The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-10-17
SENATOR CHRISTI
AMCY At LANSING.

ANcY AT LANSING.
The Lansing Republican condense
the able spcech Of Mr.. Christyancy, do
livered at that place September 10th
and We take its abstract Of q portion o.
the able argument;
Party is only q means 10 an end. and
not to be supported for its own sake
When supported for the promotion OF
the selfsh interests of mere politicians
its purpose is perverted. have never
been partisan. but have advocated
the measures and men Of either az
seemed TO me just. No honest and in
telligent man can be supposed to APP
prove all the measures OF any political
party. Parties, like men, are imper-
feet. vr
Every philosopher, also, mast pro.
coed on the assumption that the great
masses OF all political parties are
equally honest and desirous OF the
public good, excepts a. influenced by
local or temporary causes or special in
terests; but the individuals aud rings
viii always bslfound ready TO make use
of party organizations for selfish pur-
poses. People cannot all think alike,
and parties ara therefore necessary TO
to the promotion Of measures. never
was strong partisan In early life, aud
eighteen years scolusion from political
life has rendered me still less q parti.
san. aa4 D 81 tan sff o..
EVENTS rREcHprSo THE wAR
Except a. TO slavery / more nearly
agree with the democrats on the old
issues, and acted with them. Slay-
cry always detested, aud l have
therefore been opposed to its extsn.
sion, while the Democratic party grad.
uslly went under the influences Of
souther slave holders aud the doctrines
OF Calhoun. They hrst apologiEed for
slavery, then advocated il for its own
sake. They even went 80 far ~ to en-
able sontherners TO hold slaves in
northern free ststeG Thus I saw that
all the northern states would ultimate
ly become slave states unless this in
fuence was met and overcome by
party OF freedom. Seeing no hope OF
the Democratic party Turning over TO
the cause Of freedom, left il in l8k8
and took part in the free-soil move
msnt at Buffalo. Other Democrats did
the same, but some Of them went back
into the party andostayed until it re-
pealed the Missouri compromise in
1854, whom they left It forever and
joined the Republican party. 1 took
no step backward. and was always con.
scientious in my advocacy Of political
principles aud measures. In 1854 i
took an active part formation OF the
Republican party. and have ever since
stood by IL
rHs REBELLION.
In 1850 the south abandoned Dong.
las, the nominee OF the northern De-
mocracy, for although he was the chief
instrument in the repeal Of the Mis-
souri, compromise, he was not willing
TO force slavery into the northwestern
territories. The south nominated an
other man, well knowing that their
course would divide the Democratic
party and elect Lincoln. in which case
their purpose was 10 destroy the Union.
They undertook il, and the conse-
quences are fresh 10 our recollection.
CONDUCT oF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
A more wanton. unprovoked, and
wicked war thau this was on the part
OF the south, as il seems to me (though
they may have honestly believed other.
wise), never was forced upon sny conn
try in the history Of mankind; and
while the Republicans rushed forward
to crush the rebellios, the masses Of
the Democratic party helped them,
leaving their old leaders at home, who
for the time we're awed into silence by
this action Of the larger and more con-
scientious element sf their party.
Their trade had always been politics,
10 enjoy "the thrift that follows fawn-
ing" and they then had TO work upon
the baser classes OF their party who
did not sympathize with tho govern
ment in putting down the rebellion,
aud thus they worked up o compara-
lively new party, which was almost
unanimous in opposing the war aud the
measures OF reconstruction. They
we're jubilant at every defeat 81 our
armies, despondent at our victories,
and continually crooked ~ our ears
that tho south conla MS. l. conquer
ed, that We had better nIiIdraw our
armies and make pence, etc In Cana
da they conducted terms of comprom-
Use, and oil along the lines they kept
the rebels posted ss 10 the movements
Of our armies, and did their utmost 10
cripple the government in its efforts TO
save the nation.
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION OF 1854
The south took much interest in the
presidential election Of lS64-even
more, perhaps, than We in the north.
IL the Republicans should succeed in
the election. they knew their confod-
eracy would be ended; IL the Demo
Gratis should succeed, they could make
peace on their own terms. The Demo
cratic convention met At Chicago aud
adopted q platform which Was little
else than a concentrated, vindictive
growl at the administration of Mr.
Lincoln for having even entered upon
the war, aud ID declared that war had
proved q failure. In this convention
Mr.. Samuel J. Tilden participated, aud
stated that the entire committee we're
agreed on the principles Of the resoln-
tions; but the better portion OF their
party repudiated this platform aud
voted for Lincoln, who Was elected,
and the old leaders had again TO re-
lapse into silence and digest the venom
of their spleen as well as they could.
A similar effort was made in 1863, to
elect Seymour. a persistent opponent
OF the war, but they failed as signally
as they had in 1854
THE WORK OF RECONSTRUCTION.
Although our government showed
unprecedented leRiency toward the
rebels OF the south, they sulkily stood
aloof In several states aud took no part
in the work of reconstruction. The
| less influential classes had 10 be EN-.
ployed in that work, and many indi-
viduals among them, as might have
been expected, turned out 10 be dis
honest asd reckless. Thss great in
iury resulted both to the states and TO
the union.
The ooSsrTruTfosAL AMENDMENT.
Slavery went down with the confed.
n = n