St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-10-04

I first set foot on the soil Of the valley of the
Upper Mississippi, have met men of all sects
and of all religions men of the Republican
party and men Of the Democratic party, and
of the American party, and have not heard
one reproachful word, ono intoleranta or dis
dainful sentiment; L have seen that you can
differ, and yet not disagree. Applause. l
have seen that you can love your parties and
the statesmen Of your choice, and yet love still
more the country and its rulers the people,
the sovereign people; not the squatter sover-
eigns scattered wide cast and rowing in distant
and remote Territories which you are never to
enter, and so desired that they may be sold,
and that the Supreme Court of the United
States may abolish sovereignty and sovereigns
both together. Laughter. You love the
sovereignty that you posses yourselves, in
which every man is his own sovereign, the
popular sovereignty that belongs to me- and
the popular sovereignty that belongs to you !;
the equal popular sovereignty that belongs to
every other man who is under the government
and protection Of the United Strtes. TAP
plause. Under the influence Of such senti-
ments and feelings as these, scarcely know
how to act or speak, when come before you
at tie command of the Republican people of
Minnesota as a Republican. feel that if we
could be but little more indulgent, little
more patient with each other, and q little more
charitable, all the grounds on which We differ
would disappear and pass away, just as popu-
lar sovereignty is passing away !; and let us
all, though we cannot confess ourselves to be
oil Republicans, at least agree that we all are
above all professionalism citizens. Zap
plause. see here moreover, how it is, that
in spite Of sectional and personal ambition, the
form and body and spirit Of this nation organs
lied itself and consolidated itself out Of the
- ~ r,I
political counterbalancing forces, and how out
of that equilibrium it produced just exactly
that one thing which the interests of this
continent and Of mankind require should be
developed here-and that is Federal Repub-
lie. of seperate Republican or Democratic
States., l see here how little you and I, and
those who are wiser and better and greater
than either you or I, have done. and how lit
tie they can do to produce the requisite polit-
ical condition for tho people Of this conti-
nent, the condition Of free people. I see
that, while we seem to oureelves to have been
trying to do much and to do everything, and
while many fancy they have done great deal
yet what we have been doing, what we are
doing. what We shall hereafter do, and what
we and those who come otter us shall contin-
ue to be doing, is just exactly what was nee
essary to be done, whether we knew it or not,
for the interests of humanity throughout
the world, and therefore was certain to be
done, because necessity is only another s1-
preston or name for the Higher Law. God
ordains that what is useful to be done shall
be done. Applause When I survey Amer
ican society as it is developing fully and
perfectly here, I see that it is doing what
the eaigencies of political society throughout
the world have at last rendered it necessary
to be done. Society tried for six thousand
1. - - -
itself under monarchical and aristocratic sys-
TENS Of government, while practicing . sys-
tenn Of depreciation and slavery on each 9TH
er. The result has .Lcen all over the world
q complete and absolute failure. At last, ct
the close Of the last century, the failure was
discovered, and a revelation was made Of
the necessity of system to which hence
forth men should cease to enslave each 9TH
er, and should govern themselves [Applause.1
Nowhere, in Africa, Asia, or in Europe,
was there any open field where this great new
work of the organization of political society
under more auspicious system Of govern
ment, could be attempted. They were all oc-
cupied. This great and unoccupied continent
furnished the very theatre that was necessary;
and to it came all the bold, aud the free, and
the brave men throughout the world, who feel
end know that necessity, and who have the
courage, the manhood, and tho humanity to
labor to- produce this great .organization.--
Providence set apart this continent for the
work, and, as think, set apart and designa-
ted this particular locality for the place whence
shall 60 forth continually the eyer-renewing
spirit which shall bring the people fall other
portions Of the continent up.to q continual
advance, in the establishment Of the system
MAY make myself better understood by say
ing, that until the beginning Of the present
IoI = <bnj
jects Of; political government, and that the
! time had come when mankind could no longer
consent, to be 50 governed by force. The time
had come when men were to live voluntary
citizens and sovereigns5 themselves of the
States which they possessed, and that is the
principle Of the government established here.
It has only one vital principle. All others
are resolved into it. That one principle
whatiis It.? It is he<equality of every man
who is q member Of, the State to be governed.
If there be not absolute political equality, then
some portion Of the people are governed by
force, and are not voluntary; citizens, and
whenever any portion Of the people are gov
erned BY force, then you are carried so fa1
backward again toward the old system of in
voluntary, citizenship, or government By
kings, lords, and standing armies. This va!
tho great necessity, not Of the people Of th'
United States ,alone-7it was not even the orig
ina1 conception Of the people Of the Unite,
States that 4 Republican government was t
be esteblished for themselves alone, but tn
establishment Of the Republican system of th
United states'of America was only bringin
ont andireducing to actual practice the idea
and apinions which men had already formed
!, I'll over the Civilized world. If you will refe
r TO the action Of our forefathers, you will fin
i. that while they did labor, as they might we
p labor, to secure this government in its Reput
d I|licanaform for themselves and their posterit1
d yet they. were conscious that they were erecj
! ing It Ii, . model Of refuge for the people
! |'every nation, Kindred, andstongue under ahea
! yep.ao The old Continental Congress; Of 17e
p declared that the interest Of the United State
!; was forever the interest tof human nature an
q Ethet Nas the, political redemption Of huma
9 nature that was to be worked out on the Cor
i tfnnent 81 North America; and, ISL have asaii
s Fit bsbreashtte itsEperfectieni here inth
valley of the Mississippi