Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1860-03-10
Carl Schurz on the Republican
Nomination for the Presidency.

0Suu1Ly III tllO LIZ pubLSehA GOHfSlltlOH VI
Wednesday, upon being elected delegate
from the State at large to the Republican
National Convention. Mr. s. was Loudly
called, and came forward, amid perfect
tempest Of applause, aud addressed the con-
yention as follows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GgxTLEMEE:-I
accept this appointment deeply sensible,
not only Of the honor it confers, but also
of the responsibility it imposes upon me-
If do not mistake the signs of the times,
the history Of this Republic has arrived at
turning point. think not that slavery.
rs d matter Of principle or of practice, has
ever been different from what it Ia now );
but | do think that recent events have
shown more clearly than ever before, the
entire i.compatibility Of slavery as po-
litieal power with the Republican spirit Of
our institutions.
The annexation Of Taxes. making the for
sign policy Of our government subservient
10 slavery; the resistance Of the slave power
to the admission Of California us a free
State; the passage Of the Fugitive Slayelaw !;
enactlnen, Of the Nebraska bill; all these
were matters Of discussion before the great
Presidential struggle Of 1856. But since
then, We have had the bred Scott decision
declaring that Slavery is a national institu-
ton, and that it exists Of right wherever
the flag Of the United States floats Gap
plause}. We have still more. The South
has demanded the unconditional submission
Of the north to its dictation, aud if we re-
fuse, threaten the dissolution of the con-
federacy. And still more a democratic
Senator Of the North, who claims to be a
representative of liberal democracy, has
advocated ia bis place in Congress the pas
sage of bill, which, if it becomes law
viii place the Shareholders police at every
door. Then the sleepless fears Of tyranny,
viii watch you with never firing suspicion,
and wherever two or three Of you are as
selnbled, there viii be the black spirit of
Slavery despotism lowering over you.--
CHEERS.
The issue is manifest po-
litical despotism on one side and liberal,
enlightened, progressive government on the
other. Great applause. There is no diff
ference of opinion about the object to be
attained in the ranks of the Republican
party, but there seems to be q difference of
opinion about the means by which to at
tain them.
There are those who think the right way
to succeed is to compromise principles for
the purpose Of uniting incongruous elements,
and to gain votes outside ofthe Republican
party by artificial combinations. And on
the other side there are those who mean toi
carry the day by bold, open, straightfor-
ward appeal to the popular sense OF right
and wrong. Gentlemen, | am in favor Of
opening the door of the Republican party
as widely as consistent with its principles.
in order to let in all those who wish to
put themselves on our platform; but |
am not in favor ofthrowing open the doors
of the Republican party SO widely that
Republieanism itself viii escape through
them. Prolonged applause.
| am willing to vote for any man who
will place himself fairly upon our platform
but the best way to find him il to seek
him within the pale Of our own organiza-
ton. think the Republicans Of this State
are not willing to become parties to an
agreement according to the terms Of which
the latter day Old Line Wings, the Old
Line Americans, will furnish the platform
and candidates, while the Republicans viii
have to furnish the votes. (Great cheer
ing.) do not think we stand in need Of
the services of those accommodating gen-
temen, who will most graciously conde-
scend 10 become Republicans upon the con-
dition that we make them President at
once. prolonged and deafening applause
In this way we might, indeed, catch the
votes of some Of the "ancient mariners Of
exploded parties, who, with desperate ten
acity, cling To the wrecks Of their shattered
craft; but we would lose our great element
of Success the honest enthusiasm Of the
people. In this way we might, perhaps,
make some Of the doubtful States sure, but
should make some of the sure States doubt
ful. (Cheers.)
There is one thing more to be dreaded
than defeat ia nm electeon, and that IS a
failure in administrator. We do not want
Il second edition Of the Fillmore adnlinistra-
ton which began under anti-slavery auspices
and resulted in the Fugitive Slave Law -
TApplause We should not like again to
hear Of painful duties reluctantly perform
ed" Especial appfausel If understand the
people they want man whose past fur
nishos guaranty for the future. Great
applause believe IN the irresistible
force Of truth. | believe in the inyincible
power Of right and justice over the minds
Of men. / believe in the irrepresaible as
eauh ofroason upon the human understand
ing. believe in IN open, bold and straight
forward appeal to the popular heart.
These ideas | shall take with me to
the Chicago Convention. These IDEAS if
realized viii rally tho Republican party in
an unbtoken column under the old banner
and our victory viii verify the great word
Of gallant old Ben Wade Of Ohio, which
he hurled ii the face of the Southern dis
uniollist: eff you want to dissolve the
Union, gentlemen, you may be sure that
the day after the Presidential election VII
be just one day too late.n Prolonged and
enthusiastic chcering.l