The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-01-17
L E c T U R E
ON Saturday Evening, Jan. s, 1866.

Thanks, Fellow Citizens, for your vel
soue, on this occasion; thanks for the ev-
idence Of confidence SO lately and SO
kindly expressed at the ballot box.
To Columbus, the world is indebted for
the discovery Of a Continent, which has
been the cradle, but which may yet be-
como the tomb, Of liberty-your beauti-
full city Is worthy Of the name. Frank
linAphilosepher and statesman-drew
FIRE from the Heavens, and trained and
subdaed the lightnirgs, which have since
been taught to whisper messages across
the gontinentLimnortality to Franklin!
all honor TO the gallant county which
beals his name.
come citizens, IN compliance with
your wishes, to consult with you relative
to certain of the affairs of our State and
Nesioniand ! doso with the greater pleas
ure because in this moment of calm, the
MUD is prepared to listen with candor,
and decide with justice upon questions
which may be submitted for considera.
tiQp.s And / %conjure you, citizens, one
and all to forget partisan prejudices, and
remember Only that We are all Ohioans,
al Americans, all Couatlymen, with COM
men hopes, common interests and a COM
mpni destiny
Ia all ages, the de~magoguehas been the
sama; ambitious of place and power, and
IagsTdless of right conscious Of his own
unEorthiness-he desires to make better
men, appear unworthy as himself; and
seeks ito infame, the public mind, and
souset the evil passions Of the heart, that
the victims Of his deception may be blind
ly led toatheir destruction.
against such men, citizens, | bid yor
beware; they are your enc nies-they are
the enemies of free institutions. And i
civil liberty be subverted, and from a race
Of freemen, we degenerate into a race Of
slaves, it will be owing to the fact that we
as a people, mistook party for country
and prejudice for patriotism.
resUpdoubtedly, said Daniel Webster
eff our political system should be over
thrown, it will be the work of excessive
party spirit acting on the Government
which is dangerous enough, or acting il
the Government which is a thousand times
mors~ dangerous: fo- Government then be
comes nothing bss an organized party ,anc
IN the vieissitadcs of human affairs, i
may come at last, perhaps, to exhibit tbt
singular paradox Of Government itself be
ing in opposition to its " powers, a
war with the very elements of its own ex
istehee. Such cases are hopeless. Al
men may be protected against murder
but cannet be guarded against suicide, 81
Government may be shielded from exter
nal foes, bat aothing can save it, when i
chooses to lay violent hands on ITSELF"
With what viyidness docs the Language
Of the great orator portray the danger il
which the Government is involved by th,
Dafficidal conduct Of the present Con
efess; where one of the branches of tn,
"Government has become nothing bat al
organized party" But why does the dan
GER EXIST Because the same party hat
an overwhelming majority in both bran.
ches Of the National Legislature, anC
there il ne check against corruption Of
the adelirium Of partisan madness.
THE great and good Washington, in hi
farewell address, thus warns us against The
excess Of party spirit: at serves" ht
says, ~"always to distract public councils
and enfeeble the public Administration
It sgitates the community with ill-founet
iealousies and false alarms; kindles til,
luminosity of one party against anothe.
and foments occasionally riots and insur
rsction. And there being. constant dan
ger Of excess, the effort ought to be b.
fierce Of public opinion to mitigate ant
assuage it.
Deeply impressed, citizens, with th'
wisdom Of these precepts,I will endesvol
to approach. the subject of my discoars'
with q spirit Of sincerity worthy Of tht
grave topics to which your attention vii
be invited,
It is my purpose, citizens,t to state facts
rather than suggest remedies-to ask b!
What means our country can obtain re
lief. rather than propose any plan of m.
own,
There are no shackles which fetter al
Individual like heavy indebtedness, an'
when upon that debt, not only usury bu
compound interest is e9aetcd, the ruin o