The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1859-01-26
SPEECH OF HON. GRAHAM
FITCH,
OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

| on Thursday, Jan. y, 1907. (heported Ior the
Indiana State Sentinel.)
Asa difference ofopinion existed among dem
ocrats relative to the action of the late session
of Congress upon. the question of the admission
of Kansas--a difference which created serious
difficulties in our party--l refaincd from Ia
king any active part in the recent canvass in
this State, from an unwlllngneSs even in doing
Justice to myselfand those with whom had &C
ted to iSk increasing those difficulties by dis
cussing their cause. was unwilling, even Tor
the purpose of freilting the calumnies and cor
recting the Misrepresentation Of which myself
and those with whom had acted had been the
objects to say anything to which any pro!esSed
democrat could point as evidence of diSposi-
ton to re- open in our State controversy we
hoped had been terminated in Congress.
was unwilling, even in selEdeieDce to say any
thing by which any man claiming to be mem
/ ber of our party could pretend &c justify OppO-
sition to it and its candidates. Such was in
/ formed might be an effect Of my participation in
the canvass. Now, however, that many have
left US of those whose tender SenSiblitieS It was
feared might be wounded by my telling the
truth, whose democracy might be spoiled by
nv defending democratic principles, suppose
f3ar Of saying anything distastcful to them
need no lonper chain me to silence. The election
has nasscd, ard reasons connected with it for
silence no longer exist, while the calumnies and
missrcpresentations are still continued surely
therefore, no one can allcge that there is any
impropricty, while discussing relevant subjects
general poletics--in my defending my action,
and stating the reasons which governed it. |
shall do this in no unkind spirit towards any
democrat who differed with the administration
and its supporters; and certainly shall not i'm
tate the example Of some Of them in coupling
their names with opprobrious epithcts, 'or altho'
such epilhets may be echoed and applaudcd by
men of small minds, whose political course is
governed more by personal Gavors or malice than
by political principle, yet they not argument.
They never convey to those who hear or read
them any abiding convection for Of against any
principle On the contrary, when applied by
any one to those Of his own party, they tend
only to create breach, or widen an existing
one. which, in this case, every honest democrat
must sincerely lament.
Imputations upon the honesty and integrity
Of a democrat by republicans are to be ex-
pected, Indeed, they appear to be a necessary
consequence Of the want Of those traits in the
latter Ever ready themselves to sacrifice prin-
ciple to eXpediency, or with easy facility to pass
from the advocacy Of one principle to that OF an
other and opposite, they appear incapable ofap-
preciating consistent adherence to principle by
a democrat, and charge him with being govern.
ed by the same selfish motives an inward con-
seriousness assures them would govern them
selves undeTsimilar circumstances. Every is
sue the democracy has made with the opposi.
ton has ultimately been pronounced correct by
the popular verdict, while the same verdict has
al unilortnly condemned every issue sHS-
tained by our opponents They are ever the
advocates Of a wrong and opponents of a correct
policy. Hence in opposing our men and measures
they bcSt0w upon lis the greatest compliment
in their power; while their support thows upon
any question and suspicion upon any man,
! Who more bitterly denounced by them than
Mr.. Douglas when he offered his Kansas Ne
brsska bill? Who more lovingly lauded by
them than Mr.. Douglas when he made his late
issue with the administration? All they seek
or desire is their own saccess in the acquisition
ofpower and office not the permanent establish
ment Of any principle. Their leaders are will
| ling to obtain this success with any principle,
or against any or regardless Of any. They
might occasionally be the advocates Of ccr
rect policy, but the attainment of their para
mount objects, power and Office, necessarily
compcls them TO oppose us; and as our policy
! has always been correct, so pronounced by the
public, Their porS isent opposition to US ncceS-
sarily always keeps them in the wrong. They
will TO day sustain one principle to which we
are opposed and, ifa better chance of success Of
i fers by 50 doing " i'll to morrow abandon or de
ny for another. How strikngiy this contrasts
with the action Of our party! Defeat in sup
port Of principle only endcars 1t to us. We
rally, renew, and peTSCvere in our advocacy Of
it until we irrepcaIably write it upon our stat
ute books. Never ayow ing principle until the
convc ions OF our judgement assure us it is
correct, once avowed we never abandon it until
it becomes the settled policy Of the State or ma
ton according to its applicability. On the con-
lrarv, one or two defeats diSperse our opponents
never to rally upon the same issue, and rarely
under the same party name. When the pres
ent opposition was first organized in our State,
it was under the name Of peoples party and
the first issues upon which they met us Were
upon their part, opposition to the Kansas Ne
brayka act, and advocacy ot Maine law AS
soon as defeated, they abandoned their issues
and changed their party name; and now, again,
are coqrettng with the southern know nothings
for fusion with yet another new party plat
Coim and name. When we would acquire Gu
ba. as heretofore we have obtained Louisiana,
Florida, Texas, and California, they are opposed
to the acquisition of any more territory. When
we ask that our national legislation shall be
lidera for the greatest good ofthc greatest num-
ber," they demand class legislation to increase
the profits Of the few by taxing the many
When we would give our agriculturaliSts the
world for amarket in which to buy and sell, they
would compel them to buy of New England
manufacturers at whatever price avarice might
demand and sell at the prices fixed by the
same men, by closing our ports to competition
from without by high tariff, When we would
resent injury or insult from another nation.
they condemn our threatened resentment, and
can see no cause OIL offence in any act against us.
When we would suppress rebellion, they justify
: it, When we are engaged in war, they op.
pose appropriations for its prosecution, and
for the protection our honor and flag While
we would be national, recognizing and proec.
ting both sections alike, they would usurp
privileges for the States OF one section and
deny the rights of those of another. While we
would execute the constitution as it is in letter
and spirit tand mall its provisions, whctheror not
counterto all our interests and predjudices, they
would disregard that instrument and annul vi its
provisions dstasteful to them or in the way ofthe
accomplishment ofpolitical purposes While we
r would legisate for the black as our government
found him andas our constitution recognizes hm
they would make him our social civil, and political
equal. Whlle we >nculcate respect LOT our con-
sttutional courts and defernce to their decisions
, they would disregard their decisions, and over.
throw the courts. While we avow as our poll.
cy congressional non Intervention with tho sub
: iect OF slavery in the Territories, they ad-
, yocatc the converse, and would have Congress
f. stamp the future institutions Of every State tc
he formed from Territory. While we con
= tend for popular soVreinty'-the same right inthe
people Of a territory as we Of the States have cx
arcised-the right, namely, in framing theil
: State constitutions, to form and regulate theiI