FREEDOM NATIONAL-SLAVERY; SECTIONAL.
SPEECH
OF
HON. JOHN J. PERRY, OF MAINE,
ON THE
Comparattve Natonasty and Sectzonalism of the Repiublican and
Democratic  Parties.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MAY 1, 1856,
In Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union.
Mr. PERRY. Mr. Chairman, in the discussions avert the most threatening dangers, ane. which
that have taken place upon this floor, and at va- had been most religiously lived up to for more
rious other places in the Union, the Republican than thirty years, was to be ruthlessly abrogated.
party has been charged with " sectionalism." The sequel is too well known to need an extended
The authors of this groundless assumption have, notice. Leading men in the Democratic party, in
in the same connection, boasted of the nationality utter violation of their past professions, forced
of the Democratic party. These two propositions into Congress the most violent, fearful Slavery agiI niOw desire to discuss.                      tation that ever distracted this country. President
Prior to the meeting of the Thirty-third Con- Pierce repudiated his pledges, trampled under
gress, the country was enjoying a remarkable foot the platform  upon which he was elected.
state of repose. The waves of agitation, which  turned his back upon his friends that had elevain former years had rolled over the country, had ted him to power, and used the whole force ot
abated their fury, and ceased to disturb the peace his Administration to carry on this agitation, and
or threaten the perpetuity of the Union.  The expose the vast regions of Kansas and Nebraska
disordant political elements hadbecome quieted, to the inroads of African Slavery. The deed was
and univers'l peace and almost unexampled  done,
prosperity reigned throughout the States. The    Slavery agitation, thus reopened in its most
people, a few months before, passed through a violent form, was not long confined to the Halls
Presidential contest, and elected to the Executive' of Congress. It went out and spread all over the
chlir of the nation a son of New England by an  country, kindling up the raging fires of internal
overwhelming majority.                          discord in every direction.  The people became,.General Pierce accepted the nomination upon  alarmed, and aroused themselves in their lion
a platform nwhich declared —                    strength to mneet the impending danger. Through
"The Democratic party will resist all attempts at re- all the free States they.resolved that "forbearTlewinlg, in. Congress or out of it, the agitation of the ance had ceased to be a virtue," and that they,
Siavery question.,under whatever shape or color the attemnpt
say be marle."                                 would resist the outrage in the peaceable, constitutional way of settling such questions-at the
The President~ at the' opening of Congress
The President, attheo n  of C s, ballot-box.  This inaugurated a new political
declared, in the most emphatic terms, his deter- era. With a patriotism worthy of the men, and
ruination to carry out the principles upon which                 incited it, the freemen of the
ue was elected. In his message he says:
lbae was elected   In hts message he says:      North laid aside their old party predilections,
" But notwithstanldinl differences of opinion and senline0wihlosxstdtrttotdtatat  pcfcgave a paramount importance to the great issue
ment, which then existed in relation to details and specific
provisions, the acquieseence of distinguished citizens, forced upon them, and in almost every instance
tvhose devotion to the Union can never be doubted, has gave those members of Congress who had voted
livell repliewed vior  to our institutioth s, andi remtored h  for the Kantsas-Nebraska bill leave to stay- at
-ellie of relpose antd security to the public mind througholt. the Conllfdera,;y. [lat this repose is to suffer lio  home. Only seven members from the free States,'hock c(iri,- my ( icial term. it' I have power to avert out of the whole number who voted for this meast. lthose nli,  laceit me hte~re may 00 asslured."  re have found their way back to the present
The last. Congress had been in ses;siro ornly a House. The repeal of the Missouri Compromise
t.w Tlonthlls; before the country was st;artled with s'has conlmpletely broken down old party distinc.
-he unexpected rumor, that an old timre-n-)lorled  tions. The old Whlg party, once mighty am,
~mpact, which was originallv entered into to powerful, and which in times past has had intA



2
lectnual giants for ilts iale(rs, scarcely has a namne   declaration?  If there is, then the whoile,',orinrr
in lany State,,Notbh or;<th.    The Once glorious  has  been  laboring  under a delusion et,:'  mce
old Democratic, party  has heen  stabbed in the  our Government was formed.  But, to  tin more
house of its friends; and, af'ter retreating before  specific, it is not to  be denied  that the  great,
the  surging.-aves of popular indignation, can  leading  idea of the Republican party is the nonnow  only  beo found  around  the  shades  of the  exlenzsion of Slavery; in other words, opposition to
Presidential mansion, or in little  squads about  its extension in.to free  territory.   This is no  new
our custom-hlouses, post-offices, and  such  other  dogma.  The  Iheroes of the Revolution, the  paplaces as are dispensed Executive favors, in the  triots of the early times, who  shaped  and  fashshape of  "loaves and  fishes."   As  a  national toned  our political institutions, entertained  the
[turty, it has nio longer an existence.  The causes,  same  views, and  incorporated  them   into  their
to;which  a brief allusion  has been made, have  political saction.   They believed  chattel Sl,,very
created  the.necessity  for  another  party.   That  to he a great moral, social, and political evil.  Scr
pa'rty has been  inaugurated;  and  as its princi-  believing, they adopted  every  practicable mraode
pies are  but the revival of the doctrines of the  in  their power to  to prevent its spread; at the
immortal Jefferson  and  the Republican fathers,  same  time  looking  forward  t6 the  day  which
it is perfectly natural and proper for it to assume  should  witness  the  fruition  of their  earnest.
the timfe-honored name of "R-epublic an."                      hopes-its total abolition.  To place this matter'
As I announced in the commencement of these  beyond all doubt or cavil, I will refer to  a  few
reinarks, I shall now  attempt to  show  that the  well-authenticated  historical facts, in  proof of
Reuublican  party  is a  national party;  that it  the position here assumed.
stands  upon  a  platform  of principles eminently               George Washington, in a letter to Robert Maornational;  and  that no  national man, North  or  ris, dated Mount Vernon, April 12, 1786, said:
Soth, E'ast or West, can, wvith any show of con-    "I can only say tha, there is not a ma, living  wtho
sistency,  refuse to stand upon it.                           wishes more. sincerely  than I do to see a pltai ad optvd:
for the abolition of' it, [ Slavery;]   but there is onlyv one
The 1Republican party, through its delegates at  proper and efetualt modec i w                          hich it cii be acio.rPittsburgh, on the 22d of February last, adopted   plished, and that is by legislative authority; ard ihis. so
an  address, containing  a' declaration  of' its  far as ny suffrage will go, sllt  mever tie wantfigP'9 Sparks's Washington, 15S.
principles and  purposes," which  has been  pub-    S s                     asigton,  l.
lihed to the word  and which is briefly summed   In  a letter to  John  F. MTercer, September, 9,
lilbed' to the worcld~ tod which is briefly summed
1786,  he expressed the same sentiment: 
~~~up au~~~~s folb~~lom. I never mean, unless santm e particular circumstanices
W.~e dec;are. in the fir-.t place, our fixed and unalter'd  should comnpelt me to it, to posse-s aniother slave by purdevo".ou to tihe."onsliutiont of the' U,.i ed States —to tte  chase. it aent., anmong my first wi-hes to see sirne plat:nds tar.vihet it was es alist.ed. uad  t'. the means wiich   adopted by which Slavery in tiis count ry may be alol
it pr vidtemd Ir thtir ituairmenet.  We accept tle sol mni  ished by law. —bid.
proteslatiaii,, ofIih pthe  p- tf thbe'Uitedd Staes, that they
er-oda te il ~ it  i  t ic    i. mform a more perfe et Utnion, i-tab-  And in a letter to St. John Sinclair he further
tfish juo.-i'  itstr' do;nes'i,. tratteniiiiy., pron.i!e for t' e  said
common de'few:ce, r~~ryite the gei,.er at weltbre. a}ad set:ur,omon  defies  riiote tti getera  welre  aid seitr-'- Thtere are in Pent'sylvania la.,-s for the grduatl abo
ithe   i:,ssin.t:s o,' liberty  i tthemsetle ansit their pos'e           lvery      hich  etlter Virginia iir Marylantt:%e bteii-cce'-:t ihe paowers w'icim i: confers upoln itto   avettie.
