The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-09-07
SPEECH OF HON. ]. ". LoNGYBAR
Deferred at the Republican, Congressional
opreRtj0H, Gt JnckSOH, AHg. 10, lo6i.

Mn. PREsIDENr AND GENTLEMEN OF TIE
CoNyENIION; N;-NeXt 10 the consciousness OF
having rndeavored TO do ones duty il thai
ofhaving the approval ofour fellow men. In
this light, gentlemen, l accept your present
action, and | sincerely thank you for the
honor. Two years ago, without experience
in politics or legislation, | accepted the po-
sitiOn ! now hold with a deep sense OF the
responsibility it imposed. During all that
time il has been my chief aim and study
how best TO meet and discharge that re-
spOnsibility. and subServe the interests OF
my constituents apd those OF the nation al
large. How we'll | have succeeded, my
constituents must be the judges. The rec
ord Of my dOings is before them. BY that
recnrd 7 evnrcL to stand or fall. If ap-
of the experience OF my present term 10 he
of greater service 10 my constituents and
the nation at large.
During these two years nearly IA the
close of which We now are. great events
have been transpirng. Many things which
were doubtful have become confirmed -
great projects which were then Just mitia-
ted, great principles. the application of
which was then but just proposed have be
come settled policy. and that not only for
the temporary purpose of subduing the re-
beliOn, but for all time TO come Freedom
for the crushing Of which the rebellion was
instituted, is TO occupy the soil, and TO
stand firm forever upon the very pedestal
1pon which slavery has heretofore reared
it, dark and massive column OF corrup-
ton.
The war, too has progressed favOrabv
While the rebellion still exists and has not
Vet been crushed as We fOndly hoped il
would have been 10y this time great pro-
gress has been opened 10 trade and COM
merce. The only formidable invasion OF
the north ever attempted 10y the rebels, met
a timely, crushing defeat al Gettysburg
Missouri has become confirmed III its old
relations; Tennessee has been relieved from
rebel misrule; Arkansas ard Louisiana
have been brought mostly under our con-
troll; Grant and sherman have penetrated
10 the very core of the already crippled
body Of the rebellious power, and now
stand knocking al the two opposite doors
OF lis shattered dOmicie And all this has
been accomplished in spite of foreign aid
and home sympathy-in spite of British
war vessels with rebel crews, and OF North
ern Democrats with secession prOclivities
Other things, nearer home, that were
vague and indefinite, have become deyel-
\
position 10 the present administration We're
par excellence. the war party. "A more
vigorous prosecution of the war. was the
motto adopted by them. Many OF the
friends of the administration thought they
saw IN this mere pretence To take adyan-
tage Of the popular sentiment and gain adj
mission 10 power. The old Democratic par
~ il the north had been TOO long the will
ing slave 10 the slave power in the south.
10 readily deceive the people into the he
liefthat il was Tor a vigorous. or any other.
prosecution Of war that had been waged
by that power for its extension and perpet-
ulty. The leaders of that party themselves
were conscious of this aud dared not come
out under their old name. but assumed the
glorious name OF " Union. and thus like
the FOX in the lions skin. sought 10 ingrati-
ate themselves into good company but.
Ike that umlucky ANIMAL We're detected los
their ROAR. and met with a. unfortunate a
tate. some thought that they could see
coupled with that pretence. cOadfiOnz
which destroyed It's entire force aud effect
and would render the further prosecution
of the war Ineffective and abOrtive some Oi
us even contended that the teachings OF
tie leaders or that party and their presses
must eventually lead 10 open opposition
ana iorcible resistance 10 the government.
al acknowledgment OF the right Of seces-
sion, and finally Of tie independence OF
" the Southern COniederacv."
During the last two years these things
have been assuming shape. and developing
their real character Deception, hypOcri-
y. aud lrslncerIty may Tor a time be -
covered up as 10 elude the scrutiny OF the
most asJuIe. But a an individual charac-
Ter, 80 with that OF the parties: defects 10
character. private vices and corrupt priuci-
pals are Inevitably brought 10 tie surface
sooner or later, by time ana experience.
WHAT CO We see now. The leaders Of that
party throwing on nearly all pretence OF
sustaining TIE government Ia Ile prOSecu-
uOn u lie war: denouIcIl- tie ITesi den,
IL Iyraut aul Al J>urper whenever De
puts his foot upon rebels. either north oI
south. with little more yigor than usual:
charging Mn with q Violation Of the Con
stIIuuUn whenever anu wherever be sue
ceedS ID dealing crushing blow 10 the re-
belion; advising resistance 10 his order.
ana prOClamatiOns and 10 the acts OF Con
greSs iOr the suppression 0I the rebellion:
oiscOuraglng enlstments aud threatening
resistance 10 drafts Tor the filing I'd OF tbt
armies and sustaining our brave soldier.
already IN the field; apd last. but not least
We nnd them shouting. speaking. writing
anu voting iOr that kIng OF northern traI
tors, their martyr, Clement L Nallandir-
man, These are some OF the ear-marks
the badges, the isd3csS by which we know
them. They dare not yet, in many places
declare their real prlnciples-too much O,