The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-07-27

Delivered at the Republican State Conpen
ton, June I'D, 1859.

FELLOW CITIZENS - Whether disposed to
praise or censure the Administration of James
Buchanan and Franklin Pierce, all must ad-
nit
1st. The responsibility Of the Democratic
party for the present condition of public af-
fAirs.
| 1t succeeded Mr.. Fillmore's Administration
in 1852, by the election Of President,
| Vice President, and majority of the men,
bers Of both branches Of Congress. The
heads OF the executive departments and off
cials throughout the country were promptly
superceded by the appointment of Democrat
ic incumbents. Having complete control Of
the entire machinery Of government, it was
able to inaugurate and enforce its own Pc
culiar 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 its keeping.
Clothed with this great trust, it startled
the ears Of the friends Of Republicanism ey-
erywhere, and delighted the despots of the
} Old World, by an unblushing denial Of the
truth of the elementary principles of civil
liberty, as proclaimed by the revolutionary
fathers, established in the adoption of the
5 Federal Constitution, and observed in the
administration Of the government for three.
quarters OF q century. 1t assailed the com.
promise measures Of 1850. 1t repealed tn,
law extending the principles of the Declare
ton of Independence - embodied in the Or.
, dinance Of 1888, west of the Mississippi river
2 and inaugurated its Kansas policy 1t en-
: acted by government officials slave code o.
laws for q free people, and enforced the
. observance with Federal bayoDets. 1t mat
: gurated its foreign policy by the lombard
: ment Of Greytown without authority Of law
and the illumination Of the ssOstend Nantes
to''-bearing the names OF James Buchanan
! and the other Ministers Plcnipotentiary from
g this government to the great powers u Eu
i rope, az disgraceful in principle as danger
,f GUS 10 practice.
During the XXXIVth Congress the Hous
Of Representatives was divided between tn
~ Democrats, Republicans and Americana
r Neither had . majority of all its members
9. But the Senate and ali the executive denar,
"a ments Of the government, with all their pa
tronage and influence, were still in the hand
=. Of the Democratic party.
el AT the close OF Mr.. Pierce's Administra
q ton, in 1856, the Democratic party contiu
4. ned it's power by the election Of Presiden
Vice President, and q majority Of the men
" bers of the House Of Representatives
~ maintained it's supremacy in the Senate, an
en- acquired political dominion over the Supren
Court
During this period OF more than six year
from March 4th, 1853, to the present momen
-, every department. Of the government, exec
'n the House Of Representatives for two se
sn- sions, when no party had q majority, has be,
ich unequivocally in the hands Of the Democrac
AZ. A Democratic President has presided over
-. Democratic Cabinet-a Democratic Vic
o'o President over q d Democratic Senate--a Der
red cc-..!c Speaker, c-s- Democrats Hou
nts Of Representatives. Democratic Secreta
hit. Of War, over the armies Of the nation, q
nor the construction Of her public buildings
- Democratic Secretary of the Navy, over o
national heets--a Democratic Secretary
State, and Democratic Ministers, Embass
doris and Consuls, over our foreign policy
re- Democratic Secretary Of the Interior, on
yer our great land system, Pensions, Patent c
The foe, and Indian Affairs-a Democratic Po
ngs master General, over our Post Office systc
own extending into every city, village, neighb,
OF hood, and across the seas d Democratic
tom torney General and Supreme Court, over {
ldge Judiciary system and national police, raj
Elk Tying all the States and Territories he
MIR. ocratic Secretary OF the Treasury, over
wn Custom House wi,h the immense machin
Elk for collecting the revenues.
NO one man 10 exclusively responsible
tom the acts OF this administration whatever
evil or good We receive at ito hands ID