Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-03-06
Seech Of Hon. Joseph A. Wright.

CcCCm Of uVHs SVSCYu Ne WIKI Hts
Delirered ;a Me Hall Of tie House of Rep
resentafires, Indianapolis. on Tuesday
Eyening. Fe5yuary 25M. 1862.
Ny FELLOW CITIZENS:
Iappear before you this evening as 20
party man, having no party ends to ac
complish. no personal object to secure: but
simply to say few words to my fellow
citizens in behalf Of our dear. distracted
country; and shall take the liberty of ex-
pressing TO you my own views upon these
great questions in my own style.
lam only astohished. my fellow citiz Ems.
that any man who knows me and who has
heard my oft repeated declarations up the
subject since l left Europe, could have
thought that would ever go into any par
ty convention in such an hour of peril to
my country as the present. Away with
party creeds. and party platforms and par
ty prejudices in such an hourl The time
for these things is gone by. The people
have had enough OF them. Ifor one wili
Stand upon no party playorm. 4 ,ciN 90
into no party conrent;on until are hare q
country. When l told my fellow citizens
some time ago that would have no more
to do with party until it was settled wheth-
er we are to have a country or not, meant
it. Imrant IT. stand in this crisis only
for my country. l have. confess. but
little respect for the parties of the present
day, and l would SAY to my Republican
friends and my Democratic friends who
hear me to-night-you have neither OF
you much to brag about. Laughter.
think remark once made by the la
mented Senator Douglas to Mr.. Buchanan
might be applied with great force and
truthfulness to the political parties of this
country. In 1860. when the Presidential
Convention was progressing. Mr.. Douglas
| found in newspaper that he was Le-
comptonife--that he had written letter to
Mr.. Calhoun, and that he was identified
with the Lecompton scheme. DC. &c
Then, for the first tire. he gave the pnb-
lie his cwn views Of that affair lie told
this aneciote-said her: when / went
. to Washington. Mr.. Buchanan sent for
me. Sail the President: Mr.. Douglas,
understand that you arc opposed to me
upon this question: "Yes, SIR" was the
reply. Il am opposed to you." Said Mr.
Buchanan. "Mr. Douglas. won't you wait
until the people Of Kansas have express.
ed their will upon the question: "Yes
sir. | will wait till then. unless you send il
J that Lccompton message" Thus the con
versation went on until the President go,
into passion. "Mr. Douglas" said he.
Remember Rives, remember Tallmadge,
and host Of others. The Democrat who
stands in the way of Democratic Admin
istrasion must go down" AS quick q.
! lightning the Senator replied. "Mr Buch
anan. General Jackson is dead. He il
deadf" So | think in regard to these po
Utica, parties. They are deadl dead! dead
Their platform is not worth the paper they
are written upon. All party ereeds am
party platforms are gone. They mus, al
/ ways 60 in contest involving. like this
, the very life and existence Of the govern
ment. There are platforms and principle
that will stand forever But If there wer
no other reason that could be given VIII,
old party lines should be abandoned in tn
present crisis. this is enough. In the pre-
sent condition Of this country we want
united North. Party creeds divide I'll
North. and thus weaken AMI paralize tn
arm Of the government. With divide
North. torn and rent with party prejudice
and party strife, we may look for countr
desola,ed by wars and bathci in the bloc
of her citizens. but we may also expec
disscnsions in our own ranks, and war an
bloodshed in our own midst. Is it ne
cessary that l should attempt to prov
this? Every man who will only look a
, the thing for moment will see how in
evitably such consequences viii follow
division Of the people of the North on thi
question. Why. who has not observe
. how bitter we frequently become. even i
the ordinary times of peace, when we ar
divided upon questions which are utterl
insignificant when compared to those in
volvcd in this contest. But in such a con
; test as this. array this North. State agains
State-let the people Of Indiana be array
ed. man against man, in a contest wher
the most momentous interests are at stake
and what man Is there who cannot forcse
the result that will inevitably follow
When the arm Of this government shal
be paralyzed by discussions and strife i
the North, the worst consequences may
looked for, and if there was no other argu
ment that could be urged in order to in
duce men to abandon parties. and thin
and act solely for their distracted country
this is enough. 1t was in view Of thes
facts that Senator Douglas said to hi
friends and his countrymen everywhere
"Forgef your party ereeds until you hare
co1nfry."
As said before. there are crceds an,
platforms which shall live forever. The,
are immortal and imperishable. Here
model Of platform:
"Resolped. That the Constitution Of th
United States is the supreme law Of tn
land. and rebellion is monstrous crime
maintain the one and suppress the other.
My citizens. where do you thinl
that platform was framed? 1t was Framed
under ihe caves of the National Hall q
Philadelphia. where the Declaration of on
liberties was made 70 the world in l776
Who presided at that convention? Georg
N. Dallas. And that platform was adopt
ed with unanimity Of thirty thoassns
votes. Ny fellow citizens. in crisis lik'
this. until we hive Government. ther
can be but two parties--the friends Of thu
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