Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1869-04-15


very oftAn that be speaks, nor i bis ora
tory Of choicest, bat he has giren S.
Teral very marked Illustrations Of al az J
tendency to disturb the sqnsnimi.y Of his
Radical colleagues and rufIls the self com
placsncy. which seems in these latter days,
to be 8 distinctive Senatorial attribute. by
tbs utterancs e aEk ward truths 1t very
inappfoprists moments. Somstime ago
rs presented his views upon the questions
Of haancs and reconstruction. and demon
ssra.ed to the satisfaction Of all business
men, If not TO the conviction Of Senator'S.
that the misgovernmeut Of the Southern
States, the repression Of their Industry
and the obstseles opposed by Congress 70
the restoration oftheir PROSPERITY, were
the real sources ST the existing financial
en- ADVERTISEMENTS and uncer.ain.ies. Scesk-
ing frem business point Of view, as a
nsnufacturer and capitalist who bad large
interests, both at the North and the South
II was not strange that his conclusions
startled the politicians and par.isans who.
to use his own expression. sacrifice the
welfare of the people to build up theln-
serests Of party. To this speech, We be-
lleve, no answer was vouchsased At the
time and ful6lment of it's predictions
has made reply to it now impossible
During the discussion of last week upon
the ss=6sI0gics Is " ais 81 aas.tsSSas2 81 g.
fell from the lips of the Rhode Island
Senator, still more decided and start
! ling, because of its bold and defiant ar
rsignment Of the legislation Of the coun-
| try.
''In our late war" said Mr.. Sprague.
"'there WAS not ono virtuous or high-ton-
ed principle snimating the contestants 1t
was nothing but struggle for place and
power commenced here in this body, and
psrmesting throughout the country" And
referring to the usurpations of the Senate
! during the last six years, be added So
concentrated were its power sni Influence,
that | would rather lave stormed triple
line of 5ayonets or park Of artillery in
full play than to have stood up here and
opposed any of the measures of the ma
jority, bounded and hunted down. It is
not strange that theme thus touched grew
upon bis hands From the beginning of
the war, throughout its whole conduct
and thence tracing the course Of Congress
sioual legislation since its termination, he
proceeded to point out the utter want of
wise and patriotic statssmsnship. the sell
fish and partisan influences which have
controlled all legislation, the absence of
Intelligent regard for the prosperity Of
the people, and the distinctly indicated
disposition to sacrifice every interest relat-
ing to their permanent welfare, to the at
tsnment Of mere purposes of psrtv.
We DO rot propose to make further
quotations from this speech. Ii possesses
the value which belongs to every utter
ance Of truth it is entitled to the respect
which is due to honest sentiments boldly
expressed and it loses none Of its effsot
because no one Of those whom it has So
severely criticised has attempted to break
its force by controyerting its positions or
DENYING It's conclusions But its princi-
pal value consists in It's confessions. Mr.
Sprsgue is Radical Senator from New
England State He belongs to the party
which he condemns. He occupies seat
in the body which he arraigns. He is
one of ~ overwhelming majority in the
Congress which he proclaims to b. 'en-
tirely deficient in the. qualities which can
secure wise legislation. He has been
familiar with It's secret councils ana eau
Gus 2, and has united in the execution Of
their edicts by the formal cnactmeats Of
statues to give them force and effect
Testimony like this cannot be impsached;
and the Judgment which thoughtful men
have long since formed Of the weakness,
tyranny and incomp tenoy of the party
that Expresses and degrad4s the country
is s.rengt ened. and sustained BY the de-
liberate statements it presents.
The fact is, wha! we hsye been in the
habit Of designating as American states
lnanship has been for many years pre-
tence and delusion. The mere routine Of
legislation or the administration or gov
ernmeut according to established rules and
precedents, call forth none Of these high
qualities which belong to the true states
man. 1t is his to deal with the sudden
and startling exigencies Of government
exgenoies which demand the highest wis
dom. the purest patriotism, and that con-
seientious appreciation OF the demands of
| public duty which subordina;cs every per
sonal or party consideration to the general!
! welfare of the people Tried By such
tests, where shall we look for statesman
ship at the present day ? Do we find i.
! in Senate which has devoted every en-
ergv to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of its own
power?- In House Of Representatives
which stiles debate, brooks no opposition,
and records with not haste the secret de-
crees of an irresponsible caucus In an
Administration whose efforts are devoted
to the distribution ofpubl.c patronage and
the bestovsl Of partisan rewards ? Is It
/ shown in the condition Of the so-callei re-
constructed States OF the South Is tito
/ be traced in Virginia, where every legal
| tribunal is closed, and the ermine Stripe
/ from the shoulders of every Judge? In
/ Tennessee and Arkansas, where the petu-
Tant edtct of usurp;ng authority has placed
! the peosts under the iron rule of martial
/ law, and hsrried whole counties with ire
and swords In North Carolina and Geor-
gia, where oppressive taxation has ground
down overv interest. only to supply the
grssping demands Of peculating officials =!
But why multiply examples Ia every
relstion which Govern ent bears 10 socle-
", in every duty which it is daily called
upon to perform, in every obligation IN
| posed upon il bv domestic necessities or
foreign complications, who will gravely
claim for it the guidance snd control OF
+ wise. dignifed. conscientious aud respon-
sihls gts.esmgnship--The sts@esnar.