Gover;nient of the Ui it-, d' S:a. s::r  ine a lefor the aceotn-  htae at pre-ent,  Iu t    tthich    tig  s more certain thran
pisiiett if tis   ieels, itd than if tese pows  c' tey mast have, anid at a period not remnote."
p is~iment  ~f,,h-se,,biceps;  and  thinl if these powrers ~,rr~
tmer —Pe  Izf iivt i- spirit ofi thte 0   nriutna its-If, the)' c'iii-  Thomas Jefferson, in  an  able  article  on  the, ot iC,-.-:t t i  anyloth'r etii.. to ee'-pert those I'ritl'its
which the               ( oi i: i' t, -e. carc -o Ite itvtolab e-free-o:lo    rights  of the  American  Colonies, by  him  preof -peteh a-t-d of t~ ipr -ss, the firee extreise of reilrtoun   pared  and  laid  before  the Virginia Convention
bed -J:aii,,*~e ri0h:' tile peor'e pe,ceabl. to assemrble
blf a'e rii' a tile   e s peteab   ti'ernbl'  which  assembledl in August, 1774, for the pur-..i  ni-ti -litim,'tbf Go i rsmett f r a re ress ot gri'v asces.
We wroun  pres'r'.   telh.Cs'   great satit.'ardsf ate mlti-fec-  pose  of appointing  delegates  to  the  proposed
W~e  woul  p~res~-?rve.  a\.F  reat  safeguaurds of  ei - il  fi-e-  p
orem, i'se;.5aeas  t COrptii, the ritirht  of inm t by   r. aitit'he  Congress,  remarks as follows
ri[b  of per (Aal'iber:y, unless dleprived tthereof  ir crinme    The    iis    o  d i    Sler  i  te   eaRS
du~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Te procition of.)r do'd, stic Slavery iA the CR.nATE:ST
h' Vu prces of ~ l:tw       ed   are our' i)uipos'.to ol)-,y.
~by des trJex e- at~ -  t   itare or IT mcirt   - OECT of desire ill these Colonies, where it was unhapi~i -'altlP o's th!  reqnirmenls: of the Cons;.ilution, and of
i      -iall  thdeirs( tiameit                              pily intr,dued e,t. hteir i faint stae.   But, previous to the
idl laws a tacted i-; purc'um'i-e ti -reof. W7e cheriti1 a pro-  enifrti!lchi'eieiiellt of t'- starves, it is niecessary to excluse,.o;~fII( reverence il;,r tle wis3e a-,.d pat, iolie men by witur'itnws cs-eie    hr tl e ni ne  oftthe patbiiatic mu - by whllm  furt'er importations froarn Africa. Yet our repeated ciit was framed, asit a lively  sen-e of;he b'essings it hbs t       s
tempts to eff:ct tvis by prihibltions, and by impo. sing
cmfnferr.'d upon our ~ountlry alld upon mankind throu,.1,out
cmifered epm our   nry  ciii upoi inaktit thir i tt  duties whitic mtighli amout:ut to prohibition, have been hiththe world.  In every crisis ofditiculty and of d niger -w rt def ed  y hi    jesys   ieilve;  thu  preferig
e r    ode;ted, by' his Maeysngti; thus preferring
shall invoice its spirit and proclaiii the supremacy oi ii  tie imilie          dvaiie of sa few  Aficai   mrnairs to ti
authority.                                   ~~~~~~~~~the imnmed(iate advantage, of a few African cors'airs to the
~~~a ~~itmo~~~~itty.                          ~lasting itlerestO of the American States, and the rights o1' In the next place. w' declare our ardent and U-lha-  hma   iate,  deep               uded   y this ifamus prackeaattchmnt o tis  nin o  Amricn Sate  whchhumnan nature, deeply wounded 1'y this infamous praeken attachtment to this Unios of American States which  tice."'-Americaim ArctiveL: 4lth, Series, vol. 1.   Ip. 6.
thtt Coust tutioun created amid has thus far preserved.'Ve
riverie it as the purchase of thile blood of our forefaters         r. Jefferson further  declared    s on   sentias-. t hi' condition of our nations! renown, and as the gusrI     M.Jffro   ut-e    elrd   i   w
as the coidritiome ofoar itatii al rlrtyov,  suitc tahe gno —  ments in his Notes on Virginia, when he said:
diarm ant g araisee ofttiat liberty w-sitch tiac Co0!stiTatton
was desi'7iied to secure.  uVc will defeiud anid protec it    "Nobody wvishes more ardently thani I to see all aboli
against aTI its citem es. WVe will recognise no geographi-  tion not onily oa the trade, lut of ilthe cou:dition of Slavery,
citui dtvisiot: s, ino  local interes's, no narrow or sectioinal anid certitlly notiody will be more willing  to econliuttr
pre judices. in our enideavors to preserve the union of these  any sacrifice tor that oa'ject."
States ag-inwst foreigim aggression aind domnestic strife.
WVhat we cl;tim  for ourselves we claim  for all. The                 the same   ork he further said
rights, privileges,:ud liberties, which we demand as our    I The -si-hole commerce  ietweemi master stid slave is a
inieritance,,;e cotse-le as their iiheirmiance  to all Ilte  continual  exercise  of the most unremitting despotism on
citizens of this Repubtlic."                                  the oie   part.  anu  dergading submission  ii on the otti'
~ * t ~* x "~~ith what exrecration shouldi the smatc
~ NOW, let me candidly ask  if there is                     *  *  *  *  *'l  itt, wham execration should tie siatt.
-Now, let me canuiy  aanyt~hing             ~mai be  noaded, who, permittiinga one half of the citizens,s'ational in the sentiments contained in the above  tihus to trample ou the rights of ithe other, tra:nsforms those




nao despots acidl t!Ies ito ( lelnies, destroys the meoacals of    Nor were these views and anticipations conthe o.e pact.. "nol tl? iii plfrie oi tlle other   Canll the  fined to the free States.  In the ratification Conliberties of a latlioit be it! ir.ht secure, when we have
removed their out I firnt bis, a COIIViction itn the rrisds vention of Virginia, Mr. Johnson said:
of the peojpl that tine ier iesmR the iit ofGo? T'at   "';"They tell us that they see a progressive danger of
they arc 1ot violatei       y his wrath?  INDED, I TREm-  ringiltg aout emancpation. The principle has bergun
BLE FOR v1Y COUNTRY WVEI5N i REFLECT CGOD IS JUST, AND Il5S sinec the Revolution. Let us do what we will, it will
JUSTICE CANNOT SLEb-A FOREVER."'                     come round. Slavery has been the foundaiion of much
In thne Convention which framed the Constitu-  of that impiety and dissipation which have been so much
dnclfred hethou stttu w g sem inated among our countr3 men. If it were totally
tion, Mr. M1.adison declared he "thought it wrong  abolished, it would do much good." —3 Elltot's Debates.
to admit into the Constitution the idea that there  6, 48.
could  be property in uman."-A-Iadison Papers,    But I will not consume further time to prove
1429.                                                this point, but will only add an extract from  a
Gouverneur Morris said he " never would con- speech delivered by Mr. Leigh in the Convention
cur in upholding domestic Slavery; it was a ne- of Virginia, in 1832, which fully corroborates the
farious institution; it was the curse of Heaven  truth of this position.  He said:
on the States where it prevailed." - 3 Madisocn   "I thought, till very lately, that it was known to every
Papers, 1263.                                        body, that during the Revolution, and for many years
Mr. Gerry thought the Convention " had noth-  after, the abolition of Slavery was a favorite topic with.
Mr. t w h d t t omany of our ablest statesmen, who entertained with re-l
ilug to do with the conduct of the States.as to  spect all the schemes which wisdom or ingenuity could
slaves, but ought to be careful not to give any  suggest for its accomplishment."
sanction to it." —3 Mladisonz P'apers, 1394.           The founders of the Government not only left
Mr. Mason, of Virginia. said " Slavery discour- their testimony as individuals upon the question
ages arts and manufactures.  The poor despise  of Slavery, but their well-known opinions were
labor when performed by slaves.  They produce  incorporated into the Constitution and legislation
the most pernicious effects on manners.  Every  of the country.
master of slaves is born a petty tyrant. They bring    To go back to the Declaration of Independthe judgment of Heaven on a country." —3 Mad- ence, we find Washington, and Jefferson, and
ison1 Papers, 1391.                                  Franklin,  and  Sherman, and  Pinckney, and
Mr. Ellsworth, of Connecticut, said "Slavery in  their illustrious compatriots, solemnly subscritime will not be a speck in our country."-3 Ilad- bing their names to these " self-evident truths,
ison Papers, 1392.                                   that all men are created equal; that they are
Mr. Sherman, of Connecticut, said " he was  endowed by their Maker with inherent and inalopposed to a tax on slaves, because it implied  ienable rights; that among these are life, LIBEaTY,
they were propersy."-3 Madison Papers, 1396.    and the pursuit of happiness."
