The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1860-05-26
A SPEECH roR THE rlM.A-NoBLI sxN1l
HINTB

Mr. BENJAMIN Of Louisiana made
noble speech in the United States Senate
on the s.h inst. The following extract
from i. is worthy to be Inscribed IN let
tiers a gold
Isav this say that distinctly oppo-
site interpretations, OF distinctly opposite
principles, Il you choose, in relation to
Southern rights under the Constitution
were ayowed at Charleston 10y men pro
Tossing all to be Democrats and that, IN
nv Judgment, 1t is brand upon the
good faith of the Democratic party 1t
is an inpuiation upon their honor 1t is
unworthy Of them, and unworthy OF us
ali that we should 70 before the people
of this country and ask their votes IN
favor of one party or another, with the
avowed purpose of presenting opposite
sets of principles in the two sections OF
the Confectionery. as being the principles
Of common party, and forming a com
mon party creed say that Will never
be party to any such contest as that
Ii | go into an electoral contest | want
TO know the principles of the party with
which act. and want, before the peo-
pie OF my State, before the people OF the
country, to declare those principles tn
stand by them, to- find them written ~
letters of light. SO that no man can dare
msconstrue them and by them to stand,
and with them, IT need be, fall.
That understand 10 have been the
position of the delegation OF Louisiana
at Charleston Taking that position, de-
termined that they would not pater to
public preiadiccs 10y using words N any
double sense F.; that all that they did aud
said must 60 forth to the country inca
pablo of characterization, when they
found it impossible To- have the principles
upon which alone they could go into the
Presidential contest, stated thus clearly
and thus plainly. they withdrew right
ly withdrew, honorably Withdrew | ap
plaud them approve them | stand by
Them | think they did as become high
minded and honorable citizens think
the state will show ITSELF grateful ~
them for their act
In sayiog this. Mr. President. ! do not
mean for one moment to pass Judgment
upon the action of those delegations VIII,
thought proper to pursue dliler' nj
course. / believe that those delegations
were equally faithful to their principles
~ the delegations from my own state
| believe them to have been equally
singlc.minded IN relation to the princl
pies upon whi.h this contest was tp Toe
waeed but they were more hopcini
They believed they hoped, they trusted
that before that Convention should ad
iourn, the members of the Democratic
party from the Northern STATES agat
being appealed 10, would reconsider lhcu
decision, would consent 10 an enuucia
ton of principle, upon which the party
could stand aud, if that occurred, they
were willing to continue IN action with
the national organization at the p'mr
cratic party. II they dill not, they had
declared. with no doubtful voice, their
intention of standing 10y those that with
drew. The only possible reason that
could induce tn southern delegates t.
abandon the National organization, OF
the delegates even Ia National Conycn
1 ton. was that their principles could uo
be maintained, and those delegates tha
remained behind hoped that before Tho
Adjournment Of that Convention thos,
priucules would bc avuwed, would 10,
spread upon the party banner. and upon
that beng done, they hoped to BRING
back their Southern brothern, and Thus
rc-uuite the Democratic party upon
basis of principle. not basis Of plun.le
/ o, of SPOTS think that before any %
us are six weeks cider, we shall find tha
Northern gentlemen who in that Convcu
| ton did not hesitate in private CONVEX
sation TO avow their conviction that the
! Southerners were right IN relation ia tn,
principles they claimed, and who refused
that recognition Of principle solely upon
1 the ground of expedicncy, viii see the
error Of their ways and viii add une more
to the long line ~ examples that honesty
is the best policy, and expedieucy the
worst Of all the policies when principle
is to be sacrificed to that cxpcdiency.
Now, Mr. President, one word more
Mr.. Clingman rose
Mr.. Benjamin. will give the Scna-
tor from North Carolina an opportunity
in "a moment desire to say now all
that have 10 say upon this subject.
There were one or two other points !
Il tied down in the course Of his remarks,
and viii look over my notes and see II
there il gnything else to be said
The houara Vie Senator from North
Carolina makes difference to illusions
made by the South to the fact that all
the Democratic elect votes IN the
Convention voted one way, apd all those
States which could not be relied upon
for votes voted the other way ana then
he says 1t is not generous for rs tp tahht
our Democratic brethren with this mat
ter and he makes OF the Palmetto reg
ment upon the plains Of Mexico an ex-
ample Of the condition Of the Northern
wing OF the Democratic party, snd asks
US what we should think of the Justice
Of General Scott, If, after that gallant
regiment had been beaten d WI IN bat
tie in supporting the causc of his country
he had then turned to them and SAID he
did not require their service any longer,
and had given preference 10 new levics
Mr.. President ! agree with every word
that that honorable Senator said in honor
Of the faithful and gallant defenders Of
the Constitution at the North, who, IN
the midst of popular clamor, unawcd by
the ontcries Of fanatlcal population,
|. Al. -.