Year: 1876




The following extracts from thc re.


cent re rly of Senator Bayard, of Della.


ware, breathes the spirit of a genuine


manhood and exempli6es the true


nobility of human character j


Mr.. Bayard- Mr.. President. / did


not catch all that the Senator from


Massachusetts, said. In regard to nv
political associations, that is q matter
in which opinions may lead us sadly
astray, in which man is neither the
worse nor the better for the opinions
which he honestly holds. One evil Of
our times has seemed TO me in con-
demning or praising men for the ac-
cident of their opinion. Their person
al character, the degree of respect to
which they are entitled, certainly does
not depend upon the result of their
mental organism or the objects which
may affect their opinions. remem-
Der very well that when I first came
into this chamber j was one of mi
nority of about eight men. Then, as
now, / was on what is believed to be
the weaker side-a side which the
calmer Judgment and growing gene
rosity of this country towards the
South is gradually making a stronger
side-a side which, / trust, for the
safety of the whole, country, will in
November next be destined to be the
strongest side; but whether it is or no,
the issue is not with US. and it is for
each man to do that which he thinks
is right in bringing it about.


L lave esteemed men most highly
who differed with me entirely in
opinion. / remember well, upon my
first coming into this body, that said
to gentleman exceedingly violent in
ais proscriptive feeling towards the
Southern people, but for whose per-
sonal character had the highest re-
spect, How strange it seems to me to
hear you speak and vote as often as
you do in the Senate, when if your
home had been but few hundred |
miles south of where it was you prob
ably would have been Just as violent
on the other side, just as positive
rebel, as you call it, as you were
Union man" That gentleman was
the late Mr.. Jacob M. Howard; and l |
remember perfectly well his entire as
sent, saying he really belived in his
heart it was so. Is it possible that at
this stage of the worlds history men
are to be condemned, vilifed. abused,
because of their honest political or
other opinions 1t seems to me very
and miserable con-
dition of affairs if such things should
be. | do not believe that such course
is at all in consonance with the temper
or the wishes of the American people,
who, like all great people, are gener-
GUS people. They do forgive, except
where they believe that meanness, hy-
pocrisy, untruth and dishonor have
stained the character of a man. When
that is so, they are justified in with
holding from him their confidence. /
am glad in speaking now of the coming
month of November that there is somc
question of personal character to enter
into this contest that the people of
this country will insist that man shall
not be the mere figure-head of party,
With its name stamped upon his fore
head; but they will look below the
badge, and they will see whether the
man who bears it is consistent man,
speaking his conscientious sentiments I
% victory or defeat, standing by his ;
principles whether they are to lead
him into minorities or into majorities.
These are to me the tests and, there
1ore, so far from having to beware of !
he month of November, from my heart ,
welcome it. The day cannot come |
90 soon when the people of the coun- ,
ry shall decide on which side is the
light or wrong, the true love of coun-
.ry, the true patriotism, in this country.
believe there is an instinct of self
that will show the people
,fGhis country whom to trust and whom
lot to trust. / believe in that, and /
therefore it is that / approach that
,ontest without fear.