Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-10-21
Address of the Republican State Conven.
ton held at Madison Oct. 9th, 1858.


election is of unusual Importance
Never before has a National Admins
tration so completely abandoned the
original principles upon which this gov
eminent was founded. While the con
stitution of the u. S., as Mr.. Madison
commended, contains nothing that car
remind coming generations, that sucf
an abomination as Slavery, ever existed
in this country, the President declares
an extra judicial decision, which makes
Slavery the ruling and paramount inter
est in our national policy, to be the
supreme law of the land. Not only has
the liberal and time honOred policy o
excluding Slavery from the territories
been abandoned, but Slavery is main
tanned there in spite of the solemnly ex
pressed will of the people, and its con
tinuance has been made the sole condi
ton on which territory is to be eleva
ted to the rank of sovereign State
the great commercial and industrial in
terests, with which the welfare and pros
perity of the people are inseperably con
nected, have been mscrupulously sac
rifced to the dictation of the Slavehol.
ding aristocracy, and even the great
highway internal communication, which
is to connect two oceans, is to be diver.
ted from its natural direction, because
the slaveholGing wills it.
While it was the opinions Of cur great
est statesmen, that honesty, faithfulness
and ability, should be the only criteria
by which the claims of aspirants to of
flee were to be judged, the present Ad,
ministration has shamefully prostituted
its power and patronage, by purchasing
the votes of National Representatives
with executive favors, and by debauch-
ing the political morals of the people on
the largest scale by alternate threats
and brides. Abandoning the practice
of wise economy in the expenditures
Of the government, the Administration
lavshes the money of the people with
unheard- ofprofigacy, for the purpose
of supporting its adherents and quarter
ing an army of idle and Unsuitable office
holders on the treasury OF the nation.
In what feature of this Administra-
ton are VIC to recognize the spirit which
ruled the earlier and better days Of this
Republic? 1t permits even the despots
Of the old world to put us to shame
While the Emperor Of Russia, i'll the
full possession of his arbitrary power,
pays his tribute to the spirit Of our age,
by taking measures for the emancipation
Of the serfs, the President Of the u. S.
declares that the banner of this Repub-
lie shall carry Slavery in its folds,
wherever it is borne. While the for
mer overawes his subjects by the ever
ready array Of his standing armies, the
latter endeavors to rule a free people, by
addressing himself to the venality and
greed of hireling politicians. Which is
the most disgusting? Where is the
pride, where the honor of the American
people
Citizens Of Wisconsin You have
condemned President Pierce's Admin
istration by majority of 1000 votes
But what wrong has Pierce ever COM
mitted, what outrage has he ever sane
toned, that has not been far outdone by
Buchanan Every vote that was not
cast against him, will be counted f0r
him. Every suffrage not exercised will
be considered an endorsement Of his
acts.
Do not forget, that the election of
this year will foreshadow the result of
the Presidential contest in 1860, and that
the election ola chief-magistrate may be
thrown into the lower House of Con-
gress for which you now have to choose
Representatives If ever a cause was
dear to your hearts let it be this. II
ever you worked for good and pure
principles, work now. One vote may
decide the future of this Republic.
The political situation of Wisconsin
has no less claims to your attention.
The corruption and abuses practiced
under several Administrations, have
stained the reputation and ruined the
character and credit of our State
Faithless officers have plundered the
treasury, squandered the money OF the
people, and gambled away the money
set apart for the education of our youth,
and numerous legislators have betrayed
the trust reposed in them, by accepting
brides. No fair minded man can deny,
that among the persons who participa-
ted in these fraudulent transactions, an
overwhelming large majority belonged
to the Democratic organization. But
above all, may the Republicans claim
the merit Of having, in spite of the uni
ted and stubborn opposition ofthe Dem
ocratic party, investigated the outrage,
committed and exposed the perpetrators
without respect to party or station
While the Democrats, far from exclu-
ding from their ranks the numerous de.
faulters and corruptionists, have en-
deavored to scaeen hem by comforting
upon them new honors and new trusts,
the Republican party have not hesita-
ted to expose its tainted members, and
honestly endeavor to clear its ranks of
all corrupt elements, and we may say
with pride, that the investigations NOV
ed and carried by the Republicans in
our Legislative bodies, have stopped the
Speculations, and that the property of
tho people is safe in the hands to which
it is entrusted. fever it was necessary
that men of principle and honesty should
be elected to our Legislature, it is now,
when conflicting intrest are fighting
against each other, and when unscru-
pulous means will be resorted to in or
der to bias the judgment of our Legisla-
tors. Let no promises to relieve yon
from personal and pecuniary obligations
induce you to forget your duties as free.
men and Republicans, and let no con-
liberation move you to cast vote for
an opponent of true Republican princi-
pies.
Remember that the Republican party
is Identified with the cause of human H.
berty; and that the so-called Democrat
ic party is identiged with the progress
and nXnansinn of Slavery nvnr tho rthnln