The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-08-13

Delivered at the great Ratification Meeting,
at independence Square, Philadelphia, May
&c, 1860.
FELLOW CITIZENS: | should not feel my
self justified in this rain to detain you long,
and am happy to be able to say that the
tact that you have come here and exposed
yourselves this Indictment evening in such
numbers is evidence that the people have
taken in hand the cause we advocate
T"Yes," and cheers, and that it is not
speeches that you need. You yourselves
have turned your attention to public affairs,
and you will right the wrongs which exist.
The condition of the country has reused up
the public sentiment. Within the last
eight years, under the Democratic rule, we
have seen the Administration of our Federal
Government SO mismanaged that a sectional
controversy has arisen in the country,
threatening the very existence of the
Republic. We have seen a civil war-a
quasi civil war, at Disappointing in one
of our Territories, while in another Terri
tory we have witnessed the vile practice of
polygamy unchecked. The Federal Treasury,
full to overlooking at the close of Mr.. Fill
more's Administration, has become bank
rupt, and your Government year by year ia
running in debt in time of peace.
Prohigacy, extravagance, and shall |
hesitate TO say it, corruption, prevail in the
various departments of your Government.
What has brought all this about Who is
responsible for it2
A VoIoE. "The Democratic party"
Laughter.
Mr. TRUMBULL. True, my friend, as Holy
Writ The Democratic party has shown il
self incapable of conducting the affairs of
this great Government, and you have
assembled here tonight to show that you
are in earnest and mean to redeem it from
the hands of evil-doers. " We will, and
applause.
IL 1850, all the a2itating questions which
threatened our peace were settled, and said
to be settled forever. 1t was then said that
the slavery question, by the Compromise
measures of that year, was removed from
the halls of Congress, and that it was never
again TO be heard in the Capitol. THAT
was the agreement What has been the
result What have you heard from the
national Capitol but the discussion of the
slavery question, from 1854 to the present
time ? And who stirred up this Pandora
box again?
A VOICE. Stephen A. Douglas.
Dir. TRUMBULL. Douglas, with the help
Of the Democratic party, repealed the old
Missouri compromise, after they had pledg
ed themselves in Congress and out of Con-
gress, that they would resist any and every
attempt to agitate this question anew.
did intend upon this occasion, fellow-citi-
zens, to have pointed out to you some OF
the extravagances of the Federal Govern
ment; l intended to have shown you, by
figures, that the Administration of General
Pierce expended more money in four years
than was expended in the first thirty years
os the existence of the Government, includ-
ing the war of 1872, but shall not have
time TO do 1t. II would be unjust to you to
detain you. | will, however, take your
time for i've or ten minutes TO show Won
how they have used this money. I Womb
like to show you the corruptions of which
they are guilty, but will not have time 70
go into it, and you must take the one ex.
ample | furnish specimen of the cor
ruption that prevails in various departments
of the Government; | will take but one
single instance, as | happen to have the
document here. 1t relates to the public
printing. ! hold here al official document
Just published, under the authority of the
Senate, containing the testimony taken be.
fore an investigating committee of thai
body, and showing this fact, that Wendell
part OF the time tbs public printer aud 6
portion OF the time contractor under tht
public printer, elected by Democratic Con.
crosses to do the printing for the Govern
ment, s~ears that he contributed Sl0O OOC
TO party purposes. Where, do you suppose
that money came from 2 Do you think
the good natured Cornelius Wendell CAV,
one hundred thousand dollars out Of hi,
own pocket, in order 10 help Jorge NATURAL