The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1860-05-08
SPEECH OF
HON. HENRY WALDRON,
In THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, APR &c

HUN. l1ENhl WALDlON,
In THE HOUSE OF REPREsEETATIvEs APR. 26.
Mr. Chairman, the Thirty.Sixth Congress
las reached the fifth montn of its first session.
1t assembled in this Capitol with great aud
aud varied interests demanding consideration
and attention. The public creditors impa-
iisntly awaited our coming, for they were on
the verge OF bankruptcy and had long serv-
cd without their just remuneration. The
| pligltcd faith of our Government was to be
redeemed. The men whom we came here to
serve were pressing upon our attentions mat
ters of vital importance. There were legiti.
mate subjects of legislation before us; such rs
the admission Of bew States, the organization
Of new Territories the homestead bill, the
Pac.fc railroad, the development of our re-
sources at home and the protection of our In
terest abroad. All these subjects that proper
ly commended themselves TO the attention OF
an American Congress, and our constituents
had reason to expect that they would receive
fitting aud careful consideration at our hands.
But, in tho exclusion of all these matters,
the "irrepressibIe conflict breaks out. Before
the sun goes down on the first day of the ses-
sion, the subject Of slavery is introduced by
! the Democratic party; aud for eight long
weeks an organization OF this House WAS pre-
vented by discussion in which passion took
the place Of reason, and vitupcraton was the
substance for argument.
y lille tho Republicans in this body were
( in no wise responsible for that Conflict, still,
for one, can say that the discussion was not
/ unexpected ;por, moro than that, was it un-
welcome. Whatever is across our pathway
may well tie reached and confronted at one
tine as at another. No man can close his
eyes 20 the fact that there is "a question now
agilating this land before which questions
Of finance and tariffs, of protection aud i'm
! proycmeui, dwindlc into inSiIniticance. 1t
is question which cannot be settled hy com.
promises, nor dolgcd by time serving eXpedi.
ents. It must DO met fairly and squarely, and
: in the light Of reason, lstice, and humanity
receive lss decentralization and abide its set
/ tlemcnt. That question uudorlics AL party
organizations, modT every party policy, and
goes to the root Of all patty controversies. 1t
is question whether the equal rights Of men
are to be affirmed in the legislation and pol
icy Of our Government. or whether the iLea
of an oligarchy is 10 be recognized, which
protects the interests Of q privileged class at
tho expense Of the oiling millions Of our Con-
federacy. fhe vital, a!I-absorbing issue of
to day is, whether the Republic is to be per-
petuate in the faith, the spirit, the practice
Of It's founders, CT whether 1t is TO be pervert-
ell in Its polc7 and workings to subscrye the
interests OF 4 taneful arsttcracy. Before that
ssue the counterfeit Democracy has quaile d
and sucoumhed; false TO It's name, faithlcss to
/ lis uame taitbiyss 10 It's traditions, recreant
to its professions, it is now the ally Of capital
against lobor; the champion Of caste and
/ privilege against equality and right.
When speak Of the Democracy party, |
refer not to tho organization Of the past, for
that party once recognized the inalicnablc
rights of man, aud to lis ears free ON had not
become a hateful sound; but ! speak Of the
Democratic organization Of to-day, which has
cspouse the cause Of the strong against the
weak; and the nch against the poor; of the
pampered capitalists against the hardy son Of
toll. speak Of the party which is compelled
by the slave power, TO cary Its Slack flag and
to light It's political battles under the crash
inS burden OF It's wrongs. speak OF the
panty when Woul Sli'l further oppress and
degrade those who ale now low III the scales
OF humanity ana "A!cu would repress that
sympathy Tor the struggling which a senti-
ment oil DeaeVoIehce or Il sense OF justice
; might prompt 1t Is OF the party, as controii-
ed Uy ile slave rower-doing l:s biddlng,
: registering IT. decrees, supporting Its po'lcy,
and sustaining Its canddates--that speak,
a:rWgn 1t before the country as false to tho
policy OF our revolutionary fathers; as untalth-
tul 10 the obligations Of out common Consti-
tuition; as disloyaI TO the integrity Of the I'm
ioG, and as tbe be,rayer aud vilifier of the
honest industry Of tho land. These are the
chagcs. Now for the proofs.
E'st, the Democratic party is arrayed a.
gaiust the policy aud teachings OF the ropub.
iIcaus Of the Revolution as well as the Re.
. puvilcanS OF today. IEe principles OF our
t OrrariZglies come down 10 Us in the Dpclara.
- i,,,.,.o,,la,,.. NJ, ..,,,;,,,,,,, Il
3, tIo" % I'"c i1""V"1V. NV sehtI"e"'s vi
, hostility 10 bondage Which we assert arc but
tho ,c,'n,s ,f t}o ptinr,rl.s of ,,rr r,thcrs -
-, :. -
IhtJ teIlcNe lhe institution u African slavery
10 be inconsistent with the Genius and hostile
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- ~ NV 'l'''H VI 'Ao Wv - '''ii,"' ny nav
lyu"aeu !" lel .l'! '.'.'i'eu sno 80
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