Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-01-02


extended our congratulations to our country
men upon the triumph of civil and religious
freedom, as antagonistical to the doctrines
and the principles of those oaths which [
have read in your hearing IF they do not
defend. justify, and approve the principles
imbodied in those oaths, the resolution does
not touch them. If they do justify those
doctrines, then let me ask of them what they
demand at our hands? They themselves have
erected the barrier We have triumphed
over it; and, because we express our congrat-
ulations to the country at the triumph we have
gained over it, they demand us to retreat and
withdraw those words of congratulation.
Mr. Reade-Mr Clerk, thought the gem
fienser sail fst iaiss arsJ were n The rs;s.cf
ty, and had not triumphed -
Mr. Cobb-Either the gentleman has not
listened attentively, or have spoken to very
little purpose. I am speaking now of the
triumphs which the Democratic party has
gained since the Congressional elections, and
the voice of the people declared in their favor
by the defeat, in the various States of this
Union, of those who went before them hold
ing the banner of these proscriptive oaths and
obligations.
Mr.. Reade--If the gentleman will permit
me, L understand him to mean, in speaking of
the triumph of this party, their triumph in
the country. [ would, then, ask him this
How can his party have tIiumphed in the
country, unless the elections show it and how
can those elections show it except by the re-
turn of majority of Democratic members of
this House? If you have not majority in
the House, then were your triumph?
Mr.. Cobb-How much trouble will it give
the gentleman from North Carolina to work
~, Al 81
has triumphed in the Northern States since
the elections for members of the present Con-
gress, and that many members now holding
seats are doing SO in defiance of public senti-
ment at home. as shown by the result of these
recent elections. | hope the gentlemen will
take his leisure, and let us know the result
when he has ascertained it.
/ was alluding. sir, to the position which
we occupy, and the demands made by our
friends.
If, Mr.. Clerk, the principles imbodied in
those oaths and obligations do not find any
representatives upon this floor connected with
the national American organization, then the
resolution passed by the Democratic caucus,
constitutes no impediment in the way of their
giving their support to the nominee of that
party If however, they do defend and ap-
prove these principles, then ask them with
Evhat jestisss esd p-spsiety do tksys4ealII=aron
us to withdraw our congratulations to the
country when they refuse to withdraw the OBJ
noxious principles to which | have alluded
As desirable as the organization of this House
may be to the Democratic party, as desirable
as it may be to the large majority of the people
of this country for the organization to fall
into our hands, I say frankly and candidly to
my friends of the national American organi-
cation that the Democratic organization of this
House will never be purchased by my aid and
my vote, by the sacrifice of the principal in
volyed in the resolution passed by the Demo-
cratic caucus on the LIST of December Sir,
three great principles are illustrated and fore
shadowed by that resolution the rights of the
States, freedom of conscience, and the rights
of the foreign-born citizens. When the war
has ceased by the Republican party, as they
term themselves, upon the first principle, and
when the war ceases by the American party
upon the two others, it will be time then to
consider the necessity of urging these issues
longer before the country When that time
arrives we shall not only be in Georgia and
the South, but throughout this broad land. in
every State, one people, expressing one voice
and one sentiment
Another objection is made because the gem
tleman from Illinois is the regular nominee of
the Democratic party for Speaker. as well as
because he represents the principles of the
party, and We are asked to withdraw him and
select another candidate, or to unite in the
election of another MANN other words
they have no personal objection to the candi-
date of the party, the gentleman from Illinois.
and there being no political objection to him
which does not equally apply to every other
member of the Democratic party; yet they
ask US to nominate another candidate, or to
give our votes to another person. For what
purpose? There can be but two purposes
One is to abandon the principles upon which
we have stood. have disposed of that. The
other is to waive the organization of the Dem-
ocratio party. Sir. ask my friends, is this
a time for us to entertain the proposition of
waving the Democratic organization To-
day, though reduced in numbers upon this
floor, it occupies before the country perhaps
a prouder position than it ever did before.
NV Southern friends, do you ask me to waive
or to abondon the Democratic organization in
the hour in which purged of the last Free
Soil sentiment, and acting in harmony, it has
enlarged its sphere of usefulness, aud is en-
tering upon a new career of triumph of ma
tionaI principles If you do 1 cannot re-
spond to the demand. Believing, as [ do, in
my honest Judgment, that the best interests of
this country, if not its very existence depend
upon the preservation of the national Demo-
cratic party and its principles, will never
abandon that organization SO long as the ban
ner which floats over it has inscribed upon its
folds the principles to which, in heart. in spir-
it, body and mind, / am thoroughly and un-
falteringly devoted, now and forever.
I,rt a. .,.oo otbor ,-ex,rosa, ;1-as of fTlis
national american party have expressed feel