The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-08-02


but they were divided into numerous fac
tions, united only by a common hostility to
the Republican party. Unfortunately they
had in the House, few men, elected MAIN
ly by Republican votes, who had neither the
courage, or honesty, to act with them, or
with their only natural adversaries, the
Democratic party. Under this state of facts
without formal conference, the Republic
can Representatives determined that there
should be a Republican Speaker and Re-
publican organization of the Committees,
or that the hostile factions opposed to them
should be compelled to unite and take the
responsibility of an organization upon them
selves They would neither buy nor sell,
barter nor exchange. They had future to
look to, as we'll as temporary success.
The Republican party selected its candi-
date for Speaker, and took its position.
With manly and dignifed frmness 1t main
taiued it. The factions combined against
its unbroken and unwaverlng column IN
vain. They were like the French squares
at the battle of Pyramids, with the Name
lukes all around them. Disunionists, with
reasonable threats upon their tongues, rail-
ed and scolded like garrulous women. All
the rules of order and decorum which form
the common law of even a mass meeting in
cratic Clerk, holding over from the last
Congress. The vilest language of the grog-
shop was transferred to your Congressional
records. A revolutionary combination was
entered into to prevent a majority of the
House from prescribing rules for its govern
ment. All these expedients were sanction
ed and assisted by Democratic representa-
tives from your own State. They formed
league with disunionists, secessionists, South
Americans, and finally voted for an Ameri-
can, elected in opposition to the Democratic
party. They submitted with exemplary
patience, to every change of Candidates
they listened with pleasure to ridicule and
SANDER about the great body of our people
But it was all in vain.
When it was ascertained that a Republi-
can organization might be effected upon
Gov. Pennington of New Jersey-a Repub-
lican of the highest character, who had
steadily voted for the nominee of the Re-
publicans-that moment disregarding all
personal preference, or the pride of personal
success, every Republican Representative
voted for him. He said with entire since
rity, and they knew him well enough to
know whether he spoke truly or not, that
| it was happy moment to him when
he could contribute to the triumph of the
IGepuOILCdI party DS tue voluntary SuTEGu-
der ola distinction ofwhich any man might
be proud. He knew that some of them,
and many Republican members of congress,
thought he did wrong in Withdrawing his
name, but he thought differently, and now
he knew he did right. No man is of suffi-
cient Importance to stand for moment in
the way OF the success of a great cause like
! that of the Republican party. 1t was doubt
full if the experiment would prove success
| full, for some VINO promised, taltered. 1t
was the decisive vote Of gallant son of
Maryland-a man of culture, ability and
honor-a man he would not exchange for
all the cringing Democrats that misrepre-
sent the Northern States. 1t was the vote
of Henry Winter Davis that decided the
struggle.
They had a Republican Speaker and a
Republican majority, on every important
committee, and What was the result? Did
war come? Did disunion come? We're
any of the institutions of the Fathers
| ieopardzed or overthrown? Oh, no ! they
might point with pride to the record made
| by Republican House of Representatives.
The petition of the people of Kansas for
admission as free State, with IL Constitu-
ton sanctioned by her people, was prompt
| ly and favorably acted upon. a liberal
Homestead Bill, securing to every head of
a family portion of the public domain for
! cultivation, was promptly sent to the SEN
! ate. A simple provision of law to with
hold the public lands for ten years from the
greed of spectators followed soon after
That stain upon the national honor the
adulterous practice of polygamy in Z tab,
was made penal offense. The slave code
of New Mexico, passed to please few DEM
ocratic officeholders there-together with an
inhuman law regulating rather render
| ing more barbarous the practice of serflom,
were repealed in pursuance of the express
power reserved to Congress by the act or
ganizing New Mexico. A carefully pre-
pared Revenue law was passed, which
while it provided revenue for the support of
the Government, did it in way least bur
densoDle to the people and most serviceable
to the industrial interests of the country
! A rigid scrutiny was instituted into some
! branches of expenditures and the most cor
rupt, demoralizing practices, reaching even
! TO the President, were disclosed. And last but
not least, a large and radical reduction of
| the expenses Of the Government was effect
! ed After a careful examination of the an
| nual estimates for the next year, the House
of Representatives reduced them to S43 =
900 600. so that if the action of the House
| had been sanctioned by the Senate, the en-
tire expenditure next year, exclusively of
the public debt, would have been SAL, O0O,-
600, instead of see, 600 expended one
year ago. Even in the face of determined
effort of a Democratic Senate, the appropri-
atoms, for all purposes other than the pub
lie debt, was reduced to about $50, 100000
Why are not all these wise measures now
the law of the land 1t is because an in
tense sectionalism, based upon the labor of
slaves, has still possession of all other pow
ers of the Government except the House of
/ Representatives. 1t is because a Democrat
ic President and Democratic Senate have
had the power to defeat each and all of
these measures.
He congratulated them upon the progress
already made by the Republican party, and
upon the cheering prospect of its success.
Contrast it now and as it was when the first
| Republican Convention was held in this
hall in 1854. Then it was but an earnest
protest against the extension ofSlavery into
free territory. Now it is a compact peliti-