The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-02-03
-Ssl
he Know No Party, but the
Party of the Constitution
Farewell to Senator Bayard.

Senator Bayard, OF DeleWare, on tne
26th utimo, prior to resigning his seat
in the q. S. Senate spoke as fol-
Bows; e.
"a Sir, admit that covet the appreciation
|<pf the good. the wise, and the rejecting,
bad would not willingly subject myself to
heir censure or to reasonable suspicion as
q b my motives of action; though am utter
3y Indifferent to those calumnous, ground
less, and vindici i've attacks TO which every
man in public life, even in less excited
times, is subjected by personal malevolence
Tor political hostility. But though desire
such appreciation, l have never made either
8 3ppinion or popularity my standard
OF action, but my own sense of right aud
duty; and L owe respect to my own sin
ere convictions of public duty which will
never sacrifice. Many of you are aware
that before civil war commenced, | express
sed fully my views as TO the course of ac-
ton which [ thought the welfare and pros
perlty of the whole country required after
the secession of seven States. Those views
differed from the course pursued subse-
quently by the Administration, and its
course was approved by a majority of Con-
gress. and indeed by the people at large
after their passions had become excited by
actual war.
| told you then that ] did not consider
secession constitutional or reserved right
of the States, but au act Of revolution
revolution by organized communities
not rebellion In the modern sense Of the
word, but only in Its oldRoman sense-the
revolt Of people. | told you also, that in
ind anI Il
Of real or even apprehended dangers, aud
not coercion OF arms, was, in sucn crisis,
the true policy OF the statesmann; and that
the trainers OF the Constitution had wisely
left such state Of affairs without any pro
vision, as one of those mortal feuds" which
in the language OF Hamilton, "when they
happen, commonly amount to revolutions
and dismembermeuts OF empire" admit
ted th secession was a breach OF the com
Dact by which the Federal Government was
established, and that it rested with the
Cnted States to determine whether they
would and could, by war, compel the seced-
ing States TO repair the breach, or whether
tue &C; by which they severed tnelr poiitl
cal relations with US should be assented to,
and peaceful separation permitted, ia the
hope that ties OF blood and marriage might
in a few Years restore those seven States -
the Union; similar influences having at the
origin OF the Government induced North
Carolina and Rhode Island, after a years
DELAY. to become members of the Union,
though the former bod IN the first instance
rejected the Constltut IN, and the latter
had refused to be represented IN the Con
yeution. may be psrdoned here Tor quot
ing short extract from speech l made
on the condition If the country, . In March
1861, illustrative of my opinions before the
sword had been drawn:
"You nay attempt by war to keep the
States unted-to restore the Union; but
the attempt will be futile Cancellation
and concession may reunlte US; war, never!
The power may ne exercised for the purpose
of punishment and vengeance II may be
exercised if you propose to conquer the
seeding States, but IL your intention IS to
maintain the Government, war can never
effect such an intention"
I preferred then, peaceful separation to
civil war, as the lesser evil, 0at the Admin
istration and tae dominant party decided
to resort 20 an enforcement of the laws by
the coercion of arms, a. against en- insur-
rectioa. Civil war Eas since ragged, aHd It's
events and consequences have strengthened
my convictions that the prosperity OF my
country and the happiness aud morals vi
the people cannot be promoted by IFS con
tinuance. To these views an Overwhelming
majority of Congress is opposed and, so
far as tae elections of the past year Can be
accented as evidence Of public sentiment,
that majority is sustained by the people
1t is true that new questions have arisen III
the progress OF war as to its mode ot con
duct and object, and have produced conflict
Of opinion among 1he people But on the
question If pea, Gwen by temporary sep
sr,tion if essental-the Democratic party,
with which | have been connected is divi-
ded, and many of its leading aad most in-
fuential adherents INDUCED in the visionary
idea that common Government based on
"the consent of the governed" over seper-
ate political comm duties, with diversified
habits, manners customs and Institutions,
can be restored and maintained by the
sword, without the abandonment of fed
oral aud its conversion into an imperial and
centralized Government. So thought
the President of the United States or the
Secretary oi State on the lOtn of April,
ls6l, before war had begun, and TO nay
mind such an idea is a delusion and mere
chime have also the fixed opinion aud
belief that the life of nation depends up
on the preservation OF its liberties, and not
upon the extent of It's dominion. Standing
therefore almost alone in this body, have
lost the hope that can longer be of ser,
vice to my country or my State. Never an
ambitious man, the passion Of ambition
has with the advance of life so diminished
taat prefer the repose of private life to
the imbittered contest of the political are
main these tempestuous times. ''~ .
have lived te see the elective franchise
trodden under foot in my native State by the
iron heel of the soldier, and Order No
55," not the people of Delaware, represent
ed in one hall of Congress. have lived