MI.r. Williamson said "that both in practice and    The  Constitution  itself is a great chart of
opinion  he was against Slavery."-3  Madison  Liberty.  Nowhere in it can be found the word
Petpers, 1428.                                       "slave," or " slaves," so careful were its founders
Similar views were expressed by other mem- to give no implied sanction to the traffic in human'bers. In the Conventions of the States, called to  beings.  In its very commencement, in its preratify the Constitution, similar opinions were ex- amble, it declarespressed by the leading men in the same.  I will   "The PEOPLE of the United States, itt order to form a
only refer to a few of them.                         more perfect Uiiion, establish justice,"'    *  *  "proJames Wlilson, of Pennsylvania, had been a  mote the general welfare, and secnere the blessinzgs of loibety," ~''~ * "do ordain and establish this Constitution?11
leading member of the Convention; and in the    I
ratification Convention of his State, when speak-    In the same instrument it is declaredlug of the clause relating to the power of Con-'"No person shall be deprived oflife, liberty, or property,
over  the slave trade after t ty  years, without due process of law.''-Amentdmentt, Art. 5.
gress over the slave trade after tThere is another provision contained in the
he  ~~s~ai~.       -Constitution, which for the last ten years has
"I consider this clause as laying the foundation for
banishing Slavery out of this country; and though the been the subject of warm discussion, both in and
peri(d is more distanlt than I could wish, it will produce  of Congress.  I mean that provision which
the sarne kind, gradual change as was produced in Penn
tleane ki  gradual change as was produced in Petn  gives Congress " power to dispose of, and make
sylvania."'I *         "'rThe new States which are to
be formed will be under the control of Congress in this all needful rules and regulations respecting, the
particular, and Slavery will never be inltroduced among  territory or other property belonging to the Unithern.":-2 Ellotl's Debates, 452.                    ted States."  In this connection, I do not propose
In another place, speaking of this clause, he  to go into a discussion of the question, whether
said:                                                Congress has constitutional power to  interdict
"It presents us with the pleasing prospect that the  Slavery in the Territories of the United States;
rights of mankind will be acknowledged and established
throughout the Union. If there was no other lovely fea- but shall here content myself with showing how
ture in the Constitution but this one, it would diffuse a the framers of the Constitution understood it
beauty over its whole coulltenaice.'Yet the lapse of a  themselves
fiiw y ars. and Coltgreos will have power to exterminiate
Slavery from within our borders."'-2 Elliot's Debates, 45'4.    On the 1st of March, 1784, Congress voted to
In the ratification Convention of Mlassachun- accept of a cession from the State of Virginia of
setts, General Heath said:                           what was subsequently known as the Northwest
Territory.   On the same day, Mr. Jefferson, from
"The migration, or importation, &c., is conntued to the. On the same day, Mr. Jefferson, fro
States now existing only; new States cannot claim it. a committee consisting of himself, Mr. Chase of
Congress, by their ordinance for creating new States, Maryland, and Mr. Howell of Rhode Island, resome time since declared that the new States shall be re- ported a plan for the Government.  This plan
publican, and that there shall be tno Slavery in them.'-  em        the Western Territory, and all 
2 Elliot's Debates, 115                              embraced all the Western  Territory, and all ter



4
rio0  -e (lelt or to be ceded by individual States to    But I will not stop here, but proceed to prove
ta. -U lsited States.  (See Journals of Congress, that the views of the Republican party  on the
April 23, 1784.)  One of the provisions of said  constitutional right of Congress to prohibit Slaplan is as follows:                                very in the Territories are sustained by the legis"ltht aftelX the year 1800 of the Christian erla, there lation of Congress from the meeting of the 2First
shall be neithetr Slavery nor involutlary servitude in ally  Congress up to 1848, and that such legislation
of thie said States, otherwise than in the punishment of has received the sanction of every President
crimes whereoO the party shall have been duly convicted ith a single exception, beginning with General
to have been! ersosnally guilty." —4 Jour. Cong. Confed- wth a single exception, beginnng with General
erratlio, 37t.                                     Washington, up to, and including, President Polk.
Territories were in this article of the Ordi- To maintain this proposition, I shall introduce
naunce spoken of as States, because it was con- facts direct from therecords of the Government:
tefitplated to erect the Territories into States. 1. The Ordinance of 1187 was recognised by
Under the Articles of Confederation, a majority  chapter one, first session of First Congress.
of the thirteen States was necessary to an affirm- There seems to have been no objection to it.
ativre decision of any question.  On the 19th of Mr. Madison's name appears on the Journal of
April a vote was taken on this proviso.  The the proceedings the same day it passed. He was
vote stood for the proviso-six States, viz: New  no doubt present, and concurred in the measure.
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Con- The act was signed by General Washington.
necticut, New York, and Pennsylvania. Against    2. On the 7th of April, 1798, an act was passed
it-three States, viz: Virginia, Maryland, and  authorizing the establishment of a Government
South Carolina. Delawatre and Georgia were not in Mississippi Territory. It authorized the President to establish therein a Government similar to
represented. New Jersey, by Mr. Dick, voted ay; that in the Territory northwest of the Ohio river,
but her vote, only one delegate being present, that in  the          er     ritory northwest of  the Ohio river,
could not be counted. North Carolina was divi- excepting the Jefferson proviso of  187. It then
ded-Mr. Williamson voting ay, and Mr. Speight prohibited the importation of slaves from  any
no. From  Virginia, Mr. Je~fferson voted ay, and  place without the limits of the United States.
Moessrs. H iardy   and Mercer no.  Of the tweanty- This act passed about ten years before Congress
three delefates present, sixteen voted for, and  was authorized by the Constitution to prohibit
seven against-bthus this proviso was defeated by lbringing slaves into the States which were origia minority vote. The people were for it, and the  nally parties to the Federal compact.  This act
States for it; but it failed by a provision which  passed under the Administration  of the elder
t nabled the minority to control the majority.
In the same year, Mr. Rufus King, of Massa-    3. At the first session of the Sixth Congress,.,hnUsetts,  moved the proviso in the following  chapter forty-one, laws of 1800, an act was passforlml:                                           ed creating a Territorial Government for Indiana,
out of the Northwest Territc.ry —reaffi~rzing the
T'That there shall be neither Slavery nor involuntary  Ordinance of 1187-and was signed by Presiservitude in any of the States describhd in the resolves
of Congress of the 2.Jd of April, 17S4, otherwise than in  dent Adams.
the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have    4. On the 26th of March, 1804, an act was
been personally guilty; and that this regulation shall be passed dividing Louisiana into two Territories
ai article of compact, and remain a fundamental principle of the Constitutions between the thirteen original and providing that all that part of the Territory
Stales, and such of the States described in the said resolve south of the thirty-third parallel of latitude, now
of hte 23d of April, 1734."-4 Jour. Cong. Confed., 481.   the southern boundary of Arkansas, should be
This was committed by a vote. of two to one, erected into the Territory of Orleans. In this act
-and resulted in the celebrated Ordinance of 1787, there are three pr6$isions in respect to Slavery
which expressly prohibited Slavery and involuntary  in the Territory:  1. The importation from  any.1elrvi1ucde,  except for crime, throughout the whole ter- place without the limits of the United States was
ritoly [then belonging to the United States] Fon- prohibited; 2. The importation from  any place'VsER.  This proviso received the votes of every  within the United States, of slaves imported since
delegate (with a single exception from New York) the 1st of May, 1798, was prohibited;  3. The
in the Convention. The First Congress under the  importation of slaves, except by a " citizen of the
Constitution ratified the Ordinance of 1T78. In the  United States removing into said Territory for
Convention which framed the Constitution there  actual settlement, and being at the time of such
were twenty men who., were also members of the  removal bona fide owner of such slaves," was
First Congress under the Federal Constitution. prohibited. This is one of the strongest cases on
This proves very clearly that they understood  record to shaow the control of Congress over Slathat Congress had power, under the Constitution  very in the Territories.  It was a direct prohibiwhich they themselves had made, to prohibit tion of the donestic slave trlde.  This act was
Slavery in the Territories.                        signed by President Jefferson.
