Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-05-17

speech of Senator Benjamin, Of Louisiana,
in which he defines his future party posi-.
ton, and gives the reasons therefore
II
"Mr. President, have dwet on issub-
lject longer than intened-not quite SO
long as my notes would justify me; but
do not feel able TO continue to The end OF
what had TO say. Before take my seat,
however. ! must trespass on the attention
Of the Senate for few moments with an
explanation OF my political position, ID OF
der TO avoid all misconstruction upon the
subject.
v hen, in the month Of January 1852, |
was honored with an election to seat on
this floor, there existed in this country
bur two great parties, divided III opinion
upon political questions, differing in their
views as to the measures best calculated
to promote the common interests Of the
country, but both united in devotion to
those common interests, both scorning.
both rejecting with horror, any proposition
tending to nstil into the minds of the peo-
pie the iainlest suspicion that the powers
Of this government could be constitution
all, welded for the exclusive benefit Of
one section OF the country to the exclusive
detriment of another.
In the presidential contest which follow
ed, no man labored with better Will or with
more unwearied assiduity than did in OPP
position to the election Of the present Chief
Magistrate. In doing this. was but faith
iul to the political antecedents of my en-
tire life faithful TO the principles OF thai
glorious old wing psrty Of the country, adj
herring to the traditions Of the fathers, Ie-
jecting every innovation on their time
honored precepls, holding up the example
OF a Washington as the model of a wise
administration of public affairs, and wheth-
TT victorious or vanqushed, ever tteadinS
the path of duty with untaiterng cour-
age. led by such men as their Clay and
their Webster.
In that contest we were beaten-beaten
by majority almost unparalleled in our
political annals One of the principal caus-
t S OF that defeat is but too well known
The masses of the people Of this country
could not overcome their inyinelble repug-
nance TO voting tor The gallant Scott, so soon
as it as known that iie ,yas the iavorte
candidate OF the honorable senator from
| New York. Rightly orwrongfully, justly
or unjustly, that senator had succeeded in
instiIiiag in:o The minds of the people oil fif-
teen States of this confederacy the deep
seated conviction that he was a most dali-
gerous enemy TO the harmony OF the Union
and 10 the perpetuiiy of its Institutions
| l he baie suggestion that the election of the
/ l. fol 1,
| iIous influence OH his part over the councils
n the administration safficed to secure 70:
the democratic nominee an almost undivided
southern ote.
Sir, do not speak from my own conyic-
tons alone, speak the convictions OF al
most every southern leader that | know,
when say ihata violent opposition on the
part Of that senator to the election ofGen-
e.al Scott would have secured to him many
electoral votes which were Cast for his
democratic rival.
When we met on the floor OH the 4th OF
March, 1858, at the special session con-
yoked by the President, 1t became neces-
sarv to nominate committees for this body;
ahd In tie whis caucus which assembled
for tina, purpose nineteen senator's were
present. Ii was minority, indeed: but
a minority whose attitude commanded the
respect Of even its political opponents
Gracefully yielding to the recently express
ed will Of the people, yet watchfull guar
dams of the principles of which they wer"
the chosen expounders, they RETAINED
from aught that could bear the semblance
OF lactious opposition, but ever ready to
soand the note Of alarm whenever in their
! judgments the course of policy OF the adj
mnis,ratlon might threaten danger to the
Interests Of the county.
This was the attitude Of parties when
the honorable senator from Illinois intro-
duced into this body the bill for the organ
iza,ion Of the Kansas and Nebraska Terri
tories. Sir, no sooner had the discussion
opened upon that bill than some startling
developments took place. On an amend
ment offered 10 tie bin by the honorable
senator from Massachusetts,, Mr.. Sumner,
in which he proposed to strike out every
thing alter the enaeting clause, and to in-
sert provision for the repeal Of the flu
gitive slaye--law, six northern wing sena-
tor voted for the proposition. AS the de-
bates continued in both houses, and the
| contest grew hot, this further fact was de-
veoped--that there was not member of
the wing party North, in either branch
who did not believe in the power OF Con-
gress to legislate on the subject OF slavery,
IN the Territories, and who was not dis
pesed to exercise that power to the eXclu-
sion of the South.
A vote like tins, given With such uapre.
cedehted unanimity. could not be taken BY
the South for any thing but the just reflex OF
the opinion OF the constituency represent
ed by those who were in Washington
The discovery Of this fact, like the explo-
sion Of mine, rent the whis party into
ragments-iragments that no mortal skill
can ever reunite, for the cement of a COM
mon principle is wanting.
Scarcely had that oil been passed when,
amidst the turmoil aud confusion created
by the excited appeals addressed to north
ern passions and prtjudicess by those who
assumed the Leadership of the opposition
to the bill secret whispers began to be heard
of some new organization that was to rise
into power from the ruins Of both the old
parties. Mysterious movements attracted
The curiosity of the people. An eager de-
sire TO learn what these movements meant
operated on weak minds. The parapher.
MALTA or orps and signs, and pass ords