The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-05-13
For the Palladium.
SENATOR MORTON'S SPEECH.
DOES HE MEAN IT..


Mr.. EpIroR In your paper of April oath,
the following extract from Senator Mortons
speech at indianapolis few day ago, is sug-
gestiVe Of several constructions, and permit
ma to ask the rational, unimpa ssionea con-
siderition Of the sentiment contained in
Tat paragraph. He SAYS, "The missio, of
the Republican party has not been PER form.
co. nd VIII not be performed, until liberty
and equal rights, and the blessings of peace,
have been restored and gu aranteed to all the
people of this country, and believe to save
this country"
Now, Mr.. Editor, that is beautiful senti-
nient, but does he mean it-does Senator
Morton really believe tina. the Mission of the
republican party is to carry the blessing of
liberty aud equal rights to all the people, and
does lie throw the weight of his influence.
and Political power, in favor OF equal rights
for all the taxpayers of the country? Does
he use the pc wer vested in him, as a T. s.
Senat tor, to bring abou the exercise of equal
rights for all the people, or if he has not
cone so IN the past, are we to take that
speech as an earn est of new star. in his
political actions, and shall we find him in the
future, fearlessly advocating equal rights for
all. We have often read a document put
forth nearly one hundred years ago. "stating
all men arc born free and equal, nd are en-
lowed by their Creator with certain iralien-
able rights, among which, are life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness notwith-
standing that sentiment was adopted as the
embodiment of the principles of the Amer
lean people, for series of years American
citizens, W ent on yearly riviting the chains
of slavery on the helpless victims, because
they had the power to do so, and every re-
turn Of the Nations birth day. all over the
country was reiterated the sentiment of the
declaration of American lnde pendence, the
universal freedom of the race, as natures
birth right, while all the time 'the chains
were grinding DEEPER in the quivering fe sh
of the slaves, until this "fre est nation of
the world" was held by-word among the
nations who were looking on, and when the
inconsistent y could no longer be tolerated,
by an overulipg Providence, there came the
struggle, and The yoke of chattle slavery
rejoice that America, can in truth be called
the 'ho me of the free.'' But the work is not
yet done, the Republican party has yet an
other test Of its principles of "libelty and
equal rights for ALL" Only one half of the
race formerly in chattle slavery, is really en-
franchised, in the true sense of the term
while in common with white women tax
payers, they are annually robbed, of their
hard earnings without voice in the gov
eminent, and Senator Morton is not the only
man that lauds the Republican patty in this
matter. Hon Schuyler Colfax in his speech
IN Richmond last summer, done the same
thing, and Senator Revels, also, glorified the
Republican party to the skies for his own
freedom, when. at the time in the sound of
his voice were scores of women of his own
color, who in point of political rights were
as virtually slaves they were before the
war OF the rebellion, and many of those wo-
men quite as intelligent on the great ques-
tons of the day as the men Tho voted a short
time before. The time has come W hen gilt
tering generalities and rhetorical lorishes.
vii not take in the place o. the practical am
Publications. of the principles of liberty and
equality, that is the natural outsrowth of
the advocacy of their principles, and even
the politicians and states men in high places,
many sound the trumpet OF either of the ex-
listing political parties, and their sdherents
join in the eulogy, yet the thinking people,
(and they are the ones who move masses 4;
the end), are looking to the statues Of every
man, who holds place and power in the gov
eminent, aud if the speeches on the Repub-
hcan platform really mean to make the mis-
sion of that party, to guara ntee the blessing
OF peace, and the enjoyment of ''liberty and
equal rights" to all the inhabitants that
taxation without representation is tyranny
now, as it was in 1875. And that it will be
made the instrument of protection to every
man and woman, in the exercise OF these
rights of citizenship, based on their human
ity. Then all hail to the party and the right
hand of fellow ship to its leaders But, il not,
the party is doomed, and all the har rangues
OF its friends can't save it, 1t " i'll be its de-
stroyer. NJ
RICHMOND, May LIST, 1871.