The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-09-21
HON. ]. r. DCOLlTTLE AT JAMES.
WILLIE.

Fenow-citizens the war for four
long years went on The Union and The constr,
tuition tr:Hmphed, and slavery wen uoHil, nv
believe speak the sentiment of every man that
hears me- Democrat or Republican, now that the
bloody strug lie is over, when gay thAt lhauh
God slavery Is gone. and gone forever. we al
wsxs hated slavery in ever, form; we only Ter
ated fl 10 other states aad among otn7r peoples
because we believed the Constitution, a. IL was
made allowed each State for itself 10 regulate Its
own domestic institutions IN It's own way ana we
respected the rights Of the States uCder the Con
stitntion as the basis of Union, even wheh IN 'ner
exercise they did what We would not 90 III on!
own -tates But since slavery has been the cAuEe
ana the occasion of this dreadful war, we now
sincerely rejoice that the CONSTITUTION mas pen e
amended ; : 8. 10 abolish slavery forever IN all the
States and Territories OF the United states. LGeat
cheers
Fellow citizens. as said four years had passed.
In the fan Of 1875 [ was again invited 10 appear
by & neral Sherman How changed the scese
The war was then over. ThreefOurths OF NIL
lion of veteran soldiers had returned to ther
peaceful homes The South lad everywhere sur
rendered Not on armed soldier, not q guerrilla
band was TO De found anywhere in the mountains
or forest, but with all, and everywhere, peace.
blessed peace had come / had lately come up
from the Convention of the Union party al Madl-
son-tRe mon party as II was then cAiled-"hcA
first nominated General Eairchlld for Governor;
the same party which. in 1867. nominated MI.
Lewis for g Jvernor and General Fairchild as Sec
Rotary OF state-Gn.er call inviting Democrats
an Republicans, without distinction OF party.
You all remember the very basis upon which the
Union party Of Wisconsin was formed and Mr..
Lewis and General Eairchild were nominated. IL
was contained in the following words:
"Res0irsi That the Convention presents the
names Of the per ons nominated ss MON men ana
not as partis ans; men Of wellknOwn and we'll
tried loyalty 10 the Union and the Constitution,
without relere4 TO their political antecedents;
ard ask all the loyal electors of Wisconsin 10
give then their support, without distinction OF
party
yited >. all who approve OF Inc following PROPOSE
tons
rnat the Union be preserved in its integrity.
THAT The Cons tuition and laws of the United
States be enforced throughout the Who4e national
domain.
That the rebellion be suppressed, not by CON-
promise with, concessions 10 traitors, but by the
sword, whose agency they have themselves in
Voked.
heartily ana generously supported In lie efforts 10
put down the rebellion"
There and these only. were made the funda-
mental articles OF the political creed OF the Union
party of Wisconsin, ana upon that basis Demo
Gratis and Republicans were invited to join in po-
litical action in the fall OF Is - and in that Con
yention, side by size, the leaders of both parties
holding the ideas met upon terms of perfect
equality. To demonstrate its entire good fe tn TO
the Democracy Of the State, the Convention named
the young and gallant General FaIrchlld az Secre-
fary OF state. Although d lifelong Democrat his
nomination was made b7 acClamatiOn, am when
he appeared and accepted it a. a Union Democrat
there never was more joyous gush OF patriotic
feeling than burst from that Convention. Cheers
upon cheers arose, sGCh as only rise from VIC
IS won Every bosom swelled with JOY and eAul-
tatiOn and tears bathed the cheeks OF many whose
heads were gray with age / had the honor OF
being one Of the committee 10 present him to the
Convention.
Upon that basis, and upon nominations thus
made, and accepted, the Union party victOri-
Gus in Wisconsin, AID held its power until the
meeting Of thai celebrated Convention at Madison
IN 1,61, Of which am about to speak, ST which
Gen Eairchd was first nominated for Governor
In the same manner. The scene was changed.
The Conyt ntion Of 1853 was in the darkest period
q me var when ~ IN power ieit We ak and
needed help. The Convention Of 1868 found the
llon party strong, aud proud OF it, strength.
The war was then over. That party was e.ery
where victorious The SCI essiOLis' Of the SOufh
were conquered by arms and almost all Of the
States Of the North were held 10y overwhelmi.
mgjorites.
