Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-10-25
Reported for the journal.
EXTRACTS
FROM TIE SPEECH OF HON
Il. M. U'ADDELL,I IN COLUMBTTS
COUNTY, OCTOBER 10, 1872.

After some remarks in regard TO lOca
matters and the Congressional election in
August, and after abiding to the singular
condition of the politics of the
| country-a life-loRg Democrat leading the
Radicals, and a lifelong Republican lead
ing the Democrats Waddell said
there was moral sublimity in the action
! of the three million of Democrats who
sacrificed their pride and prejudice in ac-
cepting Horace Greeley as their candidate,
which was unparalleled in the history Of
our politics, and that similar act of moral
! heroism, i'll less degree, was exhibited by
| those Republicans who had abandoned Il
| in rtscuing the government from the dan
! gers which menaced it, and then proceeded
as follows:
FcLiO,o citizens: The present aGministra-
| ton has so utterly failed in its duty, there
are so many reasons for its condemnation
| that, in discussing it before an intelligent
audience, one is embarrassed by the very
abundance of material at hand. There IS
! not single Department of the Government
| whose operations have not been character
lied either 10y corruption, Illegally or in
/
Constitution, the Fundamental! law under
which we are supposed to live, the great
charter by virtue Of which the government
exists, l do not, in the least, exagncrate
when L say that al appeal to it by the
opponents OF the party in power is generally
met by a sneer of derisiOn. | have Wit
messed such a scene myself more than once
in the House Of Representatives. The
restraining authority of that instrument
| 10, Il = II
Il use the words purpOsely) as a sort of
traditional fiction which has come down to
us from former age. ike some Of the fic-
tiOns OF tue English Common law, and
which is not to be allowed to stand in the
way OF their modern prOgress-the progress
i'll each case to be judged necessary and
measured by the eXigencies Of the party, or
the ambition or cupidity Of an Individual.
begin my discussion with the Inaugural
ton of the President. He entered upon
his duties with that uttcrance 50 pleasant
to the people of this war-w asted land, "Let
us have peace, and to-day, after nearly
four Yeas of his administration, the lead
ing men of the party which elected him
the brain and heart of that party-are
earnestly appealing to the American peo-
pie to remove him from the Presidency,
because, among other offences, he has
Waged quasi war upon a portion of the
people and stands today before the coun-
try as the representative Of the party of
hate and discord.
He declared at the outset that he would
have no policy to enforce against the will
OF the people, thereby proclaiminc in adj
vance his intention to make his admins
tratlOn striking contrast to what he sup
posed Andrew JohnsOn's administration
was regarded, and thus giving a final kick
to. that hated predecessor, and vet in the
face not only Of a decided public opinion, |
but in open defiance of the Senate he I'M |
dertook and persistently prosecuted with |,
an imperial air the San Domingo "job,'' as
it Is termed, one of the most fragrant viola .
lions of the Constitution, and one of tile !
grossest usurpations of the war-power of /
this government ever perpetrated. He de-
clared IN his inaugural address, with a
never before expressed, and
which shocked all sense of proprietv and
shook all faith in his competency, that he
assumed the immense responsibilities of the
Presidential office without the least mis-
giVlngs and one of his verJ first acts was
70 appoint A. L. Stewart, one Of his bene-
factors, Secretary of the Treasury, in yio-
lation OF the law, and, when informed of
bis mistake, deliberately asked Congress to
repeal the law which stood between him
and his wishes.
His whole conduct shows that be was
IN earnest in his declaration and did actu.
ally assume his duties with sublime conf
ience in himself, but with very little in
he laws or in anybody else. He seemed
20 think his election to the Presidency but
another step in the line of regular promo
ion, and he confidently assumed com
nand, expecting to manage the civil affairs
II forty millions of people upon military
principles, which were the only principles
II government with which he was ac ,
Iuainted.
He has never abandoned that idea and !
Gems incapable of understanding how any :
ther can be made successful. His agent ]
q negotiating the San Domingo treaty {
lgned his name with the title >"Aid-de- ,
amp TO the President Of the United !
tates," title and Office unknown either +
the laws or usages of this country; and t
or the first time in our history, we see a G
Military family around the President, q
hrough whom he is communicated with,