Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-02-05
Senator Carpenters Speech of Aceep-
lance.


Legislature:
| am profoundly sensible Of, and CRATE,
full for the honor you have conferred up
on me, by this election to the United
States Senate for six years.-After the
excitement and personalities Of the can
vass Just passed, | feel nothing but the
responsibilities and difficulties of the 20
sition 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 conferred.
(AppIause.) .4.t
This office, always one of immense
responsibility, at the presen. time, when,
with the smile Of God, we have just
emerged from a fearful civil war, which
for four years shook the foundations and
menAced the existence of the Govern
ment, involves duties more arduous and
difficult than usual. We have an i'm
mense public debt, and there are a thou,
sand questions growing out of it, as yet
but little discussed, which present new
and untried fields for craftsmanship. |
have not tho vanity to suppose that | can
discharge my duties at all times without
mistakes and blunders; but whatever I'm
firing industry and uprightness of pur-
pose can accomplish, shall certainly
perform for you in the halls of our ma
tional legislature. (Applause.)
The tariff and the various questions
concerning our national finances will
probably eng ross the attention of Con-
grcss for the next twenty years. De-
tails must be settled by the combined
wisdom of the dominent party in Con
gress; and keeping 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 continu
lug favor of Divine Providence; cutiva-
ting our vast resources of agricultural
and mineral wealth; with the enterprise
and energy of young and free people,
all ViH be aceH.
The great idea upon which our gov
eminent was founded was the equality of
man, bis rights as man and because a
man, without distinctions of birthplace,
nationality, race, rank or color. There
can be no concrete, practical thing until
it bis first been conceived in the mind Of
God or man. There can be no locomo-
tive until some mechanic has conceived
the idea Of locomotive; there can be
no work of art, no statue of grace and
beauty until the artist has fully conceived
the beauty he wishes to represent. So
with government. 1t must first exist in
the mind of the statesman the be reduced
to practice.
Our government was the creation Of
man, and partook Of the infirmity which
attends al mans work. The wonder
now is, after eighty years of practical
operation, not that our constitution has
defects, but that it has answered the ends
of its creation as we'll as it has. The
| fundamental error was tie attempted
compromise between right and wrong,
justice and.injustice, liberty and slavery; as
impossible as a compromise between fire
and water. 1t was unavoidable that the
two distinct civilizations existing in the
country should produce conflict; aud the
result was inevitable that the whole
should become slave or free. Applause.
No prudence or sagacity could have
much longer averted the crisis. 1t came,
aud thank God it has passed; and we
are now at liberty to return to the first
principles upon which the government
was founded, and secure for all time
the absolute equality of all men. APP
plause.
The great idea kept steadily in view,
will lead us as the pole star guides the
mariner amid tcmpests and over danger
Gus seas, to the harbor of peace and
prosperity. Ii we now lose sight of
this, however wisely financial questions
may be settled. no matter how many
railroads to the Pacific wc may build,
no matter what material prosperity we.
NAV attain, if We fail to secure justice TO
all men in the land, then we neglect the
opportunity Heaven has offered us, we
dishonor our name, outrage the God
who has watched so kindly over us, and
the blood If our martyrs has been she'd
IN vain. Prolvuged-applause