Thus history vindicates the fact, that the pa-    5. On the 11th of January, ]805, an act wat
triots of the Revolution, the members of the old  passed establishing the Territory of Mlichigan,
State -Confederation, the members of the Con- rect,[irnmizg   the Ordinance of 1187.
vention which framed the Constitution, and the    6. On the 3d of February, 1809, a similar
members of the First Congress after the adoption  Government was established for the Territory of
of the Constitution, entertained the same senti- Illinois, recognising the same Ordinance. These
Wneits upon the questions of Slavery extension  two last acts were under the Administration of
and restriction that are now advocated by the  Jefferson.
ewpublican party.                                     7, On the 4th of June, 1812, an act was passed




providing for the Government of the Territory of to the adoption of this act of Confres, in 1820;
Missouri, and the laws tand regulations in force neither is it necessary;' for the facts connected
in the District of Louisiana were continued in with the admission of Missouri into the Union
operation.                                      are now pretty well understood.  It is sufficient
8. On the 3d of Miarch, 18117, a Government for my present purpose to remark, that, after one
was formed for the Territory of Alabama, and of the most stormy periods of excitement through
the laws then in force within it as a part of Mis- which this country ever passed, it was solemnly
sissippi were continued in operation. These acts agreed that Missouri should be admitted into the
were passed under MIr. Madison's Administration. Union with a Constitution allowing Slavery; ancd
9. On the 9th of March, 1819, the Territory of that all territory which had been acquired by
Arkansas was formed from the Territory of Mis- purchase from France, north of 36~ 30/, h ou.ld
sissippi, and a Government established for it.    be forever free.  The parties to this arrangement
10. On the 6th of March, 1820, the inhabitants were the free States on the one side, and the
of Missouri were authorized to form a State Gov- slave States on the other. The prohibition north
ernment, and Slavery prohibited in all that part of 360 30/ was both absolute and perpetual. I now
of the Territory north of 360 30' north latitude. propose to give some reasons why this contract
11. On the 10th of March, 1822, a Territorial should be restored in substance, if not in form.
Government was established for Florida, con-   1. Because the repeal of the Missouri Comprotaining provisions making it unlawful "to import mise was a breach of good faith. Each section
or bring into the said Territory, from any place, of the Union had become a party to this contract.
without the limits of' the United States," any It became a matter of national honor. The North
slave or slaves. These three acts were signed by and the South had both agreed to it. Each pa'rty
Mr. Monroe.                                     was not only bound by a solemn act, but there
12. On the 20th of April, 1836, an act was was an implied pledge of honor, incidentally conpassed establishing the Territorial Government nected with the act, of which the parties could
of Wisconsin, reaffirming the Ordinance of 1787. not divest themselves.
This act was signed by General Jackson.           2. The South received the consideration con13. On the. 12th of June, 1838, a Territorial ing to them, paid in hand. The contract was ratGovernment for Iowa was established, extending ified; and, with the ratification, Missouri u-.as
the laws of the United States over the same, and admitted. This repudiation is the more insulting
signed by Mr. Van Buren.                        to the North, from the fact that, just as soon as
14. On the 3d of March, 1848, an act was the consideration assigned her in this compact
passed establishing the Territorial Government became of any value to her, she was cheated out
of Oregon, with the proviso forever prohibiting  of it. Good faith, fair play, and honest dealinlo
Slavery in the same. This act was signed by all require the restoration of the contract.
Mr. Polk.                                         3. This compact was abrogated under falst
Here is an almost uninterrupted series of le- pretences, and in its practical operation Twa-: e
gislative acts, commencing with the FirstCongress, fraud upon the people. This will appear for two
and running through the long period of more reasons:
than half a century, containing the official sane-   First. At the time the Kansas-Nebraska bill
tion of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, was under consideration, it was declared over a nd
Monroe, Jackson, Van Buren, and Polk, directly  over again, both in and out of Congress, that
recognising the constitutional right of Congress Slavery never would go into any part of these
to prohibit Slavery in the Territories of the United Territories.  This pretext was used as an argu-.
States.                                         ment to quiet the excited feelings of the people,
Thus the legislation of the General Government and reconcile them to the outrage. Charity would
for more than half a century furnishes a prece- leave us to presume that no member of Congress
dent, in strict conformity with the platform of the would make such an assumption, and send it to
itepublican party, on the right of Congress to the country, unless he believed it.  If so, no
interdict Slavety in the national domain. If, then, greater mistake could have been made. In lookino
tl;e Republican party are to be denounced as sec- over the debates in the Senate upon the Nebraska
tional, on account of entertaining and defending bill, we find such opinions were expressed by
these time-honored doctrines, then the revolution- Mr. Pettit, of Indiana; Mir. Hunter, of Virginia;
ary heroes were sectional-the signers of the Mir. Toucey, of Connecticut; Mr. Thomson, of
Declaration of Independence were sectional-that New  Jersev; MIr. Brodhead, of Pennsylvania;
immortal instrLfment was itself sectional-the  MIr. Badger, of North Carolina; MIr. Everett, of
framers of the Constitution were sectional, and so Massalchusetts; Mr. Douglas, of Illinois; ~ Mr.
is the Constitution itself. Every President of the Dixon, of Kentucky; Mr. Jones, of Ternlessee;
United States, from  Washington to Polk, were and General Cass, of MiChigan.
sectional; and nearly all legislation of Congress,   In the House, the advocates of the bill genert l!ill the formation of Territories, for over fifty years, ly said. the same thing. These declarations were
has been of the salme sectional character.      sent all over the country, and had their effec:
-Mr. Chairman, I now desire to call the atten- They were retailed out with great gusto by,all
tion of the Committee and the country to another the office-holders of the Administration, from the,
leading idea in the Republican platform, to wit: highest in grade and employment, to the four:mci
The SUBSTANTIAL restoration of the Missouri Corn- six-penny postmasters and tide-waiters. The 1h);promise. I have now no time to go into a histori- rier of Freedom  was stricken down; and wvllat
cal deti.ii of the circumstances that originally led then became of all their pompous assumptions?




Slaveholders went into Kansas,  carrying with  the people into the support of a measure abhorthem their slaves.  The first Legislature elected  rent to all their better feelings.
under the organic law of' the Territory, by slave-    But I will call the attention of the Committee to
holders and " border ruffians'-a Legislature, one or two facts, which go to prove, beyond all
the laws of which the friends of the Administra- controversy, that the friends of the bill, while
tion say are legal and binding-laws which the  they declared, when the same was under considerPresident has threatened to enforce at the mouth  ation, that the bill would confer upon the people
of the cannon and the point of the bayonet, enact-  of the Territories the right to legislate upon the
ed and placed upon the statute book of the Terri-  question of Slavery in the same, szeaczt no such
tory a law, declaring-                                 thing; they were looking one way and rowing' If any person print, write, introduce into, or publish, another; that while they were pretending to confer
or circulate, or cause to be brought into, printed, written, certain rights, they were forcing a bill through,published, or circulated, or shall knlowingly aid or assist Congress, the very object of which was to deprive
in bringing into, printing, publishileg, or circulating, within this Territory, any book, paper, pamphlet, magazine, them  of any such power.
handbill, or circular, conlainillg ally statements, argu-    Now to the proof.  When the Kansas bill was
ments, opinion, sentiment, doctrine, advice, or innuendo, under consideration in the House an honorable
calceulated to produce a disorderly, dangerous, or rebellious disaffection among the slaves of this Territory, or to  member from  Indiana [Mr. MACE] offered  the
induce such slaves to escape from the service of their following amendment:
masters, or to resist their authority, he shall be guilty of  
felo, and be puisled by impionnent at hard labor    Arid the Legislature of said Territory is hereby clothed
for-   a term not lees thani five years."             with full power, at any session thereof, to establish or prohibit Slavery."
