Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-10-16
SPEECH OF HON. SCHUYLER COL
(, :. FAX AT LAFAYETTE.


Nv Fsiloso Citizens; '8
.. am sorry that q recent change in the
time table of the railroad upon which |
came, Of which had not been aware,
prevented me from being present when
this meeting opened, and that am only
here in the middle Of the. afternoon. |
came here to-day to enjoy the privilege
of looking once more into the faces Of the
noble Republicans Of Indiana, and be-
cause lknew could here look into the
faces Of many Of my fellow citizens from
another District, north Of you, many who,
for almost a lifetime, have given me their
confdence, their support and the love and
affection Of their hearts. How much
love the people OF that district my poor
stammeIing tongue cannot tell. To them
owe Al lha1I an and all that Iureyer
hope TO De in CONNECTION with public af-
fairs. They took me when boy; they
Sustained me in every vicissitude Of life
lin the profession Of printing, to which
had dedicated my liie---snd when 10 af.
ter years they deemed me ft for seat In
the national council. they sent me there;
and since thar tine they have upheld me
in. repeated canvasses without abatement I
of confidence or kindness, until at last
the American people have bestowed upon
me the nomination which now places me
before the people for their suffrsges. Let
me say to you Of the "Bloody Ninth who
are here 10 day, that one object had in
view 10 coming here Today was, that not
having IL ia my power again TO visit that
district, might here have an opportuni /.
" TO look once more into your faces, and
feel that sympathy between my heart and
yours that have always felt in days gone
by. God bless you ALL | do not know
what more can say, to show you how
much appreciate your confidence aud
love.
came besides. 90 bear cheerful tes-
timony to the fidelity Of the man who has
stood as your Representative amQng the
Representatives of the people assembled
at Washington. Faithful, at his poet by
night aud day. week after week, month
after month, and year after year, he has
proved true TO liberty and followed the
principles OF our fathers as closely as any
man ever followed the polar star across
the ocean. Without variableness, or the
shadow Of turning, he has been fsithful
TO the pledges he made TO you; so that 70
turning TO bis constituency he can say,
IL defy any one here TO point me to a sin
gle act OF iuGdelity TO the professions
have made TO you" When you 6nd a
public servant whom you can trust a
thousand miles away with perfect conf
dence, you are dereict in your duty II
you do not continue him in the sphere OF
duty which he has 80 honestly aud cen
scientiously filed. This is the lesson
that was taught us by the example of the
South In the years Of the past, whea they
continued their faithful public servants In
the national councils when they had be.
come educated to the dates Of their sta.
tion.
Another thing You know that have
felt that CONVICTIONS OF duty aud a regard
Tor proprie,y forbade my entering the po-
liiical arena. How much | have longea
TO do Il In this campaign caunot tell
you; bat have felt that when persons
are selected ~ candidates for the two high.
est offices ia the gilt of tho American
people - aud which regard as the
two proudest posilIoos Ia this world
t.era is respect for proprie,y due
from them In regard 10 that post.
ton which does not deyolyo upon others l
must bo faithful to my own convictions,
aud. therefore, as TO that one-haf Of this
question which embraces the principles
aud platform OF the Democratic party, my
lips are sealed. But there IL one side Of
this question on which, while ! live, my
lips eaa never be sealed; aud that IL, the
glorious record made by the Republican
party, which 10 written on the mos, bril-
liant pages Of our nations history, there
10 survive 20 our honor forever aud for
ever. or this grand party am par,
aud parcel with you; aud Of this |
can say, and you eau say. Let pos.
teliiy read this; let pos,erity Judge
OF this record. And what record II isl
| shall not speak OF the record OF the
Democratic party for the last ten or IT.
teen years, commencing with the repeal
OF the Missouri Compromise, aud ending
With thuse ou,rages which 30 dIshonor
our nation, nov occurring at the South.
| say nothing of It's record, but | can
speak OF ha record the record Of the no.
bes, party that ever existed beneath the
sun. When this country was rocking TO
It's center by the shock Of arms; when de-
generate sons OF the Republic dared to liit
their impious hands against the flag OF
our fathers; when men who were unwor.
Thy OF their bi,hrirht sought TO make that
banner the winding sheet Of tho worlds
peace. there was Que party In this coun-
try, its constitution, aud its dag; that was
the Republican party. Where would
have been your country 10 day IL there
had been no Republican party2 You
wodld not have had country left to day.
When the enemies OF our country denoun.
ced every act that We performed for the
salvation Of the country, as unconsritu.
iioaal, We dared to stand up for the right
aud say" the last man and the last dol.
lar shall be freely given TO save this coun.
try When We were compelled TO pass
tax laws we knew that popular prejudice
could be evoked against us on account of
the Passage Of these laws; but we said:
"thisi is necessary for the salvation Of the
country, aud we will do it.'1 We risked
the consequences; We said "if the people
disapprove of our course-even II they
drive US outef our positions into private
life on account ofit--we will nevertheless
vote for these bills, to keep the flag of our
country waying in the field"
Now | am not spoakino to dav, far the