.l The doctrines of the
democratic party are the doctrines of the Con-
stitution, and under their salutary operation
we have given to the world an example of pro-
gress, power, prosperity, and peace hitherto
unequaled by any nation or In any age. APP
plause.1 Remember, my countrymen, that less
than a century ago we were handful of poor
pilgrims, weak and powerless people, de-
pendent upon the viii and within Of distant
monarch, who denied to us the inestimable
blessings and privileges which democratic
principles have secured to us since. APP
plausel Why, fellow-citizens, the democratic
party in this country had its origin long
before the formation of our government,
and the Declaration of Independence was
but the embodiment in language of those
great democratic truths which were felt and
cherished in the hearts of the intrepid pilgrims,
who, flying from tyranny and oppression in the
old world, crossed the rough ocean, and found
here home and an asylum. Applause.
They could not, in the land of their birth, en-
Joy those rights which God had given them,
but which tyrants had taken away; and here,
in the wilderness and among savages, they set
tied down to found nation, where the great
rights of citizenship and of religious freedom
which they loved, should be perpetually guar
antied and held sacred. They never, for sim
gle moment, lost sight Of Aese great democra-
tic principles; and these principles triumphed
in the PRONUNCIATION of the decree of independ-
ence-they trinmphed in the formation of our
glorious Constitution-and they triumphed in
the passage of those laws necessary to carry
into effect the provisions Of that Constitution
Great applause. The history of democratic
principles in this country, from the landing Of
the pilgrims TO the present moment, has been
only succession Of brilliant triumphs You
remember the great struggle which took place
at the formation Of the Constitution between
the principles of Alexander Hamilton and the
principles of the immortal author of the De
claration of Independence, and you remember,
too, that the democracy Of Jefferson triumphed.
You remember that when the power and infiu-
ence of the United States Bank had become
dangerous to the rights and prosperity of the
people, the old hero, who now slumbers in peace
at the Hermitage, wrestled with that monster
and democracy again triumphed. The prinei
pies Of our party triumphed, too, in the contest
in regard to the public lands, and in the con
test on the question Of the tariff. We are even
now exultng over the triumph Of the same
principles, in the recent action OF Congress,
securing 10 the people Of the new Territories
pioneers and pilgrims who, like our fathers, are
carving into the wilderness the doctrines Of
civil and religious freedom, the night to mould
and fashion their own domestic institutions a.
they may think wisest and best. These, fellow
citizens, are, in brief, some Of The triumphs O
the great democratic party.
Is Il necessary that should point You 10 the
great results which have followed the opera
ton Of the wise and liberal principles Of Dem
ocracy in this country2 Only look at the
countrys growth, from few scattered colo
nis,s to twenty-six millions Of freemen. From
a few dependent colonies to a vast republic, o
more than thirty free States, extending from
ocean to ocean, and reaching upon one side
nearly 70 the Russian dominions, and on the
other TO the Mexican republic. Does histor,
afford richer example Of the growth, pros
perity, and happiness Of people? Our coun
try stands FIRST in all the elements Of greatness
among the nations Of the earth. She is a
peace with all the world. Her people are hap
py in the enjoyment Of all the rights Of free
men. They prosper under the operation o.
Just and equal laws. They may worship Goo
according TO the dictates Of their own cor
sciences and whether native born or alien, tbs
avenues TO honor and distinction are open alike
70 ALL IApplause. $50 WI
But il is not TO be supposed that these great
results Of the operation Of democratic princi
Piles in our government. have been achieved
without struggle, and that the progress O
democratic triumphs has never been opposed
Oh, mol There has never been day tina
other ideas have not been in conflict with dem
ocratic sentiment and other parties opposed 4
the democratic party. AT the formation Of Tho
government there was the federal party, intole
rant and illiberal, but which made itself odiouI
and unpopular, when for a short period il
power, by the enactment Of such measures a
the alien and sedition laws. Afterwards thii
same party, casting aside its name, but no
its principles, 6ourished awhile under the It'll,
of National Republicans. II was followed By
the recent whig party, which retained many o
the characteristics OF federalism, and was quit,
as energetic and unrelenting in its hostility 4
the liberal principles Of democracy. But as dis
tinctve organizations, they are now all dead, and
In their graves From the PROSTATE and lifelesl
body of whiggery has sprung up fungus
growth, which, like the mushroom, attains ma
thrifty in n single dav but will wither and die