Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-02-06
SENATOR BIaLER's SPEECH.

delivered in the United States Senate on the
2lst jan, for which he has our thanks. His
public acts, of which this is one, we shall ex
ercise the privilege of criticia:ng just we
would those of any other public man; /; but in
doing this, we shall endeavor to treat him with
due degree of respect. As a citizen, and
in social point of view, we have always es-
teemed the Governor highly; we are free to
admit that for him personally We entertain the
best of feelings, and VIC had hoped that, in the
hour of our country's peril, he would lay aside
entirely the fnesse of the infexible partizan,
and adopt the moro commendable and endu-
ring policy OF the patriotic statesman. In this
we have been disappointed. His speech dis
plays none Of that dsinterested magnanimity
which he could now, when near the close of
his public career, afford so we'll to use; but it
is characterized by that strict adherence to
party views and party tactics, which marked
his course and his speeches during the late
Presidential campaign-indeed, some of the
expressions and arguments it contains will
doubtless sound familiar to those who heard
him on the stump last fall. For example-af-
ter disclaimng any intention of Christening the
responsibility" of the inaUspicious events
6 of the last fifteen years. 'supon this or upon
ss that party he at once undertakes to show
that the responsibility of our present trou-
bles rests with the Republicans and for this
purpose, repeats the old story OF John Browns
mad raid into Virginia, the stale charge con-
corning the ssHelper Book' endorsement, the
| origin of the ''irrepressible conflict dogma,
and the fact that sixty-nine Republican Mem
bers of Congress had voted for the ssBlake
Resolution Having glanced at the promi-
nent features Of unnecessary hostiliIy'' to
| the institution of African Slavery-which Mr..
| Biglcr regards as sihe fundamental cause Of
60 the imperiled condition of the country, y
and thus re-stimulated the leaven of prejudice
and misapprehenson that exists in the South
! relative to Republican doctrines, he coolly de-
clares that ssthe Southern people, to great
:' extent, believe that those dogmas are to be
I" carried out by the incoming Administra-
i" tion;'-just as if he, in common with other
leaders of the Breckenridge party, had not
done all he could to create and strengthen
this impression. And how does it come, while
such noble Southern spirits as Johnson, Glenn
ems, Etheridge and Gilmer are laboring to dis
| abuse the public mind in their own section,
that he is SO careful TO repeat, in the speech
before us, the allegations which are the prima-
ry cause of the .'southern people, coming to
such conclusions Why is it that Mr.. Bigler
! INDUCES in such language as the following:
''But, Mr.. President. the organization of a
geographical party; that organization against
| rh oh pyfn IVA
trymen, was the fatal day for this Republic.
| have been in the habit of saying, sir, every
where on the stump, that such an organi-
Zation was inconsistent with the peace Of
the nation that a political association so
hostile to the institutions of another sec
tion of the country that it could have no re-
cognition and no members in the assaulted
section, must necessarily be an agent of alien
alton and hostility among the people. George
Washington and Andrew Jackson both fore
saw this, and men on the other side should
have needed their warnings. 1t will not do to
say that it was never Intended to be a section
al party; that it is based on great truths that
can be and ought to be universal Sir, dis
guise it as we may, the Republican organiza-
tion has had, and has now, but one vital spark
of existence, and that is prejudice and hostil-
itv to admitted rights-to the institution of
slavery-an Institution recognized by the IA
thers. | know, sir, it is said, in mitigation,
| that Republicans never intend to exercise any
unconstitutional right; that their purpose is not
to interfere with slavery in the States. But,
Mr. President. tell me when or where Re-
f publican meeting has been held, since the
dawn of that party, where the impression
was not left, either by its proceedings or
in the language of its orators, that in some
way or other the Republican organization
was the agency through which slavery was
to be abolished everywhere 20
Is this the spirit of sconciliation,'' and is
this the way to bring about an ''adjustmcns ~
We appeal to the common sense of all impair
tial men whether this is displaying the proper
temper-whether rubbing open old politica
sores and making such unwarrantabe asser
tions as the concluding one in the above ex
tract, is in the least calculated to induce an
opponent to entertain any suggestion he may
have to make. As peace Makers position
to which Mr.. Bigier seems to aspire-he should
have employed truth instead of misrepresenta
tion and should have poured oil upon the
troubled waters, instead of casting into them
the agencies Of commotion.
Impressed, as it is fair to presume he must
be, with the deplorable condition of+he coun
try, yet Mr.. Bigler seems to think that it il
not an herculean task after all to {" avert the
&c impending calamities." 1t is not necessa
! ry, in his opinion, to expend &c countless trea
: 50 sure" or to &c shed rivers of blood.'' Il
/, .fonly requires that opinion, party and preju
{. dice should be mutually abandoned to attain
, the priceless end 10 This is good advice
and very easy TO follow; but how does he dc
iti He asks the Republicans to make unlim
tied ss concessions 20 but what 6. opinion'' o,