The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-02-03
TnE DEMOCRATIC Panty.
An aulc0lled for Attack By Radical 'Sc1'a7.
tor, and Scathing reply-A record
Of Siuy Years compared nth
Record of Nine Years.

During the debate in the Senate on the
admission of Virginia, Mr.. Morrill,, OF
Vermont, made an attack on the Democ-
racy, to which Mr. Salisbury, of Della
ware, replied as follows:
Mr.. PREsrDENr The silence of the DEM
ocratie members of this body during this
debate has on several occasions met with
animadVersions on the other side. L, for
myself, sir, am tired of 1t. or rather, should
say, am tired of some things which con-
stantly, Notwithstanding our silence have
been said in reference to the party TO which
belong. There has not been single day
since this debate commenced that some per-
sons, very wise in their own conceits. have
not seen proper to speak in very disparaging
terms of the Democratic party. We have
heard to-day from one Senator that he has
more confidence in the people of Virginia
than he has in the Democratic party. do
not know what his confidence in the people
of Virginia is, but his remark evidently
was intended TO mean that there was not
much confidence TO be reposed either in the
people OF Virginia or in the Democratic
party. / am exceedingly sorry that that
Senator made that remark, showing his
want OF confidence in the two million DEM
ocrats in the United States.
Sir. when those two million Democrats
shall hear il, when the telegraph shall flash
that news to them, | am afraid they will be
terribly panied; | am afraid they Will weep
at the idea that confidence from so distin-
guished source cannot be accorded them
Sir it is time that such remarks had ceased
TO be made in the Senate of the United
States. especially when nothing is said on
our part 10 provoke them. Who cares for
the lack of confidence thus expressed P
Whom does it hurt: Mr.. President. when
the party to whom these Senators belong
have done as much to eXalt the character OF
this nation. to build it up, 10 make 1t respect
ed ut home and honored abroad. as the Dem
ocratic party have done for it, then IL Will be
time for them TO insist upon comparison
between their party and the Democratic
party.
Sir, the Democratic party took the man
agement of your country in hand when you
numbered but fifteen States and some five or
six million people. Every foot of territory
that has been added to the United States has
been added by Democratic administrations
Every foreign war that has been fought
heroically fought every triumph over a
foreign foe that has been achieved. has been
achieved under a Democratic administration
What has the Republican party Gone that
its advocates should taunt Democrats on this
floor with a want of fidelity to the country,
or that it should set itself up as the great
Judge of the Democratic party. its policy.
aud its administration of the country! A
brief existence of eight or nine years; q
land deluged in blood; almost every acre OF
your soil freshened with graves; debt
amounting TO billions of dollars; people
crushed to earth by onerous taxation, and
every safeguard of civil and constitutional
liberty set at defiance, ignored, and trampled
upon. These are its achievements.
You cannot look at the history Ofthe Dem
ocratic party and charge it with the viola
tiuns of the fundamental law of the land OF
which your party have been guilty. Du-
ring the period of sixty years that the Dem
ocratic party administered the affairs of this
Government it meyer arrested one-uo, moi
even the humblest American citizen, and
tried him on a criminal accusation, excep.
by due process of law. No mans house was
ever invaded. except under legal authority,
during the whole sixty years that the Dem
cratic party administered the Government
not one public press was suppressed. This
party of yesterday when they came ints
pc ser, found constitution under which
the people of this country had lived fol-
seVenty-five or eighty years in the enjoy
mert of all the blessings of civil and consti-
tutional liberty; they found this Constitu-
ton, made by the gaeat and wise men who
laid the foundations of your government
deep in the principles of constitutional liber-
ty, and without any experience in so great a
work they set to work patching it up. until
now, ii the great men who made il could rise
from the dead ordeseend from heaven, they
would scarcely recognize the instrument
they had made.
But, sir. | will not, unless further provok-
ed. indulge longerin this line of remark. 1t
is foreign, / admit, to the subject which
ought to be the legitimate subject under dis
cussion. L have only made these remarks
because, we in the minority of this cham
Der have heard denunciatiOns Ofthe party to
which it is our pride and our honor TO be-
long, by gentlemen on the other side of the
chamber. Sir, If blows hereafter are given.
blows shall be returned.