P 186 .H68 Copy 1 T H E CAMPAIGN SPEIECH -o -r" — . ■■■ """"11 DELIVERED BEFORE THE Republican Meeting,! 20th Ward, BALTIMOEE, MD. NOVEMBER 3, 1879. The Crime of Sectional Consolidalioii. ^^^ W*sw <*' FELLOW CITIZENS: The project of Southern consolidation is just now receiving the most emphatic approval and favor of the Democratic orators of Maryland, and they propose to extend it, in an unbroken whole, from the Delaware river to the gulf of Mexico. Believing that no greater calamity could befall this Country than the continuance of this pernicious partisan measure, I propose to bring to your notice what I had the pleasure of saying in a speech delivered bv me in August, 1876, in this city. I then said, '■ In the election of Abraham Lincoln, it was charged that his su[)port was purely sectional, and therefore prejudicial to the best interests of the Re- public and destructive of the harmonious relations existing be- tween the different sections of the country, prior to that time. So grave and weighty was this action considered, that it was assigned as one of the causes justifying the attem})ted withdrawal of the Southern States from the Union. Without stoppino- to inquire whether the election of Mr. Lincoln was of a sectional character or not, or whether it really assumed the prominence which n. Ix F 186 .H68 Copy 1 -T H E CAMPAIGN SPEECH O T^- DELIVERED BEFORE THE Republican Meeting, If 20th Ward, BALTIMOEE, MD. NOVEIVCBER 3, 1879. The Crime of iSeclional Consolidation. '^^•L^j FELLOW CITIZENS: The project of Southern consolidation is just now receiving the most emphatic approval and favor of the Democratic orators of Maryland, and they propose to extend it, in an unbroken whole, from the Delaware river to the gulf of Mexico. Believing that no greater calamity could befall this Country than the continuance of this pernicious partisan measure, I propose to bring to your notice what I had the pleasure of saying in a speech delivered by me in August, 1876, in this city. I then said, " In the election of Abraham Lincoln, it was charged that his support was purely sectional, and therefore prejudicial to the best interests of the Re- public and destructive of the harmonious relations existing be- tween the different sections of the country, prior to that time. So grave and weighty was this action considered, that it was assigned as one of the causes justifying the attempted withdrawal of the Southern States from the Union. Without stopping to inquire whether the election of Mr. Lincoln was of a sectional character or not, or whether it really assumed the prominence which hoLO^ was claimed for it, I venture to say it was made the occasion of the most extraordinary action, and, as events have verified of the most disastrous consequences to the whole country and especially to the Southern States; but suppose certain alannists were cor- rect in that assumption-was not that state of things brought about by political agitation, fostered and continued fo? a lona se- ries of years by evilly disposed persons, South as well as North Laboring all the while to comolidate and array one section of the Country against the other. It is a truism not to be gainsayed that comhinatwn^ on one side beget mvity and concert of Action on the other and hence, conflict and collision must sooner or later come to pass between the opposing elements. This agitation and counter- agitatron brought upon the Country one of the most desolatino- wars recorded in the annals of history, the recollection of which is too tresh in our mmds to need any particular mention . Since the close of the war the Country has, necessarily, made compara- tively slow progress towards repairing the many wrongs committed and the fearful consequences resulting from the bloody strife n\e spirit of reconcthaiion, however, has received a new impulse and is, T trust, about to consummate the humane work of restor' ing to this great Country amicable relations between and anion «• every section thereof, and bringing fortfj millions (40 000 000) of freemen together m harmonious union, each realizino- the fact that he IS an equal constituant part. The attainment of this great good, the value of which is beyond all human calculation, shSuId as I am sure it will be, treasured accordingly. Standino- thus on the vantage ground which time and circumstances hav^ vouch- safed unto us, and m view, as it were, of that " consummation so devoutly to be wished," shall the work of sectional consulidation be renewed and section be again arrayed against section ? Shall the bouth, while yet maimed and crippled, and bleeding from the late terrible encounter, be made, for purely partisan encls,to antao-onize those who, now in the blessed spirit of christian pacification tender to the olive branch of peace ? Shall the fell spirit which marked the strife of the battle field be transferred to the ballot box? Is the clime of the South, the land of the sun, where na- ture's boundless gifts meet the eye at every turn ; where the es- sential cerials spontaneously grow and the richest commercial products rise, as it were, at the bidding of the planters' will be made again the scenes of election brawls and deadly encounter' It would seem our Democratic opponents desire to have it so — This party now claims that all the Southern States, South Caro- lina alone excepted, will cast the votes "solid" for Democratic candidates, and if so, which is by no means certain, the act will prove fearfully unfortunate and certainly most unwise and impol- itic. Can such a course be defended any more than that of the alleged miited Northern vote given to Mr. Lincoln in 1860 ? The Country will, in the event indicated, again assume the attitude of section arrayed against section. It is to be hoped, however, that the conservative sense of the true and tried patriots of this f^i- 3 vored land, will prevent the recurrence of the combination of States such as was complained of in 1860." Should the present hostile temper of the Maryland Democ- racy continue as heretofore, and infuse its spirit into other commu- nities, I should despair of sectional reconciliation. Their pi'o- scriptive conduct towards the Republican party would astonish any one, perhaps,, except resident Marylanders. In their estima- tion, to be a republican is to become the most detestable of mankind and a deserved outcast from civil society. That venerable and ever to be venerated public benefactor, the lamented Johns Hopkins, whose princely endowments and gracious munificence to our people, will be affectionately remembered and warmly cherished as long as gratitude and admiration hold a place in the minds and hearts of true men, could not have been elected a member of the City Council of Baltimore, nor a road supervisor of his native county of Anne Arundel, under the despotic rule of the Ring Democracy. Such is the deadly poison that attaches, in this latitude, iti wluit was supposed to be Conservative Maryland, to every one who declines to co-operate with or attest his submis- sion to the assumed infallibility of this ruthless Ring power, which has so long stood a reproach to this State. The men thus proscribed, however, are quite good enough to pay taxes, and thereby support voracious band© of continuous office-holders, but, at this point their usefulness and acceptability cease. The burden of Government they must meet and discharge, but the corkela- TivE of equal fellowship, under the Constitution and laws, is with- held from them in the mast insulting manner. This condition of things is simply monstrous and should not be tolerated an hour. This community is sorely afflicted, and writhes and suffers under the baneful influence of political despotism, which has no parallel in any land where the English tongue is spoken. It is " political intolerance," as despotic and malignant as that which afflicted christian martyrdom in the iron age of infidel sway. Verily, those so-called leaders of Democracy " Bear, like theTurk, no brother near the throne." It is THE OUTY OF THIS GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT ITS CITIZEN'S IN THE Due and Proper Exercise of the Ballot. The Democracy affect to entertain great apprehensions of what they are pleased to call " bayonet rule " at or about the polls, but of course, this is all J)a