Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-02-02
Joint Convention for the Election OF
United States Senator-Speech of
Hon. Matt H Carpenter, Senator
Elect


The two Houses of the Legislator
met in Joint convention at y o cloc!
on the 9th inst, to complete tn
election of United States Senator
The journals Of the proceedings il
Senate and Assembly were read, anC
it appearing that Matt. H. Carpen-
ter had received majority Of votes
in each branch of the Legislature, h,
was declared by Lieut. Governor
Spooner duly elected Senator OF the
State of Wisconsin for six years
from the fourth Of March next.
4 committee was appointed to in
form Mr. Carpenter of his election
aud request his appearance betor,
the JOINT Convention. When he
appeared ne was warmly applauded
and delivered brief and eloquent
speech, substantially as follows:
-. President and Gentlemen Of The
Legislature
| am profoundly sensible of, and
grateful for the honor you have cons
ferred upon me, by this election to
the United States Senate for six
years. After the excitement and per
sonalitles of the canvass Just passed,
/ feel nothing but the responsibilities
and difficulties of the position to
which You have elected me and |
shall not hold that position one hour
beyond the continuing appreciation
OF those by whom it has been con
forred. (Applause.)
This Office, always one Of immense
responsibility, at the present time,
when, with the smile Of God, we
have just emerged from fearful
civil war, which for four years shook
the foundations and menaced the ex-
istence of the Government, invoiV es
duties more arduous and difficult
than usual. We Lave an immense
public debt, and there are thousand
questions growing out of it, as yet
but little discussed, Which present
new and untried fields for statesman>
ship. | have not the vanity to sup
pose that can discharge my duties
at all times without mistakes and
bIunders but whatever untiring in
dustry and uprightness of purpose
can accomplish, | shall certainly per
form for you in the halls of our ma
tonal Legislature. (Applause.)
The tariff and the various ques-
tons concerning our national tinan-
ces will probably engross the atten>
ton of Congress for the next twen~
ty yeas. Details must be settled
by the combined wisdom Of the dom
inent party i'll Congress and keep-
ing certain leading ideas steadily in
view always remembering that
this great people can better bear
and survive anything than national
dishonor [great applause /: trusting
to the continuing favor ot Divine
Providence cultivating our vast
resources Of agricultural and miner
al wealth with the enterprise and
energy OF a young and free people,
all lciU be tCeii
The great idea upon which our
government was founded was the
equality of man his rights as a
man and because a man, without
distinctions of birthplace, national
ity, race, rank or color. There can
be no concrete, practical thing until
it has first been conceived in the
mind of God or man. There can be
no locomotive until some mechanic
has conceived the idea Of locomo,
tive; there can be no work vi ar, no
statue ot grace and beauty until the
ariis, has Iutis conceived the beauty
he wishe. 70 represent. 80 With
government 1t must first exist in
the mind OF the statesman, then be
reduced to practice.
Our government was the creation
of man, and partook OF the infrmity
which attends all mans work. The
wonder now is, after eighty years Of
practical operation, not that our coz
stitution has defects, but that it has
answered tho ends OF it's creation as
well as it has The fundamental er-
ror was the attempted compromise
between right and wrong, justice and
! injustice liberty and slavery -
as impo siblo as compromise be
/ tween fire and water 1t was una
voidable that the two distinct civil,
/ cations existing in the country should
produce conflict; and the result wai
/ Inevitable that the whole should be-
come slave or free. Applause NJ
prudence or sagacity could have
much longer averted the crisis. II
come, and thank God it has passed
and we are now at liberty to return
to the first principles pom which tn,
government was founded, and secure
for all time the absolute equality o
all men. [Applause.
This great idea kept steadily il
view, will lead US rs the pole sta
guides the mariner amid tempest
and over dangerous seas, to the har-
boz OF peace and prosperity. If W.
now lose sight of this, however wise
| ly financial questions may be SETTLED
no matter how many railroads t.
the Pacific we may build, no matte
what material prosperity we may
attain, if we fail to secure justice tt
all men in the land, then we neglec
the opportunity Heaven has otfere'
us, we dishonor our name, outrage,
the God who has watched so kindl,
over us, and the blood of our mar
ryrs has been shed in vain. GPro
longed applause
sSg 1t is reported that Baron Gre
olt, Prussian Minister, and Secletar
Seward are at present engaged FRI
ming treaty between the Unite
States and Prussia for the benefit {
emigrants coming here from tha
part of Europe. 1t is proposed t
station in New York a Prussia
agent, who, in conjunction with
designated officer of this Govern
ment, and in correspondence with
board of commissioners, shall pro
toct the interests of &usslan sui