the Federal Government, because every beneficent act of this nature
fixed it more firmly in the affections of the people, and gave it
additional influence at home and abroad. The great Pacific railroad--a
measure of infinite importance to the unity of the nation, to the
development of the country, and to the general prosperity, as well as to
the public defence--a work so grand in its proportions, and so universal
in its benefits, that only the power of a great nation was equal to its
accomplishment or capable and worthy of its proper control--this great
and indispensable measure was defeated from year to year, so long as the
conspirators remained in Congress to oppose it, and was only passed in
the end, after they had launched the rebellion, and made their open
attack against the Government, which they had so long sought to
embarrass and weaken, in view of this very contingency.

While yielding these principles in theory, the democratic party did not
always adhere to them in practice. The instinct of patriotism was often
stronger than the obligations of party necessity and party policy.
Moreover, the text of these doctrines in the democratic creed was
frequently a subject of grave dispute in the party, and unanimity never
prevailed in regard to it. Yet the subtle poison infused into the body
of the organization, extended its baleful influence to all questions,
and too often paralyzed the arm of the Government in every field of its
appropriate action.

Never was presented in history a better illustration of the effect of
false and mischievous ideas. It would be unjust, because it would be
untrue, to suspect the democratic party of any clear knowledge of the
ends to which these principles were intended to lead, or of any
participation in the treasonable purpose. Many members of that party saw
the danger in time, and abandoned the organization before it was caught
in the meshes of the great conspiracy. Some, however, even in the loyal
States, clung to Breckinridge and the fatal abstractions of the party
creed, until these reached their final and legitimate culmination, in
the ghastly paralysis of the most indispensable functions of the
Government--the ruinous abnegation of all power of self-defence--the
treacherous attempt at national suicide only failing for want of courage
to perpetrate the supreme act, which was exhibited by the administration
of James Buchanan, in its last hours, when it proclaimed the doctrine of
sec