The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-20


terded W III similar results in eviry State. But
if';epabliuans will encourage men not to depend
upsn their own principles, out rather upon Goa
liz 3ns, bargains and offsets--so much for so
m.tb-it viii be impossible for them to preserve
a arty which will eujoy the confidence and re-
sP ct CT the people.
shave noticed that many persons, Americans
an others, in opposition, are accustomed to
spsak of the Republican party, not as a great,
ixsd, necessary party, with rights and purposes
of rs own but as a chance gathering together of
mfl, or as a mere organization of convenience,
re. 4y and fit to be used from time to time,
oc aston may seem TO require, as an instrument
all TO defeat the Democratic party; not for the
sal : of indicating Republican principles but to
beV5 the Democracy, and place new set of men
in .ower. Not long since, number of very re-
sps Stable gentlemen assembled in this city to
VIZ ~ was to be done with this Republican party,
anl how it could be made most avaiable-not
tos "a successful resistance to Democratic Pro-
SlsFery schemes and plans, but to whip the Dem
oclItc party. And they were so kind according
TO New York journal, as to say that the Repub-
puy tican party sis great power" and that "its
di organization would be neither polite nor de-
SIM ole; that said party has vitality and force
WI must be availed of in any effort TO reform
thee Federal Government" | can smile at the
cheSming patronage Of these benignant gentle
IL
thti Republicans here and there are, by their
wo hs and counsels, giving these men and others
icspse, or excuses at least for holding the low
VICES which they have of the character and mis-
sO Of the Republican party. 1t is too bad, that
mL-s calling themselves Republicans should give
cOe5tenence to this degradation of their party
trerJng il as piece of merchandise, to be dis
pOxsd of to the highest bidder; and I have OBJ
serTed that there are some among them who seem
eyeA more anxious to dispose of what they have
on 5Gnd, than get anything in return; rivalling in
be1Yvolence the liberal publican, who, we are told
"ekults TO trust, and bushes to be paid"
Sir, party must have faith in itself and re-
spe.t for itself, if it would be more than mock
cry and a sham. To be powerful and respected,
il pst be positive and self-reliant Its ideas and
pul sOses must be clearly defined and well under
sto-H d. 1t must have unquestiOning faith in the
trh, fitness, and necessity of its issues and OBJ
jecs:; for its first duty is to be, in respect to
the e, as perfect as it knows; they should express
itsF est thoughts and its profoundest convictions
+ srty careful to be right will be earnest and
eakSestness is the hardest opponent that wrong
anc error can encounter mere opposition party
is, # necessity, failure; it rarely succeeds in
car wing an election; and when il does, it inev-
ita y falls TO pieces afterwards; for without unity
of SJrpose, or homogeneousness of n1ateriel, with
nocang to keep it together but the " cohesive
power of plunder," it quarrels about the spoils
anGS by poetic justice, finds its executioners
IN re causes of its apparent success.
S-saI we admit that a party which was brought
int@the world TO oppose the slave power in its
ef1S.s to overthrow our republican institutions,
TO Ssantain the fundamental ideas of the Govern
merit to resist an olgarchy, to stay the spread of
Sla ery, to restore the 'action of the Government
to t7e principles of Washington and jefferson"
is r st strong enough and we'll founded enough to
SUCCEED? That 1t has anything to gain BY avoid
ingahese issues or exchanging them for others?
If tSere ever was a party on the earth which
cou2l not afford to hesitate as to its duty, or to
be s IS than true and logical, il is the Republican
par Its fidelity is the condition of its success.
