The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-01-10

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it seems to me, or the alleged deserters
if ''scalp those who do not march wit
perfect fidelity at the command of th
President of the United States" be th
order Of the day, why is it that the Sen,
tor from Massachusetts alone is assault
ed, and all those who concurred wit
him in opposing the ratification Of tn
treaty and now concur with him in or
position to this resolution, members c
the Republican party, Republican Sens
tors, are left without assault, and ths
no scalp of theirs is taken from thei
heads?
1 must say that it does not seem t
me that these assaults made upon th
Senator from Massachusetts can be, cor
fined to him alone. 1t does not seem t
me that the country will so consider it
If the result of this discussion and Q
the vote on this resolution is to be til
condemnation of Charles Sumner, it
to be the condemnation of score o
Republicans who stand by his side in thi
controversy. If you are ready to shoe
the deserters, or if you are ready to ex
pei them from your ranks, gentlemen,dc
it as soon as you please. Your part,
has opened wide arms to deserters from
the Democratic party; you have looket
no gift horses in the mouth you hav
taken everything that came, whether halt
lame, or blind. So
Perhaps we may be as charitable Il
you, laughter, and when you begil
that expulsion which seems to be the or
der of .he day and inaugurated to nigh
I believe we shall not put you upon too
much penance if we only have some rea
son to hope that you will train will
some little degree of fidelity In the Dem
ocratic ranks.
But again, Mr.. President, the Senator
from New York closed his argumen
with giving US the benefit of the stumI
speech he would make when this ques
ton came before the great forum, ths
people. He recognizes that this discus
sion even here is scarcely for the Senate
but for the country, and with a magma
nimity which cannot be sufficiently ad
mired, like lawyer who has the opening
of the case, he told us here who are op.
posed to the annexation, what would bt
his speech to the people when he wen
before them; and pray what was
itP Why, that he would 60 back to the
good old Democratic doctrine Of acqui
sition Of territory; that not only would
he shoulder that, not only would he takt
up the doctrine which acquired Louisi
ana and Texas, but he would even stand
upon the famous Ostend manifesto, and
with that before the people he would
carry the flag of acquisition to trium-
plant result. All, l do'not wonder al
that! Whenever you want to get good
ground to stand on you have to 60 back
and find some old Democratic doctrine
You cannot find it anywhere else, But
when you do that you are wholly regard
less of your own antecedents. 1t does
not matter that you will be reproached
with the fact that you opposed the an.
nexation of Texas; it does not matter
That your burning words Of condemna-
ton of that ''piratical manifesto as you
called it, concocted by Buchanan and
5lidelI, are still ringing in the ears Of
some credulous people, who then believ.
ed you lit does not matter that the Dem
ocratic party was the subject of your un.
ceasing denunciation in those days; you
can afford to ignore your record and
lake the stand which YOU tlien denounc-
I'd, if that is one winch will give you vic
,ory in the coming contest. Imust say,
Mr.. President, that it may be extremely
,killful, and it may be very foolish
hing in politician to plume himself on
anything like consistency ;but yet / new
,r before heard a man get up and boast
If his inconsistency.
Mr.. Conkling-Will the honorable
Senator allow me momentf
Mr.. Thurman-Ce Certainly.
Mr.. Conkling-Did he understand me
% adopt or approve, in any sense, the
doctrine of the Ostend manifesto?
Mr.. Thurman-Most assuredly 1 did.
It may be did not hear very well, but !
did so understand the Senator.
Mr.. Conkling-I must have been very
in expressing myself, and
low, if my honorable friend will allow
ne
Mr.. Thurman-If a gentleman takes it
back never will force on him what he
llsavows.
Mr.. Conkling-Now, sir, whenever I
wish to take anything back l Will ask
permission of my friend.
Mr.. Thurman-I did not use that re-
mark in any offensive sense. II the SEN
ltor says he did not mean what / impu-
ed to him. that is sufficient.
Mr.. Conkling-But if my honorable
rlend will allow me, l will state as nearly
IS can, and as l did state before, my
position. / said that we would join issue
lpon the question Of honest acquisition
or fair price with those who few
,ears ago advocated the application of
he Rob Roy doctrine; that might makes
light; for the purpose of stealing this
,ame island, and l beg to add that, for
,ne, disapprove now as much as ever
lid, the piracy, the lawlessness, and the
of the doctrine which the
Democratic party and its representatives
held on that question at that day.
Mr.. urman-Mr President, the
Senator from New York, who always
speaks with SO much deliberation and SO
much decision was extremely unfortu-
nate tonight, for | am quite sure that
40 one who heard him interpreted his
remarks as lie now interprets them him
self. But, as / said before, whenever q
gentleman says to me, my meaning
was this, whatever my language was;" ]
accep: that. / hold it to be Unworthy oi
any man to take advantage of mere
slip of the tongue or the hasty speaking
Of another to impose upon him a mean
ing that he does not approve. That is
sufficient for that.
Now, Mr.. President ore thing more
The Senator from New York recolleetine
that forum in which he is distinguished
light, and most deservedly so, could moi
help likening this thing to criminal tri
al in which the Senator from Massachu'