Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-02-14
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W.aH|uNIun fNAIlNlNk ANi AM'AAAiAANN W Aih hNil'
,'i,stion Of The United States
Mr. WALLACE said
Mr. Speaker, before proceeding tc
take up these propositions, | wish to
reply briefly to what the Senator from
Philadelphia Mr. Connelll and the
senator from Bradford Mr.. Landon1
have said.
The Senator from Bradford, TMr.
Landon,1 in most choice language,
asserts the death of the Democratic
party, and proceeds TO attack its men
and its principles in the most virulent
manner In 1853, in 1861, in 1865
and in 1866 we heard this same noise
withstood the same assaults, and
maintained our usual equanimity. Ii
Senator's are satisfied that party that
can poll thirty-six thousand more votes
in 1866 than in 1868, for the same Office
is dead, they will, probably, some day,
awake TO the fact that it still lives
moves and has potent will. The
viliicaton, abuse and contumely heap
ed upon our heads has not brought tc
them such enormous maiorilies, such
magnificent victories as they fondly
hoped. 1t is well nigh worn out, and
snell begin to reason. 1t is.written az
iueflaceably upon the future as any
thing can be, that the principles and
policy of thut party will, eventually,
govern the Republic. Senators may
boast and pirate Of their success, but
the will, the power, and the majority
Of the people will at last be found
upon the side Of those principles that
lie at the base of the government, and
those who deny them will be hurled
from power
The Senator asserts that within the
eask that contained the precious wine
of our liberty the fathers placed a rot
ten stave; that is, he asserts that the
Government when formed was not
what it should be. We have heard
such statements before. Again and
again those from whom the Senator
receives his teachings have declared
the Constitution was n league with
hell. Yet the Senator before he takes
his seat claims that il is Heayen-bOIn
Which of these positions he intends tc
maintain is for himself TO determine
His doctrines come from a class OF
theorists whom it would be unsafe tc
follow The people Of this country
are practical people, and those who
seek to govern it must be practical
men and not theorists. The people
wish the greatest good for the great
cat number, and will not be satisfied
with ar Utopian republic in the ial
distant future. He who grasps thC
great present, is he whom the people
will sustain. The experience Of the
past, the facts Of the present, the lie
cessities of our situation, and the form
and shape of our system are the grcai
material from which the republic is e
be reinvigorated.
The Senator says the South is sick
aud as physician he presciibes I
remedy it is to cauterize the wounds
TO burn the disease from the body
polite. The South is sick, its very
life blood has been let and, depleted
impoverished and exhausted it liel
PROSTATE at the feet Of the North
Thus by his remedy we are TO ado
more prostration, more weakness
more impoverishing to the sick South
Is this the treatment of the skillfu
physicianY A restoration of its vita
energies, strength, wealth, productive
power, in all this broad land, are wha
practical, earnest men wish vii
blood-letting and burning produce
this, or will healthy regimen, pure ali
and settled mind be more likely t
yield itl Encourage their industry
settle their labor system upon a fixcC
basis, give to "men who bear true faitl
to the Constitution and laws" th'
right to represent them, and you have
performed the work Of practical, sen
sible men.
he argues that the country must b.
fenced in, and that in one hundred
years VIC may reap the fruits of on
present action. Will fencing in you
farm, and setting down to theoriz'
about it, bring you crops to pay you
debts and maintain yonr family Z vii
fencing in your fertile lands and build
ing castles in the air, as to the future
yield you the cotton, sugar and ric
you need to aid You in swelling you
exports? illtheory, imitation. credi
and negro Utopias pay your thre'
thousand millions of debti
A people staggering under load o
taxation, the equal of which was nevc
seen, even in Great Britain, deman,
at your hands help topay them. Caus
the Republic to blossom with the pro
ducts ofthe soil and you create wealth
do this, and you may yet escape
fearful fall over financial precipice
Tho Senator from Philadelphia Nh
Connelll asserts that President John
son, in 1860, attempted to "shingle
over the Constitution. | am not her
as the apologist Of President Johnson
SO far as he maintains the principle
| support, / shall sustain him. If hi
shingles then were good, necessary
and would have saved the war, wer
they wrongY The Senator forget
that his party, since 1860, elected M
Johnson with a full knowledge of thi
shingling process, and they endorse
his record. lie forgots to add that ]
the session of1S66 Congress had beior
it no less than forty-two dihercn
Amendments to the Constitution.
The Senator talks Of a meeting i
National Hall in 1861, held by Demo
Gratis, in which reasonable doctrin