Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-07-20

man appeared on the speakers stand he was
greeted with such hearty cheers as bespoke
the appreciation by the people of their faith
ful and hard-working servant. When the
cheering subsided Mr. Sherman with manly
feryor and eloquence addressed the assembly.
After expressing his obligations for the re-
newed expression of the confidence and sup
port Of his constituents, Mr.. Sherman, amid
repeated bursts Of applause, thus clearly and
succinctly reviewed the organization and
legislation Of the House, the reasons why its
wise Republican measures did not become
laws, the present position of political parties,
and the duty of Republicans in the present
contest. The speech is model Of brevity
and point and should be read by ALL Mr.. S.
said;
Since we met here two years ago, the Re
publican party has assumed new responsible
ties. Hitherto in National politics, it has
been mainly an opposition party. It endeay-
ored to make good its opposition TO the ex-
tension Of slavery in Free Territory. It op-
posed, as best il could, a reckless, corrupt and
imprOvident administration. As an Opposi-
ton party il has been eminently successful
But during the last winter, duty required it
to assume an affirmative policy. In the House
Of Representatives the Republicans formed
much the strongest party in numbers, unity
and organization, but it had not a majority.
/ We had to meet two distinct parties-the
Democratic and South Americans, OF South
ern Opposition, as they choose to call them
selves but they were di tidcd into numer-
Gus factions, united only bya common hos
tiity 10 the Republican party. Unfortunate
~ we had, in the House, a few men, elected
1 mainly by Republican votes, who had neith-
er the courage, or honesty, to act with us, or
with our only natural adversaries, the Dem
Ocraiic party. They were the trimmers Of
English politics-the cowboys of the Revo-
lution-the Jacobins Of the French Revolution
such men as you viii always find to negoti-
ate and barter between opposing forces, and
chiefly from cities where elections are con-
trolled by corruption. Under this state of
facts, without a formal conference, the Re
publican Representatives determined that
there should be a Republican Speaker and a
Republican organization Of the Committees,
or that the hostile factions opposed to them,
should be compelled to unite and take the re-
sponsibility Of an organization upon them
selves. They would neither buy nor sell, bar
ter nor exchange. They had a future to look
to, as well as a temporary success.
The Republican party selected its candi-
date for Speaker, and took its position. With
manly and dignified frmness it maintained
/ it. The factions combined against its un-
/ broken and unWavering column in Vain.-
I
at the battle Of the Pyramids, with the
/ Mamelukes all around them. Disunionists,
with reasonable threats upon their tongues,
rallied and scOlded like garrulous women
/ happy to be able TO talk without limit as 70
time, or restraint as to rules.
/ All the rules of order and decOrum which
| form the common law Of even a mass meet
/ ing in your streets, were disregarded by a
Democratic 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 q majority of the
House from prescribing rules for its govern
ment All these eXpedients were sanctioned
/ and assisted by Democratic Representatives
from your own State. They formed league
| with disuniOnists, SecessiOnists, South Ameri-
/ cans, and finally voted for an American, elect
/ ed in opposition TO the Democratic party
/ They submitted, with exemplary patience, to
every change of candidates-they listened
with pleasure to ridicule and slander about
the great body of our people. But it was all
in vain.
! When it was ascertained that Republi-
can organization might be effected upon Gov.
Pennington, Of New Jersey-a Republican Of
the highest character, who had steadily yo.
ted for the nominee of the Republicans
that moment disregarding all personal pref
erence, or the pride of personal success, eY-
cry Republican Representative voted for him
I can say with entire sincerity, and you
/ know me well enough TO know whether
speak truly or not, that it was a happy mo-
ment 10 me when | could contribute to the
triumph Of the Republican party, by the vol
untary surrender of distinction, of which
any man might be proud. know that some
of You, and many Republican members Of
Congress thought did wrong in withdraw
ing my name, but I thought differently, and
now know l did right No man is of sufi-
cient importance to stand for moment in
the way of the success of a great cause like
that of the Republican party, and no party
nate any member to the principles of its ad.
vocates. 1t was doubtful if the experiment
would prove successful, for some who prom.
ised, faltered. 1t was the decisive vote of 6
gallant son of Maryland man of culture
ability, and honor-a man I would not ex.
change for all the cringing Democrats thai
misrepresent the Northern States. 1t was the
vote of Henry Winter Davis that decided the
struggle.
Well, gentlemen, we had a Republican
Speaker and a Republican majority, on every
important committee, and what was the re
suI.2 Did war GOMEZ Did disunion come
Were any of the Institutions of our Father
jeopardized or overthrownl Oh, mol YoJ
may point with pride to the record made By
Republican House Of Representatives. Th,
petition Of the people Of Kansas for admission
, as free State with a constitution sanctioned
by her people, was promptly and favorably
acted upon. A liberal Homestead bill, secur
ing to every head Of family portion of thI
public domain for cultivation, was promptly
sent to the Senate. A simple provision o
. law to withhold the public lands for ten year
from the greed of speeulators, followed sool
after That stain upon the national honor
the adulterous practice of polygamy in Utah
was made penal ofense. The slave code 0
New Mexico, passed to please a few Demo
cratic Office holders there-together with al
inhuman law regulating, or rather rendering
more barbarous the practice Of serfdom, wer,
repealed in pursuance of the express powe
reserved to Congress by the act organizing
New Mexico. A carefully prepared Revenur
bill was passed, which, while it provided rev
enue for the support of the Government, diC
it in a way least burdensome TO the people
and most serviceable to the industrial in
terests of the country. A rigid scrutiny
was instituted into some branches of ex
penditures, and the most corrupt, demoral
izing practices, reaching even to the Presi
dent, were disclosed. And last, but no
least, a large and radical reduction Of thl
expenses of the Government was effected
After a careful examination of the annua
estimate for 'the next year, the House of Rep
resentatives reduced them to $43, 600, 900, 81
that, if the action of the House had been sane
toned by the Senate, the entire expenditure