Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-08-30
NA'HA tAo 'PpliAi ie'F''t " t-N N't1Aii'f'
Speech Of Governor Chase at SanduSky,
REVIEW OF OUR STATE POLITICS.
Democracy and Republication COntrasted

REVIEW OF OUR STATE POLITICS.
Democracy and Republicanism COntrasted
Ma CHAIRMAN AND FeLLow CIT1zENs: ! nm
here to day for the purpose Of discussing some
topics which concern deeply the people Of this
State and the people of the Union | am not
here for the purpose of appealing to prejudice
OF passions lam not here for the purpose Of
exciting merrment or provoking mirth, but
am here to speak of grave questions to serious
men. ! speak to yon to-day, not as partizans,
but in higher character / speak TO you
citizens of Ohio, deeply concerned in whatever
affects the welfare of the State. l speak to
you as American citizens haviog voice-and
that potential voice-in deciding the dostinies
Of our common country, and as men acknowl-
edging your final responsibility TO God
/ shall speak TO you first of some matters
which concern our own State especially. | am
not ign0rant-of course | cannot be ignorant
that the question which most absorbs public
attention is the question of slavery. | cannot
be ignorant that this is the great national qucs-
ton, by which political parties are to be dvi-
ded, and by which the destnies of political par
ties are to be decided
But while l acknowledge that, | desire to
remember, and l desire that my fellow citizens
Of this State, who have entrusted to me tenn
porarily the Chief Magistracy Of this State,
should also remember, that there are matters
which concern us at home, TO which we ought
to devote our thoughts and attention,
POLITICAL PARTIES or THE STATE.
Without further preface let me say to you,
that as the parties are now organized, they took
their origin from no very remote period. In
1851 we adopted our present State Constitution.
1t was framed and adopted in great part by
the votes OF what was known as the Democrat
c party. The State government went into eX-
steuce in January, 1852. From that time on
ward our political history in this State may be
considered.
! 1t so happens that about the same period there
was a new division of political parties in the
country. In 1852 as you are aware, the two
old parties adopted their respective pro slavery
! platforms at Baltimore, aud these platforms
| were passed, as you all know, upon the recog-
| milton OF the compromise measures of 1850,
including the fugitive slave act, final set
] tlement Of the slavery question No one, it
seems to me, who had any knowledge of politi
cal philosophy, or of the history of parties,
could fail to see that the very moment the is.
sue of that election should be determined, a
new political organization must arise, because
both parties at Baltimore had adopted substan
TALLY the same platform--both had adopted it
upon the theory, that the Slavery question was
to be finally settled by these measures, and any
body who was acquainted with the spirit and
history of the slave power must have been prCt
ty well assured that the aggressiOns of slavery
were not to be terminated by the success of
either party upvn that platform, but, that the
successful party would not be Obliged to stand
upon that, but would 20 on to further aggres.
sions, while the unsuccessful party would give
itself to the strong sentiment IN favor of free
soil, which demanded and would demand diff
Al. 60 Al. Il
Anticipation was in fact realized Mr. Pierce
was, as you know, elected, aud Mr.. Pierce,
whether he supposed the compromise measures
were to settle the slavery question or no,
speedily found that they did not settle it, but
that new demands were to be made, and that
he was TO be the instrument by which the slave
power was to enforce these new demands -
Then necessarily arose this new divisions oI
parties. Many of the Wings of the country
had aoquiesced in the compromise measures
upon the theory that have stated, that it wai
to he a finality, that they were not to be com
PEELED to submit to anything mOre and wher
they found that they were TO be disappointed
and when many Democrats found that they alsC
were to be disappointed, they came together
with The existirg free soil organization in new
party The discussion upon the Nebraska bill
signaized the origin of new party, and the
result of this discussion in the repeal of the
Missouri prohibition ushered it into existence
and consolidated it.
Thus YOU see, my fellow citizens, that at the
time of the commencement almost identica
with our new existence under our State Con
stitution, there commenced new parties in oul
general affairs. Now what do we see! w,
see Wings, Democrats, Free-sOil men, men o
native birth, men of foreign BIRTH men of al
cteeds, standing together in this Republican
p organization, animated, as 1 believe, by tn,
same principles, in the main, which animate,
the old Republican party in the days of Jeher
son; and see, upon the other side, Wings anC
Democrats, and am sorry to say, some mel
who once stood IN tie front ranks of the Free
soil battle united together upon the platform o
! slavery. This is the national division.
:, Well, now, | said to you should speak 0
our State affairs | intend TO do so, but tho
e il was worth while to call your attention h
the condolences Of the division Of our Stat
s politics with the division Of our national poll
tics to some extent.
y DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATION AND ADMINISTRATION
Our State affairs, as you all know, during Ia
first four years Of this period, since the adol
D ton Of the new Constitution, were under wha
h is called Democratic rule; q use the word Den
p cratic, not because l think il at all describe
this party; it is a now party in substance an
! IN TACT, buL use the Term binply because "
tie name by which they prefer TO be named
Our State continued under the rule OF this ne'
party from 1882 onwards for four years Wh1
were the fruits of that rulel
Here the speaker was interrupted by III
. expression Of desire that the meeting shou'
adjourn to some larger place, a conslderabl
number Of persons being now unable to eiieC
an entrance into the already oyer-orowde
Court Room. The meeting adjourned to th
grass plot in front Of the building, aud III
speaker continued his speech from the windo
of the Sherh's Office, TO an audience largel
increased A
My fellow-citzens, there is more room ou
side Of doors than there Is indoors, believ'
and it you are rot as comfortable where yo
h are as where you were, trust that you wi
L console yourselves by the reflection that al
not so either They have put the Governor a
y It seems, into a frame, daughter and ! trui
that YOU are all satisfied With bis appearance,
l[Laughter am sorry that the ladies' hay
not better opportunity Of seeing if il is, &
not, handsome picture lhenewed lau 4
teri
was speaking to you up stair upon Ii
> subject Of our State affairs, and II can II
: member where lelt off, | shall 60 on from thi
or point. If ! fail trust that my friends benin
81 here--the reporters will make II all night
lls their reports.
Or was saying that during four years, con
v mencug with the inauguration Of the sta
or government in 1852, under the new constitl
sos ton, the party known as the Democratic part
al a.. -a;.a ..r oovaruruat,t Ia. t,fa gtata r