The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-05-30
FREEDOM Ia NATIONAL
ORNTJnNAy, w
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN J. PERRY

-oI wfi SECTIONAL. - SS,.c, ~
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN. PERRY
10y h' .' OF MAINE, sta5a -,Tf
ON THE COMPARATIVE NATIONALITY
AND sEcTIoNaLlsh OF THE 'REPuBLi
CAN AND DEMocRATlc PARIitsi
IL. q ,-i.rrrl DELIVERED -
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
NAY ], 1856. 80
The House being in Committee Of me irho1
~, on he SAFE Of the Union. ss@
Mr.. Perry said : Mr.. Chairman, in the
discussions that have taken place upon THU
floor, and at various other places in the
Union, the Republican party has beer
charged with ''sectionalism.' The nataou
of this groundlcss assumption have, in the
same connection, boastcd Of the ndi'onaht.
of the Democratic party. These two propo
sitions now desire to discuss.
Prior to the meeting of the Thirty-Third
Congress, the country was enjoying re
markable state of rcpose. The waves OF agi
itation, which in former years had rolled
over the country, had abatcd their fury, ant
ceased to disturb the peace or threaten thu
pcrpctuity Of the Union. The discordan
political elements had become quieted, and
universal peace and almost unexamplct
prosperity reigned throughout the States
The people, few months before, passed
through presidential contest, and elected
to. the executive chair Of the nation son Of
New England by an overwhelming majority
General Pierce accepted the nomination
upon platform which declared
"The Democratic party will resist al
attempts ut renewing in Congress, or ou,
of it, the agitation of the slavery question
under rhdterG shape or color the attemp,
may be made" ..s.
The President, at the opening OF Congress,
declared, in the most emphatic terms, his
determination to carry out the principles
upon which hc was elected. In his message
he says: 90. ... .....
"But notwithstanding differences Of opin.
ion and sentiment, which then existed in rc-
lation to details and specific provisions, the
acquiescence of distinguished citizens, whose
devotion to the Union can never be doubted,
has given renewed vigor to our institutions,
and restored a sense of repose and security
to the public mind throughout the Conied-
ency. That this repose Is to suffer no
shock during my official term, il ! have
power to avert it, those who placed me here
may be assured .i.. I.'iT
Tho last Congress had been in session on
ly few months before the country was
startled with the unexpected rumor, that
an old time-honored compact, which was
originally entered into to avert the most
threatening dangers, and which had been
most relisiously lived up to for more than
thirty years, was to be ruthlessly abrogatcd,
The sequel is too well known to need an ex'
tended notice. Leading men in the Demo
cratic party, in utter violation Of their past
professions, forced into Congress the mos'
riolent siarery agitation that ever distracted
this country. President Pierce rcpudiatcd
his pledges, tramplcd under foot the platform
upon which he was elected, turned his back
upon the friends that had elevated him t.
power, and used the whole force Of his Ad
ninistration to carry on this agitation, anC
expose the vast regions of Kansas and Ne
braska to the inroads of African slavery
The deed was done. 80. .....
Slavery agitation, thus re-opcned in it
most violent form, was not long confined t.
the Halls of Congress. II went out anC
spread all over the country, kindling up TIN
raging fires of internal discord in every di
rection. The people became alarmed, ant
aroused themselves in their lion strength tC
meet the impending danger. Through oil
the free States they resolved that /" forbcar
ancc had ceased to be virtue, and tha'
they would resist the outrage in the pcaca'
bic, constitutional way of settling such ques-
,ions-at the ballot-box. This inaugurated
a new political era. With a patriotism
worthy of the men, and the cause which in
cited il, the freemon Of the North laid aside
their old party predilections, gave para
mount Importance to the issue forced upon
them, and in almost every instance gave
those members of Congress who had voted
for the Kansas-Nebraska bill, leave to stay
at home. Only seven members from the
free States, out OF the whole number who
voted for this measure, have found their way
back to the present House. The repeal o
the Missouri compromise has completely
broken down old party distinctions. The
old Wing party, once mighty and powerful
and which in times past has had intellectual
giants for its leaders, scarcely has name in
any State, North or South. This once glo-
rious old Democratic party has been stab
bed in the house Of its friends ; and after
rctrcating before the surging waves of pop
ular indignation, can now only be found
around the shades Of the presidential man.
sion, or in little squads about our custom
houses, post Offices, and such other places as
are dispensed executive farors, in the shape
of "loaves and fishes" As a natioadiparty,
il has no longer an existence. The causes,
to which brief allusion has been made,
have created the necessity for another party.
That party has been inauseatcd; and as
its principles are but the revival Of the doc
trines Of the immortal Jefferson and the re-
publican fathers, il Is perfectly natural and
proper for it to assume the timc-honored
name of" Republican," .''''' ''''
2 AsI announced in the commencement OF
these remarks, Irhall now attempt to show
that the Republican party Is a National
party; that 1t stands upon n platform oi
principles emincntly national md that no
,o,;,nai man, North or South, East or West