Here is another section of this barbarous stat-    This amendment was r                ayes 
uts.                                                     This amendmeent was rejected —ayes 76, noes
ute:
"If any free person, by speaking or writing, assert or 94.-Cong. Globe, vol. 28, part 2,p. 1238.
maintain that persons have not the right to hold slaves in    Another amendment to said bill was offered by
this Territory, or shall introduce into this Territory, print, one of my honorable colleagues, [Mr. FULLEki,
publish, write, circulate, or cause to be introduced into which reads as followsthis Territory, written, printed, published, or circulated,
in this Territory, any book, paper, magazine, pamphlet,   "And the Territorial Legislature shall have power to
or circular, containing any denial of the right of persons  establish or exclude Slavery, as to them shall seem proper.?
to'hold slaves in this Territory, such person shall be deem  In offering this amendment, my honorable colod4 guilty of felony, and punished by imprisonment at hard
labor for a term not less than two years."            league sad:
In the Squatter Sovereign, a newspaper publish-    "sThis bill has been advocated at the North solely upon
the ground that it gives the people of the Territory the
ed at Atchison, in Kansas Territory, by Stringfel-  right to legislate for themselves upon the subject of Slavery
low & Kelly, and which is receiving the patronage  while inl a Territorial state. I declare myself here to be
of President Pierce and his Administration, under  the friend and advocate of that doctrine; ald it is because
this bill does not establish this great American principle,
date of February 19, 1856, I find the following  and vindicate this doctrine, that I am opposed to it in its
advertisement:                                        present state. Now, sir, I wash my hands of any attempt
l to deceive them upon this vital point in the bill. Mly con —
Fopy  SALE.-  very likely NEGR GF.IRL, te. 50   d. stituents shall not be deceived by me."-Cong. Globe, vol.
Apply at this office.         Feb. IS, 1S56. 50 4w."
2S part 2, p. 1239.
We prove here by one of the Administration            My honorable colleague put the only reasonorgans-which, by the way, lauds Pierce and the  able, legal construction  upon  said  bill that it
Democratic party to the skies-that Slavery not would bear.  This amendment, too, was voted
only exists defacto in Kansas, but that little negro  down.
girls are publicly advertised and sold in that Ter-    In further proof of the position  I am  now
ritory.                                                considering, I will cite the thirty-second section
I will give one more specimen of the barbarous  of the " act to organize Kansas and Nebraska."
code of the " border ruffian" Legislature, which  The phraseology of this section is peculiar.  It
is designed to corrupt the very fountains of justice, was artfully drawn; and, while it pretends one
and establish and perpetuate Slavery in this Ter-  thing, smeans quite another.  It first undertakes to
ritory:                                               extend the " Constitution "' over the Territory, by
" No person, who is conscientiously opposed to holding -declaring that
slaves, or who does not admit the right to bold slaves iii   "'lhe Constitution, and all laws of the Uuited States
this Territory, shall sit as a juror on the trial of ansy prose- which are not locally inapplicable, shall have the same
cution for any violation of any of the sections of this act." force and effect in said Territory of Kansas as elsewhere
Thus facts prove that the argument that, on  in the Utilted States, excepting the act preparatory to the
account of soil, climate, or other reason, Slavery  admission of Missouri into the Ulioys."
would not go into Kansas in consequence of the    Who ever before heard of such a monstrous
repeal of the Missouri Compromise, was all a de-  absurdity? Congress, who derive all their power
lusions so far as it had an influence, it every- to act fron  the Constitution, here undertake to
where deceived and cheated the people.                extend this great fundamental law  of the land
Another reason, urged with great vehemence by  over a Territory within the jurisdiction of the
the advocates of the Nebraska bill, in favor of the  United States. When did ever a Congress undermeasure, was this: that it would " establish the take before to legislate the Constitution isnto a Terdoctrine of popz lar sovereignty," and give the people  ritory?  Never, sir; never.  No such provision
of the Territories the right to form and regulate  was ever contained in any previous act organitheir own domestic institutions.  I have now no  zing a Territory: hence,byfairreasoning, Oregon,
time to go into an extended argument to show  Washington, Utah, New  Mexico, and Minnesota,
the utter fallacy of this specious pretence, this  are all left without the protection of the Constifalse light, held out to blind, bewilder, and cheat tution; and Congress can have no jurisdiction




7
over them, for the reason that that branch of the    "If I t ad supposed there XNas any  -ne opinion more
General G —ovetumernt derives all its poswer to legi-  uniersal than any other in the S ruth. it veas the o:'lim0on
General Govermet  derives all its poer to   is- that a Territorial Government,  while it rtltalistild ill a
late from  the Constitution; and  the only legiti-  state of infanety, has no power either to adinit or to promnate conclusion which follows is, that these Ter-  hibiit Slavery within its lilnits. I say t  that this Congress,
ritori'es are oeach now' so many incdepeaden t socer  tltis Government, having no right or power whatever to
admit Slavery cr prohibit it in the Territories, Ihas no right
~eignities, owing allegiance to no power but them-  or power to delegate that power to the Territories themselves.                                                   selves."
After declaring the Missouri Compromise " in-    A distinguished Senator from  Mississippi, (exoperative and void," the same section goes on to  Governor Brown,) a few days since, in a speech
say:                                                      in the Senate, said:
"It being the' true intent and meaning of this act, not   "It will be seen at once that the line of argument w!.ich
to legislate Slavery into any Territory or State, or to ex- I have marked out for myself will lead me to conlsider, to
elude it therefrom, but to leave the people thereof perfect-  some extent. the sdoctrine of' squattw r sovereignty.' This
ly free to form and regulate their domestic institutions in  doctrine, however well designed by its authors, has, in
their own way, subject only to the Constitutioen of the Uni- my judgmentt, been the fruitful source of half oulr troubles.
ted States."                                              Before the people of the two sections of the Union, hayThe deception lies in this-that, while this act ing-as they supposed, though I thitnk erroneously-lhostile interests, and already inflamed by angry passion's,
professes to make a Certain grant of power to the  were invited into the country, we, who gave theln laws,
people of the  Territories, it contains a proviso  should have defined clearly and distinctly what were to
which, according to the Southern sectional con-  be their rights after they got there. Nothing should have
been left to construction  I believed, when the Kansas
struction given it by the Democratic party, entire- bill was passed, that it conferred on the inhabitants of the
ly talkes it away.                                        Territories, during their Territorial exirtence, no right to
The argument to this: The Constitution is the  exclude, or i anywise to intl.erfere with, Slavery."  *  *
XThere seems to be a certain utdlefined idea in the
great fundamental law of the United States.               minds of some men, that the sovereignlty of a Territory is
To make the fraud  less perceptible, by a sort inherent in the peop e of a Territory; that it came to them
of extra-judicial legislation, the Constitution is  fromon high-a sortof political ntlallla, descelldecl from
xtended ovrhTritry hegano           Heaven on these children of the forest. This doctrine. I
extended over the Territory. The grant of power  confess, is a little too ethereal for me; I do not comprohere is made "subject to the Constitution," which  bend it; but this I know-if the sovereignlty is itn the peois another piece of extra-judicial legislation. Then  pie of the Territory. whether they olttaitled it froln Got or
men, the conduct of this Governmeot towards them is
follow  out the Southern construction-that the'most extraordilnary.  It is nothing short of tdownsright
Constitution allows slaveholders to carry their slaves  usurpation and despotism. We itave tnow seven Govern
into the Territories, and there protects them in that ora appoilted by the President, by and with tile advice
a d consent oflhe Senate, to govern tte sevet Territories
kind of property," and you have the whole thing  of tcosentdole e ssevent diera'tt sets of Terin a nutshell. Of course the people of a Territory  ritoria: Judges, appointed ill the same way, to expostie1
cannot make a law contraveninzg t the Constitution. the laws for the seven Territories.'We have Marshals to
arrest. and District Attorneys to prosecute, the inhabitants
Thus it is plain that the act was intetsded, not to  arrest  nd a      tstrtl Attortseys to prnoecute, the it qaita
Thus it is plain that he act was inteded, not t of these sovereiagnties. in their own country. We require
give c" popular sovereignty," but to take it away;  the Territories to legislate in obediencecto our acts; andt
and, by a forced construction of the Constitution, lIet they ray go astray, we sometimes obliae them  to
legislate Slavery into the Territory of Kasnsas.  In  send tsp their laws for our approval. It has happened.
time anid time again, that their legislation has fallen unorder to show that I am  treating this matter fair-  der he disapprobationl of Congress, and thereby become
ly, and donotmisrepresent ourDemocratic friends,  void   Vhat a mckeey to  iscainl tile sovereigrlttty ySnrI will read from remarks of an honorable member  selves, declare that it is in the people of thn Territory, aK!
then send a Governor to rule lhem, Judges to expoutrt
from  Pennsylvania, [Mr. J. GLANCY  JONES,] made  their laws, Marshals to arrest, and District Attorineys to
in answer to certain  interrogatories propounded  prosecute them; and, finially. to require these sovereiclat
to send up their laws for your sanetion; and then, by your
to him by an honorable gentleman from Kentucky, disapprovalto     e      nder         ther  m nullo r
[Mr. Cox,] prior to the organization of the House.
