The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-20
SPEECH OF HON. HENRY M. PHILLIPS,

House Of Represeoasres June IL, 1903
The House being In the Committee Of the Whole the
state Of tho Union ti wa f ~
Mr. PHILLIPS said Is fa "a "a
Mr. CHAIRMAN: Much has been said against the party
of which L am a member that In my Judgment ought
not to unanswered not corrected Is often ac
cepted truth and at this late period avail myself
of the indulgence granted me OF thus addressing the conn
mitee for the purpose OF rcpeng from the democratic
party of the charges that several republican
bes have sought to asten upon it, The proclaimed prin
cpes of the two branches of the opposition prevent their
uniting any real platform recrm (aricia and pre-
tended reform only is therefore attempted to be declared
the doctrine in the broad ad unmeanng principles of
which their differences may be concealed.
Mr. Chairman, the keynote of opposition to the demo-
cratic party has been loudly sounded by the distinguish
ed gentleman from Ohio, MIR. SIRRAAS his purpose
could not be misunderstood his speech carefully and
elaborately prepared 1t doubtless intended
pagn speech and proclamng the doctrines Of the OPP
position, nosasy to the democratic administration but
really to the democratic party Believing as do, TINT
the harmony of the Union it's prosperity and its
nenoy depend upon the democratic party and that With
out the there cannot be the other deem 1t fitting
subject which 10 address this Committee of the Whole
that has under its consideration de Union generally.
The adoption of the federal constitution followed
by the administration Of George Washington for eight
years The unanmity with which he called TO the
executive chair the confidence felt in his patriotism and
sagacity prevented the formation of partes which, how
ever cnsued in the successorshp of John Adams
Then, for the first timc the germ of the democratic
but IL thomas Jefferson 10
it shape and name and to put upon permanent basis
that democratic party Of the nation which still lives The
perils that envroned it at its formation in the infamous
attempt TO elevate Aaron Burr to the presidency, but
served to strengthen 1t at its BIRTH and it then into
action and began its mission with the strength full
grown and not infant party 1t the democracy Of
that day that called forth and obtained the extension of
territory in the purchase of the Louisiana Territory it
reserved for the democracy Of the next aninBta
ton to admit into the Union of the States formed
out of itLousiana These acts violently opposed
by the opponents of the democracy the same epithes
were used were avishy applied the denunciaons
were heaped the same menaces made but the demo-
cratic party pursued the tenor of its way felt itself
right was reckless of temporary consequences and
strengthened the Union by these glorious accessions
more trial awaited it in the days of James
Madison 1t had made upon the greatest power In
the wordGreat Britain 1t had sent forth its hundreds
TO fight the myriads of England It's struggling ships to
contend with mighty navies, work of danger and of
doubt but national honor had been invaded and the
democratic party recognised the patriotic doctrine Of
death before dahonor" and pushed forward the con-
test Then, now its enemies stopped to calculate tho
cost to proclaim the danger and to denounce those who
had done these things and for time gloom did per-
wade the nation but the glorious of arms
the brilliant victories of soldiers and sailors, and
treaty which, for the first timo, recognised the United
States equal in the rank of nations with its naughty
foe established the correctness of the pursued by
the democratic party. have not the time within the
hour to which the rules limit me, to date upon these
things, even to notice many of them; but coming
the opposition to the election of Andrew Jackson the
removal of the deposes from the United States Bank
the downfall of that institution to the establishment of
an independent treasury to the war with Mexico and to
the reforms, all under democratic adminisra-
tons. Each of these 1t socmnly and Sc
ously declared would ruin the country yet who daes
now to assert the impropriety of any of them 7
The men who oppose the democratic party
in opposition then and the people, frightened by the ter
rife exaggeraons and persuaded by the specious prom
ses, than yieldcd-deserted the democratic
standard, suffered tho party to be defeated yet every
occasion Its downfall but momentary, the fash of
opposition serving show sufficiently plainly the perils
Of its power, and the people failed at the earliest
momentto preserve the country from its impending
danger and to the democratic party by most Sig
| nal victory. There have been opposition admnistra-
tons, but the policy of the country has been demo-
cratic and must continue to be democratic, these inter-
ected opposons have but served to retad the progress
and growth which follow the democratic rule VIII any
one deny that the increase Of the nation from thirteen
weak and puny colonies to thirty strong and giant
States is the work of the democratic party that the
present elevated position of the country throughout the
world has the origin If any one bo disposed,
/ let him. at least in denying this, ascrbe it to
other which he shall name and describe. Tho
mission of the democratic party, Mr.. Chairman, has
been to make this country and to prne it. The history
of Its three fourths Of century Of existence is sgn
cant of the of perpetuang the Union and by its
example spread throughout continent at least its free
institutions. appeal, then, to my democratic friends
to allow present discomfort disafection to Induce
them to desert the democratic standard rally round
any other and If they find subject of complaint, let
| them
rather they have
THAI ny to others tha. they not Off
1t said of Henry Clay that canvass for reelection
to Congress, he encountered an old huntsman, with
whom no had been brought up, who told him that he
could again vote for him. because he had advocated
a measure to which the hunter opposed Mr.. Clay
reasoned with him in that humored and winning way
which characterized him. but in vain in vain he
captuated the many things which he had done that
were acceptable The hunter recognised oil these but
was inexoable. Mr. Clay passed from the subject and,
walking ON some time he began talking about his
panion family then he inquired about his hunting,
asking him il he was good shot as ever and what
| rife he had The huntsman told him he still had old
Joe which he had so long used 'But, said Mr.. Clay,
"does it never miss fire 7" eyes, of it does
sometimes" the reply ''Then said Mr. Clay, if
it missed fire you threw it away did you ehy
or what did you do o. at the time looking him
iixedy in the eye The old understood the point Of
the inquiry burst into tears and seized Mr. Clay shands
cxcainng, why, picked the flint and tried it again
any who think that the democratic gun has missed fire,
let them pick its flint and try it again. They do
better with change They will have plenty of of
complaint with allies and viii have selfreproaches
hereafter many of them probably have serious doubts
and msgivings now.
But Mr.. Chairman, accept the challenge of the gen.
tlcman from Ohio, Mr. SHERMAN and will endeavor to
show that his objections not well founded He ap
pears as prosecutor he arraigns the democratic party
lie undertakes put it upon trial he presents such evi
dencc as he pleascs and whal he must fail to convince
any rejecting man of the justice of his accusations Were
his charges true they ought not to Suffice because he has