The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-05-16
Speech OF Senator Benjamin..
We give an extract from a speech lately

We give an extract from a speech lately de.
Gvered by Mr. Benjamin in the L. s. Senate, on
the Cincinnati Platform and the Charleston Con.
ventioa. We commend il 10 the attention Of
our Democratic readers:
Sir, when the delegates OF great party as.
sembled together from all the confederacy, and !
the proposition was made to them TO adopt the |
Cincinnati platform, il was made under whs, cir.
cumstanccs and with what views: Il ras made |
Nth The knowledge of erery man ia the Con- /
rention, that tao distinctly opposite in.erpre-
tations tcere TO be pat upon tie pIatrorps-one
az the South, and one az the lNorth.
Mr.. Chngman asked whether the point of
difference was not whether the territorial le- |
eislature could not legislate against slavery?
Mr.. BenJamin-That point was one, and sno-
Their was, whether or not it is the duty of the
Federal Government 10 protect the rights of
the people of the South in the territories Upon
these two points opposite interpretations exis
ted.
| Now, Sir, | say in relation to that Cincinnati
| platform, which the Senator from North Carolina
| seems 10 think ought TO be satisfactory 10 the
| South and the country, these two opposite inter
pFetatons were known TO be put upon it. say
il ras dr0red al Charleston orsY and orsr again,
that if construction icas given to that platform
| bg ashieh tt should be clearly understood that
the people OF the South were entitled TO hare
their shares protected in the Territories, and 81
the doctrine OF the party asserted TO be, that
the Legislature of tbs Territory had no right to
interfere 1sits slarery, then IL seas said again
and again that 40 Northern State could Be car.
risi upon that ground l say this, that distinct
ly opposite Interpretations and principles ia
latioH TO Southern rights, Wndsr the Cons.ita-
tom pcre auoiCed at Charleston by men profes-
sing 10 be democrats: and. in my jugdment, il
is brand upon the good faith of the Democrat
ic party. II is an imputation upon their honor,
unworthy Of them and unworthy of US, that
We should come before the people of this
country, and ask their votes with the pur-
pose OF presenting opposite interpretations
aud opposite interests OF principles in the
two sections of the Contederacy, being the
principles OF a common party. say never
viii be party to such contest as that. II go
into the Electoral contest, want to know the
principles of the party with which act, and by
them | viii stand or fall. In regard to those
who did not leave that Convention, they belle.
we'd, they hoped, ana they trusted that before
that Convention should adjourn, the members
OF the party from the Northern States would
reconsider their decision, and consent to an
enunciation OF principle on which the party could
! stand, and with that they were willing to contn
|
But, If they did not, they declared nth no doubt
, tiat poice Meir attention Of standing by thost
schO teithdree.
Those who withdrew gave as the only motive
of Withdrawal, "as the only possible reason,
that their principles could not be maintained
and those delegations who remained behind no
= pei that before the adjournment of that Conven
ZION these principles would be ayowed. They
> hoped TO bring back their Southern brethren
and thus TO reunite the Democratic party on
basis vi principle, and not on basis of plundel
aud spols. And, Sir, think before any one o
US are six weeks older, We will find that tn,
g whole Democratic party is reunited upon bas.
OF principle. think We shall find that Northern
gentlemen, who in private conversation did no
= hesitate to avow their belief that Southern gen
= tlemen were right in the principles they claimed
viii see The error OF their ways, and will add on,
more to the long line Of examples that honesty
- the best policy and expedency the worst o
all possible policies, when principle is to be Sd
= crihced to 1t. But the Senator from North Car
; oliua makes reference to the illusions made b,
the South that all the Democratic electoral vote.
vote one way, and those States which could no
be relied upon, voted the other way. Aud ther
: he say, " Ii is not generous to taunt our North
o efn brethren with this matter" l agree will
. every word he said of that gallant band, and All
a VIKING 10 20 iuFIher than the furtbest in the
:. praise But. sir, to what Northern Democrat,
does the Senator alude as entitled to this honor,
look TO the men who have never faltered an,
who neither directly nor indirectly have giver
! evrience of unfaithfulness. l honor Northern
( Democrats who are willing to GO just as far a.
the Constitution leads them, and who don't trir
or iaiter by the way, looking round timidly Il
see ho'c their constituents ciU back them 90 a.
far az any man; but, sir, l am not willing these
high testimonials of gratitude should be squan
dered. want them confined to the true mer
: and to them alone. am not willing they should
e so TO those who try to break down these princi
n pies by indirection. l am sorry to be obliged
a 10 say what am now saying but cannot say Iesi
after what has fallen from the Senator from Norti
e Carolina. It IS my duty to my people that the,
: should know my sentiments, and my duty to re
' echo their sentiments on this floor. These art
my opinions, and believe them to be theirs.