From the acknowledged talents and high  stand-               TheRichmond Enscirer, (Virginia,) a leading
ing of the honorable gentleman from  Pennsylva-  Democratic paper, recently contained an elabonia-from the fact that he was the author of the rate article, from which I make the following sxresolutions adopted by the first Democratic cau-  tract:
cus of members of the House, and is a distin-    "e mtlsst it the Citcinnati platform, repudiate sqWatguished leader of thatparty-feeln er sovereigsnty, ajnd expiresslp assert State equealty.   We  
guished leader of that party —I. feel justified  in:must declare that it is the duty of the General Governdrawing the inference that he truly reflects the  ment to see that no invidious or injurious dis'inctiotns are
optutoCns of that party.                          made between the people or the proper'y of different secopinions. of that party.~tioens in the Territories.'We do not mtcan to dictate.  It
In answer to certain questions propounded  by  may be 1hat the assertion ilt the platform  of the abttral:
the gentleman from  Kentucky, as to the legality  proposition of State equality tmay sat!icee to - arrv aloni;
of the Territorial laws of Ransas, he said:              with it thI consequettees which we desire. But it is often
char-ed that the Kansas-Nebraska bill contains the rdc-'"I  my opinion, the Constitution b-rits the power of  riule of squatter sovereignty, and that squatter sover-igll
Congress to the extent of prohibitilln thenl either from  ty is tile most etficient agettt ol Free-Sotlism.   Some lall]
estabtishl^Xg or ahvolishi-rz} Ftitvery ill the Terrilories. Ad- irolothern Deinocrnats have mnvaintained   this grounrd. Now,
establishing or abolishis,',lavery it the Term teries. Ad-  tr
snittins that view to be correct. I suppose it follows, as a  TtIs GUN-  MUST BE SPIKED. It must app)ear from our platmatter of course, that t5e'e o'oltsitstionl of the Uniited St-ate  fortn that we maintaitn practical State equality, and repilconfers upon the people of the Territor,.Y   o rig'ht to dis- diate that constructioii of the Kallsas-Nebraska act wvhich
possess any man of lis rit'lt to property, whthller it be  would defeat it."
sL~avse or aly] otller pr tsers  sd,  tlherenorle tine Ilets-s;    The doctrine that the Constitution carries Slalative Council of aTIlrritory, thought they rnay paiss laws
regulating the dispos:ti lttl.l   protection of property. have  very into the Territories, and there legalizes and
no right to so administer those laws as to establish or protects it, and that the people of the Territories
abolish thre rtitt to hold that property"                 have no right under the Constitution to legislate
Another honorablemember, ex-GovernorS mith,   upon the subject, except to  "regulate" it, was,
of Virginia, is the same debate, staid                   at the time of the passage of the Kansas-Nebras



ka bill, and now is, the doctrine of the friends of their constitutional attempts to restore the nathat measure.                                      tional honor, and protect the people of Kansas in
Then I ask, sir, what becomes of your siren  the peaceful enjoyment of their civil rights?  If
song of " Squatter Sovereignty," and the right there is, make the most of it.
givern to the people of the Territories by the Ne-    The second general proposition I now desire
braska bill' to form their own domestic institu- to discuss, is the " Sectionalily of the Democratic
tions?"  It is all a baseless humbug, an outrage- party."  In pursuing this investigation, I intend
ous imposition, whose light only                   to speak respectfully, but plainly.  There are;Leads to bewilder, and dazzles to blind."    many reminiscences still lingering about the old
There is one more very important reason why  Democratic party, of a pleasant character. It was
the Missouri Compromise should be restored. It once a great and powerful party. Itwas the
is to protect  thepeople of Kansas in the enjoyment party originally founded by Jefferson; and as we
travel from its organization down the stream of
of their constitutional rights.  As we have already  travel from  its organization down  the  stream of
remarked, the Kansas-Nebraska bill was advo-  time,we find in its front ranks some of the greatest
csated on the ground that it would confer powers, and best men that ever honored and graced our
rights, and privileges, upon the people of Kansas, country.  It was once a party proudly standing
not enjoyed by the people of other Territories  upon a platform  of national principles, around
under their organic Acts.  Now, what has been  which the patriotic of every section, North and
its practical operation? I have now no time to South, could consistently rally. But "how have
answer this question in detail.  Instead of en- the mighty fallen," and the "fine gold become
joying the extraordinary rights promised by the  dim!"  Where stands the so-called Democratic
Kansas-Nebraska act, the people of that Terri- party of the present day? Has it not changed
tory have been hunted down like wild beasts- fronts; abandoned its old landmarks; denied the
been  waylaid and butchered in the streets; they  faith, and gone over to sectionalism?  These
have been lynched and mobbed; their houses questions I now propose to discuss.
sacked   and burne d to the ground; their printing    Slavery can in no just sense be termed a nap      resses thrown ned to the riversound; their property  tional institution.  We have already shown that
presses thrown into the rivers; their property
destroyed; and almost every indignity which the  the  founders of the Republic did not so consider
wickedness of men or devils could invent, show- it.  Both the Constitution and  the  early legisered down upon their devoted heads. lation of the country clearly indicate the fact
The Territory has been invaded by armed  that Washington, and Jefferson, and Madison,
mobs, who have spread themselves into every  and their cotemporaries, looked forward to the
settlement; the  peaceful settlers have been forced  ultimate extinction of this evil at an early day.
to surrender their ballot-boxes at the point of The framers of the Constitutionleft Slavery where
the bayonet, and then driven from the polls.  In  they found it-with the States —a municipal reguorder to show the kind of spirit which actuated lation, subject entirely to their jurisdiction and
these invaders, I read the following extract from  control.  Being left to the States, it became of
the Kickiapoo Pioneer, a paper which supports  necessity sectional.  Beyond the jurisdiction of
this Administration, a-nd receives its patronage: the States where it exists, it has no legal protection.  Again: Slavery is an unnatural right, and;"The South must be up and doin,;  RaynSas must atld  can only exist by virtue of the local laws of the
shall be a slave State  Mark what we say, Southern
freemen! Come a!ong with your negroes, and plough up States.
eevery inch of ground that is at this moment disgraced arid    This question has been so decided by our judidefaced by atll Abolition plough. Send the scorndrels c  ourts,North andSouthl,over and over again
back to whence they came, or send them to hell, it matters not which destilation; suit your own convenienice  But in order to put this matter beyond all doubt,
Sound the bugle, of war over the 1 ngth and. breadth of I will cite two or three authorities from  the dethe land, and leave not an Abolitionist in the Territory to cisions of courts in. slave States.
relate their treacherous and contaminating deeds. Strike
your piercing rifle-balls  nd your glitterinSl  steel to their   In the case of the State of Mississippi vs. Isaac
black and poisonous hearts; let the war-cry never cetse Jones, the Court decided that
in Kansas again, until oir Territory is divested of the last Te rigt of te master exists not 
restig8 of Abolitiollism."                           "The right of the master exists not by force of the law
of nature, or of nations, but by virtue only of the positiiv
Sir, the " Constitution of the United States has  Icw of the State."-Trvlcer's iReports, 86.
been legislated into Kansas," and the people given    In another case in the same State, the Court
" popular sovereignty; " and this is the kind of say:
protection it has afforded them.  All the protec-' Slavery is colndemnled by reason and the laws of nation the National Administration  has afforded  tWr,. It exists. ad,d can only exist, through municipal regthese hardy pioneers has been the protection the  ul;tion"- Hry vS. Decker, IValker's Reports, 42.
