Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-09-19
NJ. q. DENTS SPEECH AT THE
MINERAL co. CONVENTION.


ing resolution:
" "ResoiOed, Thaseur representative in Gons'
gFsss IN voting for the passage Of tho sos
called River aud Harbor Bill over tho Press,
idents veto, deserves hearty rebuke at the
hands Of his constituents" -
Mr. Dent then made the following ro>i
marks:
Ar. Chairman and Gentlemen of tie Con-
offer this resolution no. in the interest of
any candidate whose name may be presented,
to you for nomination, but for the purpose of
showing. to the American people that the
Democratic party is sincere in denouneinp
extravagance in the administration of tho
general government, aud that il will not be
held responsible for tho unauthorized acts of
those representatives whom it has been in
strumentsl in sending to she halls of Coo.
gress, to vindicate and carry out its policy,
but whose too ambitious desire for selection
has led them to desert the we'll founded, times
honored principles of their party. When we
selected our present representative, we gave
him creed by which he was to be guided.
and now that he returns to us for an eodbrse-
ment of his course, the question at. onee
arises, has he obeyed our instructions? Did
we send him there to barter away millions of
the peoples money for few paltry dollars in
return Did We send him thore to aid our
enemies in hanging a milestone around our
necks to drag us down in tho approaching
campaign of 1854? Did VIC send him there
to assist in furnishing the Republican partv
with the means to perpetuate their highly ex-
penslVe and pompous. rule over ourselves and
childrenH Can we return him to the hall of
Congress upon the platform now offered with
out consuming him for his breech of good
faith in not carrying out similar instructions
heretofore given? Is not now the timo, and
Is not this the place, we should rebuko him
rather thsn have ourselves rebuked by tho
people at tho polls2 Tho party that pro-
fesses ono thing and allows ita ropresen tatives
to practice the reverse, uncensured, deserves
no consideration ut the hands of tho people.
L am a-Democrnt from principle. not from OK
pedioncy. l believe Democratic principles
arc right and will eventually provo trium>
phant, but we must rid ourselves OF the latter
day doctrine of expedieuoy, stop following in
the wake of our opponents, for the few crumbs
they may let fall overheard, and fix ourselves
firmly upon the eternal principles of the groat
founders of our party. am asking no ofieo
from you, aud am hero in tho interest of no
candidate or subject to tho will OF NO caucus,
but have seen the Democratic masses COM
ing upto the polls in solid phAlnnx yoar after
year, only to meet defeat, because thcy arc
continually betrayed by their Representatives
in Congress, and despair has taken hold on
the usual reserve of my tongue and forced
me to open tho swelling indignation of my
heart at euch ingratitude.
We have condemned the Salary Grab, de-
nounced in unmeasurcd terms tho Credit
Mobclicr," held our hands up in holy horror
at the Star Route exposures, and shall we now
by our silence, allow our representative to
nlr,r, :.
what promises to be q bouDdless raid in tho
namo of law upon tho peoples troasury2
ii ave we, too, become 10 Indifferent to COR
Tuption that we arc ready to saDctify with our
votes and with our support. that principle of
unjust taxation which deEpoils the poople of
their hard earnings and divides it up among
the jobs and jobbers, cli9ues and rings that
surround the national Capitol under the pro-
tense of improving our Rivers and Harbors 7
Are wo going to continue to forge our own
chains, in spite of the warnings Ieft Us By our
illustrious predecessors, or are wc going 10
nobly assert our rights and demand that our
servants in tho administration of orr governs
ment shall return to the carly principles of
simplicity and economy, intended to bo oh,
served by its prudent and wiso projectors?
This resolution is before you, and you must
either sustain it or incur your own condem>
aud you turn your back upon your principles
for the base ruIo of expediency. Vote IL
down, and You endorse the beginning of n
wrong upon the American people beside which
Will fall into insiguifcsnce the corrupt doipgs
OF the Shepherds, the Babcocks and tho Dor
seys. Vote it down, aud you give respecta-
bIlIty to the De Golyer jobs, tho Credit Mo-
bllier bonds and the Star Route coptracts.-
II you ask me to denounce, as ] have do
nounoed, these iguoblc crimes of the past. .you
must join me in denouuciDg this open, present
violation of the peoples rights, let it st,ike
where 1t will, let IL injure whom i may
Tho President Of. the United States was psS
trIotic enough to forget the ties of party and
point ont and make pIsin the groAt injury thst
threatened the constitutional rights Of his
fellow-ci'izeDs, from the passage of This
Ubiquitous measure let us then be equally
rnagnanimous and patriotic, and place onr
veto by the side Of his veto. Oar record
must this day be made. Let it be an unas>
sailablo Democratic record, true to the many
pledges OF retTeuchmert- made by al DEM
ocratio conventions throughout the length and
breadth of the land
Recreant to our oft repeated vows. certain
and jgnomiuious defeat await US. Vote dovn
this resolution and I shall return to nv peo>
pie and tell them that the Democratic leaders
of the I'd Congressional District are still no.
tent with promises OF simplicity and economy.
but lacks the moral courage TO demand that
their representative shall carry them out in
good faith. Gentlemen, think well before
you act. Remember that your votes cannot
destroy this resolution, but that It viii meet
you face to face at every turn in the coming
contest.
Twenty YEARS G GnEGT SUT7saEa from Con-
stiPatIon: Had swallowed q haff-bushel of Pills.