THE POLITICAL TEXT-BOOK, OR ENCYCLOPEDIA. CONTAINING EVERYTHING NECESSARY FOR TIIE REFERENCE OF THE Michael EDITED BY M. W. CLUSKEY, POSTMASTER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES. "Let the editor or speaker who discusses politics for the information of the people, know what he is writing SECOND EDITION. PHILADELPHIA: JAMES B. SMITH & CO., 610 CHESTNUT STREET. WASHINGTON: C. WENDELL. 1858. 24473 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by CORNELIUS WENDELL, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the District of Columbia. MEARS & DUSENBERY, STEREOTYPERS, PHILADELPHIA. C. SHERMAN & SON, PRINTERS. EDITOR'S PREFACE. THE Editor of this work deems an extended preface to it unnecessary. The motive which induced its preparation was the necessity which he himself has often felt for a book containing, in a condensed form, a history of the public measures and other matters of political importance which are the subject of discussion at the present time, and are likely to continue to be. This necessity is apparent to every politician in the country. The vast aggregate of political history in the shape of Congressional Debates, &c., through which the seeker for information has to look to reach the gist of a public question, endorses at once the merit of a compilation like this. It is not for the politician alone that this work is prepared. It will enable every citizen to acquaint himself readily with the true bearing of each political issue which is presented to him for his decision, and will relieve him from too great a dependence upon the partial statements of great political questions, which generally characterize the speeches and essays of the politicians of the present day. It would be claiming for the work too much to say that it is perfect. No task is so onerous as that involved in condensing the profuse history of politics in this country into a concise and accessible form. The reader will not find in it some things which he may think the book should contain. In many cases he may justly think so. The Editor, however, has embraced in it everything which he deemed absolutely necessary for the discussion of any : political question which may arise with reference to our system of government. He is free to admit that, in order to bring the book into a convenient shape, he has left out many things which seemed to him would find an appropriate (3) 192373 place in it; though he is not aware that he has sacrificed to the demands of a limited space, anything, the omission of which would materially depreciate the character of the work. He makes no especial dedication of his production; but resigns it to his fellow citizens, who take an interest in such matters, for their use and convenience. THE POLITICAL TEXT-B 0 0 K. Abolition Party. RISE AND PROGRESS of. THE extraordinary increase numerically of the Abolition or Anti-Slavery party of this country cannot be better illustrated than by an exhibit of the increase of its vote, each succeeding election from its initiation as a national organization to the present day. It first made its appearance in national politics in the Presidential contest of 1840, when its ticket, with James G. Birney of Michigan as its candidate for the Presidency, and Francis J. Lemoyne of Pennsylvania, as its Vice-Presidential candidate, polled 7000 votes. In 1844, with Mr. Birney again as its candidate, it polled 62,140 votes. In 1848, with Martin Van Buren as the Presidential candidate of the Buffalo Convention, and Gerrit Smith as that of the more ultra anti-slavery men, it polled 296,232 votes. In 1852, John P. Hale, its nominee, polled 157,296 votes. In 1856, the candidate of the Republican party, John C. Fremont, supported by the entire Abolition party, polled 1,341,812 votes. Mr. Lawrence of New York presented the memorial of the "Friends" of New York City to the same effect. Mr. Hartley of Pennsylvania moved that the first named petition be referred, which was seconded by Mr. White of Virginia. Mr. Stone of Maryland feared that action indicating an interference with this kind of property would sink it in value, and be injurious to a great number of the citizens, particularly of the Southern States. He depreeated the disposition of religious sects to imagine they understood the rights of human nature better than all the world besides, and that in consequence they were found meddling to do. He was in favor of laying the petition with concerns with which they had nothing on the table. He would never consent to refer petitions, unless the petitioners were exclusively interested. Messrs. Fitzsimmons and Hartley of Pennsylvania, Parker, Madison and Page of Virginia, Lawrence of New York, Sedgewick of Sherman and Huntington of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Boudinot of New Jersey, favored a reference. Messrs. Smith, Tucker, and Burke of South Carolina, Baldwin and Jackson of Georgia opposed a reference, for very much the same reasons advanced by Mr. Stone, and in favor of its going to the table. On the next day the following memorial was presented and read: "A memorial of the Pennsylvania Society for promoting the abolition of slavery, the relief of free negroes unlawfully held in bondage, and the improvement of the African race. "The memorial respectfully showeth : "That, from a regard for the happiness of mankind, an association was formed, several years since, in this state, by a number of her citizens, of various religious denominations, for promoting the abolition of slavery, and for the relief of those unlawfully held in bondage. A just and acute conception of the true principles of liberty, as it spread through the land, produced accessions to their numbers, many friends to their cause, and a legislative co-operation with their views, which, by the blessing of Divine Providence, have been successfully directed to the relieving from bondage a large number of their fellow-creatures, of the African race. They have also the satisfaction to observe, that, in consequence of that spirit of philanthropy and genuine liberty which is generally diffusing its beneficial influence, similar institutions are forming at home and abroad. "That mankind are all formed by the same Almighty Being, alike objects of his care, and equally designed for the enjoyment of happi (5) |