Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-11-01
why BroderIclx was Murdered.


When Hammond, of South Carolina.
made his celebrated speech in the United
States Senate, in which he contemporary
called the laboring men Of the country
"THE MuD-sILLs OF SOCIETY,"" Senator
Broderick made this manly reply, and. for
which he was never forgiven. It.became
manifest that he e'who GOULD thus speak,
could never be moulded Into subseryient
tool Of the leaders of the saave-driying De-
'mocracy, and his political, if not his nat
ural death, was determined upon. Mi.
Broderick said: 5 &. ~ r.. n.
Il, sir, am glad that the Senator has
spoken thus. 1t may have the effect Of
arousing in the working men that spirit
which has been lying dormant for centu-
ries. 1t may also have the effect of arolis.
ing The two hundred thousand men, with
pure skins. in South Carolina, who are
now degraded and despised by thirty thou
sand aristocralic shareholders. 1t may
teach them to demand what is the power =
Linked with success, assumed and kept with skill
That moulds PnOther's weakness to Its viii; s: s.
Wields with their hands, but, still to tSem unknown,
Makes even their highest deeds appedrhs own.'
81 suppose, slr, the Senator from South
Carolina did not intend TO be personal in
his remarks to any Of his peers upon this
floor. Ii / had thought 80, Il would have
noticed them at the time. am, sir, with
one exception, the youngest in years of the
Senator's upon this floor. 1t is not hong
since l served an enticeship of five
years at one of the most laborious me-
chanicsl trades pursued by MANIA trade
that from its nature devotes lis followers to
thought but debars them from conversa-
ton would mt have alluded to this il
it were not for tile remarks of the Senator
from South Carolina; and the thousands
who know that / am the son of an artisan,
and have been mechanic, would leel dis
Eappointed in. me il | did, n6t reply 70 him.
Lam not proud OF this. am sorry It is
true. / would that l could have enjoyed
the pleasures Of life in my boyhood' days;
bat they were, denied to me. say this
with pain. | have not the admiration for
the mrn of The class from whence sprang
that might be expected. They submit too
tamely toopplession. and are prone to neg
lect tloir rights and duties as Citizens
But, sir. tie class of society to whose toll
was born, under our form Of government,
will control the destinies Of this nation.
II were inclined TO forget my connection
with them, or to deny that sprang from
them, this chamber would not be lhe place
in which could do either. Willie | hold
seat here | have but to look at the beau
;iful capitals adorning the pilaslers that
support this roof'to be reminded of my
fathers talent and to see his handwork.
left the scenes of my youth and man.
hood for the Far West because l was
tired Of the struggles and jealousies of
men of my class. who could not under
stand why one Of their fellows should seek
10 elevate his condition above the common
level. | made my new abode among
strangers, where lab r is honored. l had
left without regret; there remained no tie
Of blood to bind me TO any being in exis-
,ence. III fell in the struggle for reputa-
lion and fortune there was no relative on
earth to mourn my fall. The people Of
California elevated me 10 the highest office
within theirgift My election was not the
result Of an accident. For years l had to
struggle often seeing the goal of ambition
within my reach; it was again and again
taken from me by the aid Of men Of my
own class. | had not only them TO con-
tend with. but almost the entire partizan
press ofmy State was subsidized by Gov
ernment money and patronage to oppose
my election. | sincerely hope, sir. the
time will come when such speeches as that
from the Senator from South Carolina will
be considered lesson to the laborers ol
the nation" y,..-
|