The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-11-01
Speech OF Schuyler COlfax at De-
90 40 trOit, October 2Oth.o siaL

We regret that we are only able to
give brief synopsis of MrilColfax's
speech. He commenced with brief
review of the condition of the country
at the Inauguration of the rebellion
the time in our history when pmricides,
traitors and ingrates turned their backs
upon the country that had given them
places of honor and trust. He said
+" Four years after the Charleston Con-
vention had divided the Democratic
party, a Convention met at Chicago
whose principal business it was to de-
nounce the man who had tried to save
the country. Never was there such a
motley crowd collected together since
Noah drove the animals into the ark.
Laughter and applause. Such crew
rs Augustc Belmont drove into this ark
was uever seen before. Cheers. There
were men who had given aid and com
fort to the enemy. Fernando Wood,
who begged pardon of Georgia because
he was powerless to aid in her rebellious
schemes. There were Long, Harris,
III. Clay Dean and the bushwhackers Of
of Missouri. There is not q bushwhack-
er, or guerilla, or traitor in the army of
Price, in Missouri, but what will vote
for Mcclellan if they can get to the bal
lot-box. This Chicago Convention was
a remarkable affair, remarkable for the
character of the speeches delivered.
Our dear land was in peril, yet they de-
nounced the government and the very
men who were laboring that the flag
might be gilded with the rays of peace.
You may read in your Free Press, i'll
your Chicago Times, the speeches from
the Court House, the hotel steps, and
the streets. Do you find one line against
jeff. Davis or the rebellion ? Cries Of
No! No!l Their denunciations were
all hurled against the government.
Their poisoned arrows of hate were
hurled against the breast of Abraham
Lincoln. They had no word of fcondem-
nation against the manner in which the
rebels conduct the war--no words of
encouragement or praise for our brave
soldiers; no condemnation of the way
the rebels treat our prisoners, who are
suffering barbarities worse than those
practiced by The Cannibals ofthe South
Sea Islands. TCheTs. Look at their
platform. No wonder Gen. Mcclellan
said after reading it, that ifhe endorsed
it, he could not look soldier in the
face. Yet. the men who constructed
this platform made Mcclellan, and the
platform sticks to them. 1t sticks to
them like the poison shirt of \ essus, and
when they go down to their political
graves in November this platform will
be their tombstone. [Cheess and APP
plause. Benedict Arnold declared our
Revolutionary war failure notwith-
standing all our glorious successes, and
the battles of Ticondcroga and York
town, which gave birth to a Nation.
The Hartford Convention called the
war of so years ago failure. Now this
platform of the Chicago Convention is
an inspiration of, and pattern of the
Hartford Convention. 1t is n remarka-
BILE platform-remarkabl for some fca-
lures that are in it, and for some fea-
lures that are not in it. Laughter and
Applause The word Rebellion is not
in it. 1t was left out on purpose. They
would not rebuke treason, but would
rather defend JEFF. Davis. Cries of
that's so. The speaker said he had
heard many Democratic platforms in
his life, and was not celebrated for his
love of them; yet he could not discover
in this one single plank of one of the
old Democratic platforms, said he, 1t
is platform with all the Democratic
planks left out. By particuior request.
Laughter and Applause. 1t reminds
me of the play of Hamlet with the part
of Hamlet left out. Cheers.
Their banners and notices do not
contain a portion Of their platform.
They go into the canvass entirely igno.
ring their platform. They dare not go
to the people with their notices taken
from their platform.
The speaker continued with most
able and scathing review of this plat.
form which is usually the life and SOU
of a party. Mr.. Collax then reverted
to the time when Buchanan and the
Democratic party controlled all the pow
) er of the Government, and under whose
! rule the hydra-headcd monster, seces
sion, first raised its Shiny head and hid
eous shape. He said 20 Did Buchan
an issue proclamation like Andrew
Jackson, saying he would use the powel
of the army and navy Of the United
States to crush this attempt to destroy
the national life? No! he issued "a pa
. per saying he had no power to coerce q
, sovereign State They stole our mints
!. seized our arsenals and forts, while Bu
chanan's arms hung ncrvcless by his
side. They trailed the starry flag dis
z honored in the dust. They proceeded
still further. A Convention assembled
. at Montgomery. The ordinance Of sc
cession was passed. Arebel Congress
was elected, and jeff Davis wss made
President, yet James Buchanan did no
raise his finger. / saw Buchanan il
that dark hour-the darkest hour in on
history, as he went about the Whit
!. House, saying, George Washington
was ihe first, and shall be the last Pres
ident !" The wish was father to tn
thought. But James Buchanan wa
mistaken. The country and the gov
ernment still lives. Cheers.
" r., They talk of this waras Liucoln war
= Lincoln ,proffered the olive branch Q
peace. They .proffered war;. 1t com
menced on that fatal Sunday when reb
'e el caunon fred on that banner raised b.
\ the gallant Andersonin prayer--canno
robbed from the government by Floyd
The telegraph announced the fate Q