The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-13
SPEECH OF HON. GRAHAM N. FrToH,
OF ras UNITED STATES SENATE,

Ddsrod IN m< CIpaol h,diaaapois, bdane Tdpaaay
Joansy g. 1859. pieported for Indiana State sentnol
As difference Of opinion existed among democrats rel
atyo to the action of the late session OF Congress upon
the question OF the. admission of Kansasa difference
which created serious difficulties in our partyI refned
taking any active part in the recent In this
State, from unwngness, even In doing justice 10
myself and those with whom had acted to risk increas
ing those difficulties by discussing their
willing, for the purpose OF reuting the eaunnes
and correcting the Misrepresentation of which myself
aud those with whom had acted had been the objects
80 say anything to which any proiessed democrat could
point evidence of disposition TO reopen In State
controversy hoped had been terminated in Congress
was unwilling, in self-defence say anything by
which any claiming TO be member OF our party
could pretend to justify opposition to it aud its candidates.
Such, was informed, might be effect of my active
participation in the Now, however that many
have left Of those whose tender scnsbtes feared
might he wounded by nay telling the truth whose deInoc-
ray might be spoiled 10y my defending democratic prnci-
PIES suppose saying Thing dsasteful to them
need longer chain TO silence The election has passed.
aud connected with it for silence longer exist
while the caiumnies and Misrepresentation still
tinued surely therefore, aege that there Is
any mpropriety while discussing relevant subectsgen-
eul politicsn my defending nay action, and stating the
which governed it. shall do this in unkind
spirit towards any democrat who differed with the admin
istration and it's supporters aud certainly shall not
initiate the example Of of them in coupling their
with opprobrious epithct for although such cpl
thsts may be echoed and applauded by men of small
sonal malice than by political principle yet they
not argument They convey those who hear
read them any abiding conviction for against any
principle On the conary, when applied by any to
those OF his party they tend only to abreach
widen an existing which, In this case every hon
est democrat must sincerely lament.
Imputations upon the honesty and integrity OF dem
orat by republicans 10 be expected Indeed they
appear 90 I've consequences of the want OF those
traits in the latter. Ever ready themselves to sacrifice
principle to cxpediency with easy facility 10 pass from,
the advocacy OF principle To that Of another and OPP
postc they appear incapable of approaching consistent
adherence to principle by democrat, and charge him
with being governed by the same selfish motives
inward consciousness them would govern them
selves under similar circumstances Every issue the de-
mocracy has made with the opposition has ultimately been
pronounced correct by the popular ye dict, while the
same verdict has as uniformly condemned every issue
sustained by our opponents They are ever the adyo
Gates OF wrong and opponents OF correct policy
Hence in opposing our leading men and measures they
bestow upon the gcaest compliment in their power
while their support throws doubt upon any question
and suspicion upon any man. Who more bitterly de-
ounoed by them than Mr. Douglas when he offered his
Kansas Nebraska bill Who more lovingly lauded by
them than Mr. Douglas when he made his late issue with
the administration! All they seek desire is their
success in the acquisition of power and Office not
the permanent establishment of any principle Their
leaders willing to obtain this with any prin
ciplc, against any, regardless of any They might
occasionally be the advocates OF correct policy, but
that the attainment of their paramount Objects power
policy has always been correct pronounced by
the public their persistent opposition 90 necessarily
always keeps them in the wrong. 1hey win to-day
tain ono principle to which opposed and If u
better chance OF offers by doing, will to
abandon or depy it for another. How strikingly
this contrasts with the action of party Defeat in
support of principle only cnlears it t. us. We rally,
renew, and perscvere in advocacy of it until ire
peaaby write IL upon statute books Never avowing
principle until the convictions of Judgment
it correct once avowcd we never abandon it until
becomes the settled policy of the State or nation accord
ing to its applicability On the contrary two de-
feats dispense opponents to rally upon the
sane issue, and rarely under the party When
the present opposition first organized in State
under the Of peoples party =; and the first
issues upon which they met upon their part op
position TO the Kansas Nebraska act and advocacy of
Maine law AS defeated they abandoned their
issues and changed their party and now again,
coqnctting with the southern know nothings for
fusion with yet another party platform and
When would acquire Cuba, heretofore have oh
tained louisiana Florida Texas and California they
opposed to the acquisition of any territory When
ask that national legislation shall be liberal " for
the greatest good of the greatest number they demand
cass legislation to increase the profits OF the few by tax
ing the many. When would give agrcutursts
the world for market in which to buy and SELL they
would compel them to buy Of New England Inanulactu-
whatever price avarce might demand and sell at
the prices fixed by the men, by closing ports to
competition FROM without by high tariff, When
would resent injury insult from another nation, they
condemn threatened resentment, and
Of offence in any act against When would
suppress rebellion they justify it. When engaged
in war; they oppose appropriations for its prosecution and
for the protection of honor and flag. While
would be national, recognising aud protecting
the rights of all States and of both sections alike they
would usup privileges for the States OF one section and
deny the rights of those of another Whewe would
the constitution il IL in letter and spirit and in
all its provisions, whether not counter TO interests
and prejudices, they would disregard that instrument
and annu all its provisions dsasteu to them ia the
way of the accomplishment of their political purposes.
While would legslate for the black gov
enmcnt found him, and constitution recognises
him. they would make him social, civil and politi-
cal equal While incuoate respect for constitu-
tiona courts and Difference TO their decisions they would
disregard the decisions and overthrow the courts While
ayow policy congressional noninterventon
with the subject of slavery in the Territories, they adyo
cate the converse and would have Congress stamp the
future institntions of every State be formed from
Territory. While contend for popular sovereign
ty'-the same right in the people OF Territory which
Of the States have esercsed-the right namely in
framing their State constitutions TO form and regulate
their domestic institutions In their way subject only
to the constitution Of the United Stteshey assert that
Congress has ''soyereign power the Territories
and demand its exercise Yet on several occasions when
they have thought 20 gain strength by 80 doing they
have temporarily abandoned their doctrine OF soyereign
power, rushed into the opposite extreme and became the
advocates OF popular sovereignty so WIDE Wild and
anaclca 10 disregard constitution and law and set
at defiance all legal authorities While We opposed and
denounced the secrecy, the extra judicial and oscrptvo
oatbs and boal tenets of the kpow-uohins republi-
conventions nominated members OF that order for Of
fce and urged Catholics and naturlzed citizens to sus
secure the aid Of those they knew their candidates II
successful yould While leois-