- US, Mr.. Chairman, learn wisdom from our
opponents. Look at the Democratic party, and
note. its policy. 1t has held possession of the
with short interruptions, for more
THAI quarter of century; not because it has
beg always right but because it has been in
earfes and has dared TO trust itself 1t has never
paiS court to its opponents, or stopped to specu-
late-npon their weaknesses and divisions ALWAYS
bolS and uncompromising it has never doubted
It's CTn sutieiency and invincibility and so it has
eveZ been a mighty power in the land
sd let not the lesson to 0e read in the fate of
the.ld Wing party be lost upon us. 1t was the
weakness OF that organization, that it was too
muea a party OF expedients and providences-
alw5sys waiting for something to turn up Ithad
no Ssnficient unity and perSistency. and lacked
prevailing faith. It's questions were of measures
rattser than principles. Ii was more disposed to
be controlled by circumstances than to make itself
the .naster of circumstances; and So with all its
Intelligence and worth, it enjoyed no great tri-
umEhs In ls40 and l84s it resolved itself into
an opposition party; and though it gained "fa-
molS victories it gained neither strength nor
power Divided in its cOunSels the Democratic
part5 ruled IN fact, with the exception of brief
pcr7sd, the Administrations which il inaupurated
= 1854, the slave power, acting through the
De. 2cratlc party, demanded the abrogation of
|e flssourl compromise, by which Slavery had
rses. excluded from all that part of the Louisiana
purchase lying north Of 3Go 3OI and that party.
berg IN power, of course granted its request. A
larG9 majority of the people of the free States
Iesffted this demand, not merely that it involved
a Violation of pghted faith, but also for the rea
soh1hat the prohibition sought to be removed
WaJ-gIthln the constitutional power of Congress.
ahd-a wise and Just exercise thereof The Dem
ocrIlc party North attempted to Justify the Ne
oraoka bill upon the ground that twas necessary
TO- practical recognition by the Government of
w. was called popular sovereignty. This was
a - Sc aud delusive pretext, for the reasons that
ms was no real popular sovereignty in the bill,
ans mat the great majority of those who sun
POI ca II denied that there could be any such
th1s IN Territory. The questions raised bv
thiS measure were discussed before the country
wn uncommon ability and thOroughness, and
uSR rdlct mas Ueen rendered against the Doug
Ia Ass doctrines Intentional sovereignty. The
geP Ta' power OF Congress over the Territories is
sc'eseiy denied anywhere to-day The bred
SCOT opinion atfrns it, but maintains that it il
Ilmted and restrained in the single case of Sla-
very by the Federal Constitution by virtue of
when mat system is guaranteed and protected
~ all the Territories of the United States. This
IS now the received doctrine OF the Slave Democ
ntcy. The Supreme Court of the United States
had, in previous decisions, declared that the
power of Congress was plenary and unlimited
and such had been the construction bv all de.
partments Of the Government, by all statesmen
'Hd lawyers, down to lS47 or 1913, when the
dogma OF squatter or popular sovereignty was
hshed up by General Cass, in his pursuit under
difficulties of Presidential nomination. And il
Is not nworthy OF remark that ali the politicians
who have undertaken to engineer this heresy-
Oass, Douglas, and the rest-have been hoist
WIN thelr own petard, and their broken remains
are scattered over all quarters of the country:
their bones if | may borrow an EXPRESSION not
unfamiliar in this House, are "now bleaching"
on the sea side and the lake shore, on noun
tain and prairie, from Maine to Kansas-to which
VIII respectfully add, Long may they bleach
Laughter. There are not now so MANY men in
tals country as would fill an omnibus who deny
authority ol congress 10 legisate tor the Ter
rHores, SUBJECT, OF course, to the Constitution of
the United States; and the Republicans maintoin
That there is nothing in that instrument tn forbid
legislation upon the question of Slavery. They
nrve ever denounced the squatter-soyereipntv !
doctnne as heresy and swindIe, and 1pon
grounds the most stable and satisfactory.
Inc Republican theory, as understand II ;s
'nat tue Constitution has vested in Congress |
original and plenary power over the Territories;
~ is bound to exercise this power for the |
advantage of the Territories and for the rononaI
welfare; and that, as a matter of conven;onoa