The Union party-for that was the name it bore,
and q; which it boastcd-was ali powerful, every
where victorious il arms. and victorious at the
polls, md IN this Sta G it had an Overwhelming
majority. Its hour of triul and temptation had
come From the first battle OF Ball nun TO the
end of the war it had pledged Itself again and
again to the eople of the south if they would
lay dOwa their arms ana obey the Constitution and
laws, they should be restored to all their rights
States aud citizens. That pledge given at
their SURF nder at Appomatto1 This pledge was
made over and over again to tie Democracy of me
North, that if they would only enlist, and send
their sons aud brothers to the field to help conquer
me rebellion, that all that would be requi ed OF
the States aud people of the south obedience
to the Constitution and laws, and loyalty TO the
hag of the Union. pom this pledge the DemUC-
raCy had acted. This was the very basis upon
which the Union party Of this State was formed in
1Nb3, the most trying hour of the war, and upon
which Mr.. Lewis and Gen. Fairchild were eecied,
nominated for Governor at the Convention ~
Madison, rom which had jast come TO address
you, III lists.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
Let me call yours ecial attention to the action
OF that Convention, IN that the first attempt WAS
made to insert in the creed of the Union party il
Wisconsin the new article of negro suffrage.
II was then proposed also as a part of the plat
#llp [r4Hn 81, 4
admitted TO representation in Congress without
universal negro suitragC--the same proposition
which Senator sumner made in the Senate in Feb
ruary, lS75, and upon which he coald then obtain
but six republican votes, while : naJOr Hrumbull,
who opposed ii, ~ the representative of Mr. Iiu-
coins administration. d more thal twenty Re
publican and all the Democratic votes Of the Sen
ate solid against it.
on motion Of Mr. Cover. of Grant County this
new article of faith laid the table by nearly
two-,hird maj bTity Of the Convention. Having
sustained Mr.. Covers motion. came in for a full
share OF the responsibility Indeed the Rad cal
press ~ once charged upon me the whole respOn-
siDilliy, and from that hour they have not ceased
10 denounce me as traitor to the Union party
Tfat r 70 what: Traitor in what? Four-frths of
the party in the Senate and two thirds in the Wis
COnsin Convention voted with me-
here Il no man whose sober second Thought
does not now tell him that it W that very thing
an that alone, which saved the Union party from
defeat nj that election for negro suffrage for this
STATE was voted dowL at the same election by
very large majority.
Bat the clamof a~ainst nc became fierce be.
yond precedent; and N my who believed lust Is
did not wishing to be subjected To such violence
and abuse, shrank from the conflict and raated
with the current Iou all know now strour the
temptation and how easy il is 10 do that Ynu
know how hsrd il Is md how much it cos 10 re-
sist II. Men often yield in high places. have
had senators, after giving full utierance to nv
views, come to me on the floor Of the Senate
grasp me warmly by the hand. and say: ~ be-
Ieve every word you Is true. but the people of
my state are so radical l dare not say it!'' When
Senators of the lrited States i'll yield and shrink
from the expression Of their honest opinion upon
puohc al ms, Is y strange thing that men in pri-
waite If should shrink also. to avoid deuluci1finn
Tor daring To differ from fOrme- political soCatesy
and that members of legislature. under the lash
OF party excitement, should instruct Senator to
resign:
THIS PARTY LASH
In theory every American maintains the doc
fFIne thar every good citizen Is hound 10 follow
t4t dictates OF MS own conscience; to follow prn-
ciples rather than party; that the very purpose Of
n political party l. TO advocate certain principles
or reforms IN government. and 70 nominate and TO
eject men who will carry them INTO effect; and
that Senator l. sworn TO obey the Constitution
and not the changing creed OF political party.
While this Is very nice theory, and il is but the
exercise of the sacred rights and liberties of the
citizen freely to judge and 10 with the political
party which adopts and advocates his principles
i ne undertakes To practice it, what clamor what
denuuciation meets him on every hand: The
tyranny snd lash of caucus and Federal dic'ation
make slaves of too many in our country who boast
of being freemen \ man may change his
opinion, as have heard hundre s of men who
formerly said they favored protective tariff now
their opinions are changed. WHY should NOT such
men, who nav honestly changed their opinions
feel al liberty 10 change theiryotcs without being
subject ? ridcule and denUnciatiou; why should
not every man who claims TO be free citizen in
stead OF deaOunctns, respect the right of every
. her freely 90 judge and to act for himself. I
know not how Others may feel. but for myself |
would rather surrender my life than 10 surrender
my freedom TO think, Judge, speak and act ont the
convictions OF my soul either IN lis relations 10
me creator. which = religion, or 10 my fellow
men, Mhe9' n one word; Is politics. There are,
nave no douht more than thousand Repuhli-
cans IN Rock County who agree more nearly with
the platform adopted by the Democratic C6nven-
non than tue one adopted by the Federal Officers
Convention which placed Gen. WashOurn in noni-
nation. There are more thau thousand Republi-
cans IN this county who, in all their sympathis are
more in favor of the doctrines ofthe old Democra-
Metropolitan party of Jefferson, of Madison OF
Jackson, which the late Democratic Convention
reSfh med, than they are in favor OF the doctrines
81 the old or Of the new Federal party now in
power. There are more than q thousand Repub
means IN the county who, If true to their instincts
-and instincts are oftener true than resson-are
ready to trehuHe the Federal viii hsS-