The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-08-04
SPEECH OF SENATOR HARLAN.
Delivered at the Republican Stale Conven
ton, June 22d, 1859.

ton, June 22d, 1859. :.
FELLOW CITIZENS Whether disposed
to praise or censure the Administrations
of James Buchanan and Franklin Pierce,
all must admit,
lst, The responsibility of the Demo
cratic Party for the present condition of
public affairs.
1t succeeded Mr.. Fillmore's Admins
tration in 1852. by the election of a
President. Vice President, and ma
jority Of the members Of both branc hes
OF Congress. The heads Of the execu-
tive departments and officials throughout
the country, were promptly superseded
by the appointment of Democratic in
cumbents. Having complete control of
the entire machinery of government. it
was able TO inaugurate and enforce it's
own peculiar policy. The Justice and
majesty, the good name and fame of the
great North American Republic.
among The NATIONS OF the earth, were
committed to is keeping.
Clothed with this great trust. it star
tied the ears of the friends of Republi-
canism everywhere, and delighted the
despots of the Old World, by an unblush-
ing denial of the truth OF the elementary
principles of civil liberty. as proclaimed
by the revolutionary fathers. established
in the adoption of the Federal Constitu-
ton, and observed in the admin istration
of the government for three quarters OF
\ century. II assailed the compromise
measures Of 1850. Il repealed the law
extending the principles of the Declara-
ton of independence. as embodied in
the Ordinance of 1897, west Of the Mis-
sissippi river, and inaugurated its Kan
sas policy. 1t enacted by government
officials slave code of laws for free
people, and enforced their observance
with Federal bayonets. 1t inaugurated
its foreign policy by the bombardment OF
Greytown without authority Of law, and
the illumination of the /" Ostend Nantes
to"-bearing the names of James Bu-
chanan and the other Ministers Plenipo-
Tertiary from this government to the
great powers Of Europe, as disgraceful
IN principle as dangerous in practice.
During the XXXIVth Congress. the
House of Representatives was divided
between the Democrats, Republicans, and
Americans. Neither had a majority oi
all its members. But the Senate and all
the executive departments of the govern.
ment, with all their patronage and inAu-
ence, were still in the hands of the Dem
ocratic party.
At the close Of Mr.. Pierce's Admins
tration, in 1855, the Democratic party
continued its power by the election of a
President. Vice President. and MAORI
ty of the members of the House of Rep.
resentatives it maintained its supremacy
in the Senate, and acquired political do
minion over the Supreme Court.
During this period of more than six
years. from March 4th, 1853, to the pre-
sent moment, every department Of the
government, except the House Of Repre-
sentativea for two sessions, when no par.
ty had a majority. has been unequivo
cally liz the hands OF the Democracy. A
Democratic President has presided ovel
a Democratic Cabinet-a Democratic
Vice President over Democratic Sen.
ate---a Democratic Speaker over Dem
ocratic House of Representatives. Dem
acratic Secretary of War over the armies
Of the nation and the construction of hel
public buildings-a Democratic Secre.
tary Of the Navy over our national fleets
"a Democratic Secretary Of State, and
Democratic Ministers. ambassadors and
Consuls, over our foreign policy-a Dem
ocratic Secretary OF the Interior over ouI
great land system. Pensions. Patent Of
tice, and Indian affairs--a Democratic
Postmaster General over our Post.office
system, extending into every city, vii
lage, neighbol hood. aud across the seas
"a Democratic Attorney General and
Supreme Court over our Judiciary sys.
tenn and national police, ramifying all The
States and Territories--a Democratic
Secretary Of the Treasury over the Gus
tom House with the immense machinery
for collecting the revenue.
No one man Is exclusively responsible
for the acts of this administration what
ever Of evil or good we receive at its
hands is not attributable. individually. I,
Mr.. Buchanan or Douglas, 10 Hunter o.