The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-05-30
MODERN DEMOCRACY.

MODERN DEMOCRACY.
Speech of Hon. Henry Waldrn, Of
Michigan, Gelirered az the House Ct
Representatives, april 20. 1860.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN The Thirty-sixth Con.
gress has reached the fifth month of its
first session. 1t assembled in this Capitol
with great and varied interests demanding
consideration and attention. The public
creditors impatiently awaited our coming,
for they were on the verge of bankruptcy,
and had long served without their just re-
numeration. The plighted faith Of our
Government was to be redeemed. The
men whom We came here to serve, were
pressing upon our attention, matters Of vi
tai importance. There were legitimate
subjects OF legislation before US, such as the
admission of new States, the organization
Of new Territories, the homestead bill, the
Pacific railroad, the development of our re-
sources at home and the protection Of our
interests abroad All these were subjects
that properly commended themselves to
the attention of an American Congress,
and our constituents had reason TO expect
that they would receive fitting and careful
consideration at our hands.
But, to the exclusion of all these mat
ters, tho irrepressible conflict breaks
out. Before the sun goes down on the
first day of the session, the subject of sla-
very is introduced by the Democratic par
ty; and for eight long weeks an organiza-
ton of this House was prevented by dis
cussion, in which passion took the place of
reason, and vituperation was the substitute
for argument.
While the Republicans in this body we're
in no wise responsible for that conflict, still,
for one, l can say that the discussion was
not unexpected; nor, more than that. was
it unwelcOme. Whatever is across our
pathway may as we'll be reached and con-
| fronted at one time as at another. No
man can close bis eyes to the fact that there
is q question now agitating this land, be-
fore which questions of finance and tariffs,
of production and improvement, dwindle
into insignifcance. 1t is question which
cannot be settled by compromises, nor
lodged by time serving expedients. 1t
must be met fairly and squarely, and in
the light of reason, justice and humanity,
receive its determination and abide its set.
tlement. That question underlies all par.
ty organizations, moulds every party poll
cy, and goes to the root of all party contro.
versies 1t is a question whether the equal
rights of men are to be affirmed in the
legislation and policy Of our Government
or whether the idea Of an oligarchy is tC
be recognised, which protects the interest.
Of privileged class, at the expense of the
toiling millions Of our Confederacy. The
vital, all-absorbipg issue Of to-day is, wheth
er the Republic is to be perpetuated in th'
faith, the spirit, the practice of its found
ers, or whether it is to be perverted in it
policy and workings, to subserve the inte
rests of baleful aristOcracy. Before tha
issue of the counterfeit Democracy ha
quailed and succumbed false to its name
faithless to its traditions, recreant to its pro
fessions, it is now the ally of capital agains
labor, the champion of caste and privileg
against equality and right
When l speak of the Democratic party
l refer not to the organization of the pas
for that party once recognised the inalier
able rights OF man, and to its ears freedo1
had not become hateful sound; but
speak of the Democratic organization of t.
day, which has espoused the cause of tn
strong against the week. of the rich again
the poor, of the pampered capitalist again
the hardy son of toll. speak of the part
which is compelled by the slave power
carry its black flag and to fight its politic
battles under the the crushing burden
8 its wrongs. l speak of the party whie
would still further oppress and degra(
those who are now low in the scale of h
manity. and whice would repress that syr
pathy for the struggling which sentimeI
Of benevolence or sense cf justice mig
= prompt. 1t is of that party, as controll,
BY the slave power-doing Its bidding, re
istering its DEGREES, supporting its polio
and sustaining its candidates-that l spea
| arraign it before the country as false
the policy of our Revolutionary fathers;
untaithful to the obligations of our col
mon Constitution as disloyal to the
= tegrity Of the Union, aud as the betray
and vili6er Of the honest industry of t
land. These are the charges. Now I
the proof.
, First. the Democratic party is array
against the policy and teachings of the r
- publicans of the Revolution, as we'll as t
= Republicans Of to-day. The principles
our organization come down to US in t
Declaration of Independence. The sen
ments Of hostility to bondage which we
sert are but the echoes Of the utterances
!. our fathers. They believed the insti
tions of the African slavery to be incons
N n tent with the genius and hostile to the 81
al it Of the Government they had found
~ When they framed the Federal Consti
tion. they thought it wrong to admit.
er any word in that instrument, the idea
property in man" they regarded the
). stitution Of chattel slavery. as then exist
among them. as deplorable evil. and th
na leoislatiOn was With a view IN restrict 4