Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-12-13
SENATOR BAYARD,s pRomIsn,

Our readers will bear us witness that in all
our remarks upon public men and measures in
which the name of Mr. Bayard may have been
necessarily introduced, we have always treated
that gentleman with the respect due to his posi-.
tion as Senator and an eminent and distin-
guished citizen of Delaware. And we have,
moreover, on every occasion, kept condor and
fairness IN view; aud in no instance do We re-
member having denied 10 him that degree Of
moral courage which his boduess Of speech and
Outspoken fraHkness Of purpose have secured to
him. While we admire the talents and eminent
ability Of MIR. Dayard as statesman, we de-
precate the influence which, az u politician of
the lowest order of partzunship, his political
tenets are calculated to exert in the community
What we may have to say at this time, there
fore, in connection with AIi.. Bayards public
career, will we hope be considered as being
prompted by sense Of duty to our State
aud the country, and not 10 any personal or
political feeling against him; for politically, we
believe Mr.. Bayard more truly represents the
real feelings and sentiments Of his pariy to day,
than any other locofoco in Delaware could do,
under similar circumstances. Hence we would
prefer,--f Breckinridge democracy and treason
must be represented on the floors of Congress-
to have Mr.. Bayard impersonate that political
heresy.
But why should he or any one else, holding
views aud opinions inimioAl to the best interests
the stability, and the pence of the country,
stand so prominently forth to speak for Della
ware in the national councils, where all the
wisdom, aagaciiy and prudence of honest and
loyal statesmen are being daily exercised in be
half of the nation? Why should any man, how.
ever eminent he may be, be permitted to parti-
cipate in the counsels and plans and suggestions
Of patriotic men who are lcgislatng for the
public veal, and under the nmsy plea of pence
and compromise thwart all their efforts to pre-.
serve the unity and integrity of the nati,n p
Why should the treasury Of the American Re-
public be made to minister to the pecuniary in
dulgences of Mr. Bayard and his colaborers in
secession, for making speeches filled with rebel
sympathy and opposition TO the Constitution p
ln no sense in which we may view il does either
Mr.. Buyard or Mr.. Salisbury render n proper
equivalent for the pay they receive They do
not properly represent their State in the Senate.
The sentiments they entertain and enunciate ON
the great question of the war, are abhored by
the people. At public meeting of the citizens
Of the State they were, in tho most emphatic
manner, requested to resign and yet in def.
auce Of popular sentiment they still hold on to
oeicc in a country they say no longer exists and
whose power and authority they contemn and
rldicue.
That Mr.. Dayard looks upon the Union ns
being dissolved, no one who has read his speeches
on the subject can gaiusay for n moment He
makes no secret Of that fact As fur back as
May last, lie endeavored to inculcate that idea
into the minds Of the people of Delaware, in a
published "nddress." And when he supposed
he had public sentiment all right for seces.
sion, he, in the most ostentatious manner. pro-
missed to resign his seat in the Senate, il the
people of Delaware, should favor the war policy
of the government; and it is to That promise We
wish to call particular attention Mt present.
His address, published in the Jouraat of May
21st, after acknowledging that he had been al
Montgomery from the l2lh to the 18th of April
and had there seen many persons pdom he hue
faotea tpeH and intimately IN Washington" con
cludes thus;
al am one Of your representatives, in the Sen
ate of the United States, and my term Of ofic,
does not expire until March, 1868. l view
however the relation of constituent and repre-
sentative as one of confidence, and when | am
satisfied that civil war cannot be ayerted and
find that the public sentiment of my State pre-
fers such a result to the peaceful separation OF
those States which have withdrawn from the
Union, shall checrfuly and gladly resign into
your hands an Office which | obtained without
solicitation, and which neither my sense Of duty
nor my self-respect would permit me to hold
when ascertain that | differ in opinion with
you on 80 momentous and vital a question as
pence or wnr. 1t can require but few days
after Congress has assembled TO determine
whether the last hope Of peace has fled, if in
deed the hope can lnger until them and before
that time ] shall become fully satisfied as to
your will. Do not fear that l will betray the
conf dence you have reposed in me- or be cana
ble of nsrepresenting that will. If I cannot
conscientously obey your mandate, | will not
use the position l occupy as your representative
Ia prevent its performances by another agent
But the right Of private opinion, and its express
Ias. 20