The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1859-05-12
Ne. 22.

70 those arising from too small q degree of
i. immense applause. II is q matter OF
historical experience that nothing thsi IS
wrong IN principle can be right in practice.
sensation People are spt TO delude them
selves on that point: but the ultin, ate result
viii always prove the truth of the maxim.-
\ violation OF equal rights can never serve TO
maintain institutions which are founded upon
equal rights Loud applause. 4 contrary
policy IS not only pusillauimous and
small. but 1t IS senseiess- 1t reminds me o.
the soldier who. for fear of being shot III bat
tie committed suicide ON the march: or of the
man who would cur off his foot because he
had corn on his toe. Laughter. Il $
that ridiculous policy of premature despair,
which commences to throw the freight over
BOARD, when their Is n suspicious cloud in the
SKY.
, Another danger for the safety of our insti-
tutions. and perhaps the most formidable one.
ansrs from the general propensity of political
parties and public men to act on policy of
mere expendency, and to sacrifice principle
to local and temporary success. Great SEN
saQon And here, sir, let me address a
solemn appeal TO the consciences of those
with whom am proud 10 struggle side by
side against human thraldom.
You hate kingcran. and you would sacri-
hce your fortunes and Your lives IN order to
prevent its establishment on the soil of this
republic. But let me tell you that the rale
of political parties which sacrifice principle 70
eNpedIency. Is no less dangerous, no less dis
asterous, 70 less aggressive. of no less despot-
ic = uaturs than the rule of monarchs. Do
not iadulge in the delusion. that in order to
make government fair and liberal, the only
thing necessary is to make it elective. When
political party in power, however liberal
their principles may be, have once adopted
the policy of knocking down their opponents
instead OF voting them down, there is an end
of justice and equal rights. Applause
The history of the world shows no example
of a more arbitrary despotism. than that ex-
erclsad by the party which rules the National
Assembly OF France in the bloodiest days Of
the great French Revolution | will not dis
cuss here what might have been done aud
what not. in those times of fearful crisis; bur
| will say that they tried to establish liberty
by means Of despotism, and that ia her gigan-
tic struggle against the united monarchs Of
Europe, revolutionary France won the victo
". but lost her liberty
Remember the shout of Indignation that went
all over the Northern States when we heard
that the Border Rufians of Kansas had crowd
ed the Free State men away from the polls
and had not allowed them to vote That
indignation was Just, not only because the
men who were thus terrorized were Free State
men and friends Of Liberty but because they
were deprive of their right of suffrage, and
because the Government of that Territory
equal rights. Sir, il ever The party of Liber-
ty should use their local predominance for
the purpose Of disarmiag their opponents IN
stead OF convincing them. they will but follow
the example Sc; by the ruffiaus of Kansas, al
though Legislative enactment may be gen.
teeler weapon than the revolver and bowie
knife. Cheering They may, perhaps,
achieve some petty local advantage, they may
gaia some small temporary advantage. but
they will hell introduce n system of action
in our politics which sill gradually under
mine the very i0uI.l.tlons upon which our
republican cdice rests. OF all the dangers
and difficulties that besct US, there j. noae
more horrible than the hideous monster whose
name is 'proscrIp.ion for opinions sake. -
Cheers and cries Of good. | am an Au-
Ii Slavery man, and have right t. my
opinion IN South Carolina ust as well as in
massachusetts,. NJ neighhor IS Democrat;
| may he sorry foE II, but | solemnly acknow-
ledge his right to his opinion in Massachu-
setts as well as in South Carolina. You tell
M, that for my opinion they will mob me ia
SDuh Carolina? Sir. there is the difference
between South Carolina and Massachusetts,
Prolonged cheering There is the difference
between an Anti-Slavery man. who is free.
man, and Shareholder, who is himself q
slave. Continued applause.
Sir, our present issue Will pass away
The Slavery question will be settled liberty
will be triumphant, and other matters Of diff
ference will divide the political parties of this
country. What. Sir. il we in our struggle
agains. Slavery had removed the solid basis
OF equal rights. on which such new matters Of
difference may be peaeeably settled? What
xt
try upon difference Of ,his upon different
classes OF people? What it. in destroying
the generality Of natural rights. we had
resolved them. into privileges? There IS a
thing which stands above the command Of
the most ingenious of politicians: thai Is Ms
iogec Of things and ererts. Il cannot be
turned and twisted by artificial arrangements
and delusive settlements; it will go its own
way with the steady step Of fate. II will
force you with uncompromising severity, TO
choose between the social organization. one
Of which IS founded upon privilege, and tie
other upon the doctrine Of equal rights.
Force instead Of right, privilege instead Of
equality expediency instead Of principle be-
Ing once the leading motives Of your policy,
vou will have no power 70 stem the current
There will be new abuses to be corrected,
new faeonve nieBces to be remedied, new sup
posed dangers to be obviatad. equality
exacting ends 70 be subserved. and your
croachlneuts upor the natural rights Of your
opponents now will be used as welcome pre-
ce Tents for the mutual oppression Of parties
then. Having once knowingly disregaried
the doctrine Of equal rights, the ruling par
ties will soon aecustom themselves to consult
only their interests where fundamental prin-
cigbss are at stake Those who lead Us into this
channel will be like the sorcerer who knew
the art how 10 make a giant snake. Aud
when he had made it he forgot the charm
word how TO destroy It again. And the giant
snake threw its horrid coils around him and