"wolf affords the lamb," by removing Governor    The next authority which I read is from  2
Reeder, and sending out Wilson Shannon to en- Martin's Louisiana Reports, 402, 403:
force the bogus laws of a border-ruffian Legisla-  " The te!ation of owner and sgave is, in the States of
ture.  There never will be any permanent peace  this Ulioll ill which it has a legal existence, a creature oJ
in Kansas until the question of Freedom or Slavery  mutzcipal law."
is settled, either by the restoration of the Missouri    I will cite one other authority to this point, out
Compromise, or her admission into the Union as of the many that are found in the Reports.  I
a free State, which is substantially the same  read from the case of Rankin vs. Lydia, 2 Marthing.                                             shall's Kentucky Reports, in which the Court
I now  pause to  inquire, Is there anything  say:
sectional, on the part of the Republican party, in  i Slavery is sanctioned by the laws of this State. IKen



tacky,) and the right to bold them under our municipal left the chair, made a speech -which was reported
regulations is unquestionable. But we view this as a 
r  this as   in the New Hampshire Patriot, and among other
right existing by ptositive law of a municipal character,
without fouLendeiien in the lav ofJ nature, or the znwrittenthings said:
and common law."
and common"I would take the grountd of the no. extension of SlaChattel Slavery has. no existence except in one  very-that Slavery shoacted theo oed law of 1 3ig.  Uit ongrass have only re-entacted the old law of 1793.'iUionsection of the country; therefore, any political party  loving men, desiring peace and loving their country, Conwhich favors Slavery, or in any way lends its  ceded that poilt-unwillingly conceded it-atid, planting
influence to  read   favors one section of the  themselves upon this law against the outbursts of popular
influence to spread it, favors one section of the feeling, resisted the agitation which is assaulting all who
country at the expense of the other, and is most stand up for their counltrv. But the gentleman says that
emphatically a sectional party.  A  party whose  the law is obnoxious. What single tlhing is there connectleading objeqt is to favor the " peculiar institu- man froth Slavery tlort is    B l orioxious? ) Even the gentle
man front 3sslborough (I r. Batchellari cannot feel nore
tions" of the South, can have no element of na- deeply than I do on the subject.:'
tionality abont it.                                    New Hampshire ard  Mlaine have heretofore
I have already remarked that the Democratic  been the two leading Democratic States, not only
party was once a national party. The leading men  inNew England,ut the Union. TheDemocratic
of the party, until within a few  years, held that
Congress had constitutional power to  prohibit party in these two States were the very last to
Slavery in the Territories, and that it is expedient falter and the last to be conquered; for they, like
S, lavery inthe Territories, and that it is expedient
General Taylor, never surrendered."  As long
to exeircise this power.  I have already spoken  ago as 1828, the county of Cumberland, in Maine,
of the position of leading Democrats in the early  the larger portion of which is in my district,
history of the country.  So well settled was this   solitary and pone" in all  ew England, gave her
principle, that when the Wilmot proviso was first   solitary and alone " in all New England, gaoe her
electoral vote to Andrew Jackson.  For this act of
introduced into Congress in 1847, only two Dem- fidelity to the gallant old hero, this county was
ocratic members from the free States voted against
it. Among those who voted for it, were the Hon. long known as the " Star in the East;" and the
it, Among those who voted for it,                    now venerable James C. Churchill, who was the
Robert McClelland, now Secretary of the Interior; 
Sobert McClelland, nowSecretary of the Internor; standard-bearer of the " unterrified " in that great
Senator Brodhead, of Pennsylvania; ex-Governor
fight, is nyw an honored member of the RepubliDunlap, of Maine; and the late Senator Norris,
Dunl ap, of Maine; and the late Senator Norris, can party.  I have seen a letter written by him,
of New  Hampshire.  The late lamented  Silas
Wright, General Dix, of New  York, and other dated Portland, March 21, 1856, in answer to an
invitation from the "American Republicans" of
leading Democrats all over the country, favored  Dover New Ha
the measure.  The leading papers of the Demo-                         m         
celebrate the late glorious victory in that State,
cratic press came out for it.  The Eastern Argus,  in which he says:
the leading Democratic paper in Maine, and the
New  Hampshire Patriot, the leading Democratic    "I congratulate you most heartily and sincerely in havpaperinNew  HampshirePatt,   b g teoo st ing obtained a victory so signial and so glorioun. It seems
paper in  New    Hampshire, both  took  strong  to me the advocate of' Rum' lacks good morals and good
ground for the proviso.  More than this, a ma- judgment; the advocate of extension of' Slavery' lacks
jority of the free States of the Union passed reso-good sense and good prillciples. atd every geod thing for
which our fathers fought and conquered inl the Revolulutions instructing their Senators in Congress to   ion.ur fathers fought ad coquered  i the Revol
go for the measure, and in a majority of these
States the Democratic party held the political con-    In 1832, Maine gave her ten electoral votes to
trol. In 1848, the following, among other Demo- Old Hickory, and gallant Nem IIampshire  heeled
cratic members, voted for the bill organizing the in by her side, with her seven. In 1836, they
Territory of Oregon, with a proviso forever pro- both went for Van Buren.  In 1840 the Democ
hibiting Slavery: Miessrs. Allen, of Ohio; Benton, racy of Maine, after a terrible fight, was beaten
0of Misouri; -right  and  Breese,  of Indiana *only by a few hundreds. "Hard cider, log cabins,
Douglas, of Illinois; Dodge, of Wisconsin; Dix             gold spoons," were  too much for her.  But
and Dickinson, of New  York; and  Iouston, of New  Hampshire, firm  as her "granite  hills,"
TeDxas.-CongressoseYal  Globe.'    breasted the storm, withstood the shock, and gave
Texas. —Congressional Globe. 
President Pierce himself, at a meeting held at her seven electoral votes for Van Buren. In 1844)
Concord, New Hampshire, June 12, 1845, as re-  both States went for James K.Polk; in 1848,
ported in the New Hampshire Patriot, in reply to  both voted for General Cass; and in 1852, both,
eSenator HPrlei saidby overwhelming majorities, chose electors for
Senator Hale, said:                                  F
1     *                                Franklin Pierce.
(" He had only to say now, whathe had always sai1, th l   With this clean Democratic record, where has
be regarded Slavery as one of the greatest moral anid
social evils —a curse upon the whole r otenty;  anlthi- the Democratic party in these States stood upon
he believed to be the senwiment of all men of all pa! i,s tit the question of Slavery prohibition in the Territhe North. Mr. P. was free to admit tl:.t. he la.st 11iin.elf tories?  I answer, just where the Republican
approached this subject oif annLe-xaiton [ot'I ex.i svithll:tI
his prejudices and ireposses:;ios aainst i.,  d o: o  party now stand; and I will proceed to prove it.
ground aLotie-its Slavery liairtre.  I-  couvictio s  ol    The Democratic State Committee of New Ilampthis subject were, as lie had stated, s.ront —not the re-ult shire in October 1847, passed the following resof any new ligrut, but. deeply fixed and abi!il. The oly  olution
difficulty ill his mind ever had beenl. that of a recogmii  i., t
by any iiew act of our Gover inrllt. of thle intituiitii o0  Resolved, That we declare it UnR SOLEMN CONVICTION.
domestic Sla~very; tled lie -iad found it ttrmtelwy di~tcult as the Demnocratic paty have heretofore done, that neither
to bring his itilld to a eonidition impartially to weigh the  Slavery nor invtoluntary servitoude s. ould hereafter exist in
argument for id against the neasure."                 anlly Territory which Iray be acquired by or annexed to
In 1811, General Pierce, in the Convention of the United States; and that we approve of the votes of. 1851, General Pierce, in the Convention  our delegation in Cot0gress in fav~c'r of the W7itmot ProNew Hampshire  for revising  the Constitution, vise."




