The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-08-23
From the Elwood Kansos Free PiesA
SPEECH OF HON. +. r. BLAIR. Jr.
Eirs, Free Soil Speech ever Delivered I'm e,
5Ostph.

scattered around were the Iaboring men
tho honest, hearty, free Stato men Of the
section.
II. p. Branch introduced the speaker,
who was received with loud applause.
Mr.. Blair was thankful for the largo at
tendance present and must admit he felt
some embarrassment in addressing them
knowing that SO many differed from him
and SO widely. shall express my views
frankly and fearlcssly, yet striving not to
wound the feelings Of those who disagree
with me.
have been reared in the strictest sect
Of Der ocracy. have not changed, but
still remain sound Democrat: yet differ
essentially from the theory Of politics held
by the so called Democracy of the present
time. They have apostatized and aban
donod every Democratic meastse. and are
not capable of uttoring Democratic Gcnti
monts. They have forsakcn every meas.
urc heretofore held rs Democratic and
were to adduce all the proof Of this ]
should detan you till 10 morrow morning.
shall only select some Of these points
upon which to touch.
The President met the last Congress
with proposition for q protective thrift.
Where did he learn such Dcmocracy2 His
adminirtratiou came into power with n sur.
plus l. the treasury of twenty millions, aud
at tho end Of nine months he asked for an
issue Of twenty millions Of shinplasiers.-
Where did he learn such Democracy p
This was soon gone and no asked for TWEEN.
ty millions more, which was voted; and
the next session another twenty millions
were asked for and granted. All tins was
required by Democratic administration,
and voted hy Democratic Congress. The
expenditures Of tho administration has been
one bundled millions n year more than
was expended when we supported an army
in Mexico. Economy used to he a cardi.
nal principle with the Democracy, but now
extravaganza. You know that dc sccre.
taries Of Mr.. Buchanan have hardly cscap.
ed impeachment, Mr. Floyd sells the
military reserve privately for less than one.
fourth their value, and buys Willelt's Point
from his friends at a much highe, piice
than it hal already been offered to the
government; while Toucey lavishes the
funds Of the people on political and person
al favoritcs by coal and live oak contracts
Tie Democratic party originally framel
tho land p2li"y Of our Government, and
for the benefit Of the people; but the last
Democratic Congress would do nothing
about it. Your two Senators defeated the
homestead bill. This party has abandon
ed al Democratic measures and gone over
to the Lccompton Constitution, with the
people Of Kansas opposed, as since shown,
even in the face o. a Democratic Admins
tration attcmptin- to bribe them; this has
been the sole measure Of the present De
mocracy. You, from your position, know
the truth Of my statement. In tie late
election in Kansas the Democratic party
have been forced to ignore the present Al
ministrator, aud declare them.eves the
genuine Frec.Slaie party. This Democrat.
ic Administration has not only apo>tati.
zcd but strNcn TO break down the West;
it las opposed the pre- ecmption and home.
stead policy which made the West Demo.
cratic heretofore because the Democracy
were loyal TO the rights Of the settlers and
for which they were paid by the confidence
Of the people, and sustained by their votes.
The South demanded the opposition to the
homC stead bill, f,ariug least tho throwing
op.n Of the public lands to the poor white
men of the North should exclude slavery
and erect a tie Of free States across the
continent. Slavery demanded lhs, and
that western Dcmccra,s should vote against
the Improvements Of rivers and lakes in
tho West. 1t is unconstitutional, they say,
to free this great river at your door from
obstruction,, while thousands arc cxoeudcl
to improve Cape Fear River Cnteru?t-
ed by voice: Didn't Congrcss refuse to
give anything to Savannah RivcrT) The
city Of Savannah received large sums, much
Of which WAS useless expenditure. Voice,
Tell the truth.) | speak the truth--but
others may not. (Appiausc.)
Down Oil a litte river, near tho water,
where there is nothing but niggcrs and mos
quitos, money may be expended, bat not
a dollar for the West. (Applauso,)
Douglas is one of the Demcc.atic stars
Voice That's so.) He is SO much Of
Democrat that they dare not rcpudiatc
him. (Applausc.) Douglas says tho pco-
pic should be taxed to improve tide water,
but nothing for the West.
The Pacific iailload is in the same fix
as the rivers and lakes. The West will
never have it ill the Democratic party
goes out Of power (Applausc.) The
Democracy refused to survey the central
route, but imported camels to survey the
southern desert and disunion route, which
proved fit only for camcls, carrying water
in their bellies for throo or four days.
(Applause.) Thay refused aid TO the cen
trail route least there should be chain Of
free States on the parallel The southern
route was surveyed without an appropria.
ton, for what care they for the laws Of
Congress2
Miss ouri asked frr an overland mail, and
a bill was passed, Congress allowing the
Post master General TO 1T the contract
the contractor to select his own route. On
opening the bids, none was found for the
southern desert route, but the Postmaster
General told one Of the bidders if he wo'd
put in bid for the southern route he
should have the contract. Tho bid was
made and the contract let --thc distance
thereby being increased 900 hundred miles