10'fin 1843, the Lcgi lature  of that State, which  that it is a moral and social evil; that it does volence to
ho$  tIn  ov~erit)eln env r  yne-   ~the righlts of man, as a thinking, reasonable, and respon-l
hal anr  ove,'1e~nljtio Democratic majority, re-  sible being.  Influenced by such considerations, this State
scrived as follows'I                                        will oppose the introduction of Slavery ilnto any territofestlcv'd by t'he Ftera e and Hf e ofI Representsaives i   ~ ry which may be acquired as an indemnity for claims
General Couri co.vesed.'Ihat we are in fsvor of the pas-  upon Mexico.
sage. of' a-l-iw, by Collgress.fo ever prphibitig Slavery in      "Resolved, That, ill the acquisition of any free territory,
New  Mheexico andr  Cadtoriat. nd joe  wll ohe  errilies       ther by purchase or otherwise, we deem it the duty
New  Mexico and Caditoriiia. and in' all other Territories
D                                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~of the Geaeral Government to extend over the same the
tow acquired, or thereaft-r to be acquired, by the United  of the Ge feral Governten t to extedad over the same the
States., iii whiich 51'.leery does not exist at tile time of such 
S~tates, it which tivery does Ilot exisit at tise lilc of such  Ordinance of seventee:l hundred and eighty-seven, with
~~~~~acqui-jl~~~ lol~ ~all its rights and privileges, conditions and immutni-es.
acqui.i ion1."1
"Resolved, That our Senators be instructed, and our
And in 1849, the New  Hampshire Legislature,  Representatives requested, to support and carry out the
still strongly  Democratic, unanimously  adopted   principles of the forego  g resoluttons."
the following resolutions:                                     August 2, 1848, the Legislature of Maine,  still
Resolved by the Senate and House of Represelntatives in  strongly Democratic, passed the following resolu~General Court convened, That, opposed to every form of tions relating to the extension of Slavery in new-;oppression. the people of New Hampshire have ever viewed with deep regret the existenice of Slaveryinthis Union;  ly-acquired territory:
7                ha wiethyhvse.alstl    suppre lsc ions i
that while tthey have steadfastly susporied all sections ill    "Resolved, That Maine Ouly appreciates the concession!heir coinstitutlioaal rights, they have not only lamented  and compromises which led to the adoption and estabits existence as a great social evil. ibut regarded it as  lishment of the Constitution of the United States; and
f'oavght swith danger to the peace and wefare of the nation.    she will cheerfully and honestly abide by the letter and
tdi.,<t,~Jed, That while we res;peet the rights of the slave-  spirit of them. At the samne time she will firmnly resist
holdi,;_ ts well as the free portions  of this Union-while  all demands for their enlargement anid extension.
we A iil iot wililigly consenlt that wrong be done to any    "Resolved, That the sentimoset of this State is profound,
mrattber of tlie glorious Conifederacy to which we belong,  sincere, anid almost universal, that the influence of Slawe ate Jirmly noed  enial&erably opposed to the extension of  very upon productive energy is lile the blight of mildew;
Sltavery over any portion qf Anerican soil nou free.      that it is debasing and degrading in its influence upon
"RI ssol ed, Thiat, ial our opiicon. Cotger su has the con-  free labor; that it ts a moral and social'evil; that it does
ttilttitionalpoiver to abolish the slave trade ansd Slavery in  violence to the rights of man as a rational, thinking, and
the District of Columbia; and lthat our Senatoris be insltruct-  accountable being; influenced by these and other ime 1, and our lepresentatives be requested, to take all consli-  portant considerations, this State will firmly oppose the
tutional aeteastires to acconp:i:lh these objects.-See Speech  introduction of Slavery into any territory acquired as an
of Senator Hlale.                                           indemnity for claims upon Mexico.
Bt ho   hve  the Deocrati    veterans of an  "Resolved, That it is the duty of Congress to prevent, by
But how have the Democratic " veterans of an                                                    t
the exercise of all constitutional power, the extension of
hundred battles" in MIaine stood upon this ques-  Slavery into ter, itory of the United States now free.
tion?  We will see.                                            Resolved, That our Senators ill Congress are hereby
In 184-7, Hon. John  XV. Dana  wcas Governor of  instructed, and our Representatives requested, to support
Maine, andh g   was sronvemno-  and carry out the principles of the foregoing resolutions."
Maine, and the Legislature was  strongly  Democratic.  In his aniual message, Governor Dana                  June 28, 1849, the Democratic party  in Maine
said:                                                      held  a  State  Convention, at which  Hon. John
"The territory which we may acquire as indemnity for  Hbbard  was  nominated    r Governor.   This
claims upon Mexico is friee; shaltl it be made slave terri-  Convention  wats composed of six hundred dele
tory? IThe sentinent of the free States is profound, sit-  gates, at which  the  following  resolutions were
cere, and almost universal, that the influence  of Siavery       ed, nl  on
upon productive energy is like tite blight of mildew-that  pa                      soitary member voting against
it is a moral and a social evil; thatitdses violeice to the  them:
rights of mat, as a-thitkiiigz. reasotiitie. tind respoisible    " Resolved, That the institutioni of human Slavery is at.being; that its existence in tlls territory will shut out free  varice with the theory of or Goverment,  abhorrent
variance with the theory of our Government, abhorrent
labor, because the free man will'iot suomit himself to the  to the common sentimenit of mankinid, and fraught with
degradation which attaches to labor wherever Slavery  danger to all who come witlhii the sphere of its iifluence;
exists.  Influenced by such consiterations, iihe free States  tha lthe Federal Government possesses adequate pooer to
vill oppose the introductioni of Slavery itto the territory  inhibit its existesse in the Terriltries of the Union; that the
which may be acquired."                                     constitutionality of this poce'r ihas been settled by judicial
In speaking of the right of slaveholders to hold  construction. by cotemporaneozs expositions, and by repeated
their sasnhTroeotacts of legislation; antd thit we enjoin upon our Senators
their slaves in the Territories of the United States:  and Representatives ini C-tgress to make every exertion,
he further said:                                            and employ all their itfluence, to procure the passage of
Oni the other haid, the slave States claim that this er-  a law forever exeltding Sleaeley  rout the Territories of
ritory will be acquired, if acquired at a:1. iy he Idlood ad   Califorinia atind New Mxico.
treasure of all the States, oftite Utinoii, to hecomem  the joint  Resolved, That, vhil:  wen most cheerfully concede to
property of all; thsSaoR be bied lb(ol tim b~ettmef ofal nhe-vor
properly of tll; to b   ld fr the elt  of ll  our Southern brethren the right, oin t11 occasions, to speak
poemphtyically tok be  el ibrth cns ls'e.t Oflh js ikced HiGs
emphatically as,'Is  it  tosset   vitli jstie    aid act withi entire freedom oil qiuestiots connected with
rght ~o aqiea psesrorWisoeofhe                      inhright to acquire and poissess iroperty is oiic of thle inthe-,  Slavery in the JTrritories, we claim thle exercise of the
reit rights of man, idtelepetnd  t of'lws aid Cotistiutiois.  same riglit for ourselves; and any atlenlpt, from any quarNo~~~~ ~~~~~             t  wso with cithrightIo is. slave; sth~yate us iNoNTaL
Not so with the right to hisi slave  that i5 AN tSNATOSAL,  ter,, o stigm tiae us or our Representatives for advocating
AN ARTiFICIAL, A SrTATU'rE IeT:rt aid wvhe~t he voleuintarly    tor idefendinrig the opinions of our people upot this su ject,
passes with a slave to a Territory,  where  the siatute rec-  till t", rtpelletl as an unwarrautable acl't of etggressOtt
ognising the right dtoes not exis:, thent at ollce the right       h rits of t li           of ti     e."
ceases to exist. TIE  SLAVE BECOMEO  A FosEE MIAN, wiH         At this Convention a committee, of which ColJUST AS,.IUCH!maIGT TO CLAIM THE..ASTER, AS THE MASTER
50 CLAI~ T      tE SLAVE.TE   onel Ephraim   K.  Smart was  Chairman, was
This is precisely where the Republican party  raised  to report an tddress to  bie people, from
ow  stand.   And  wo  is Governor  Da?  Now   which address I read the following extract:
Minowstand At           wo isBolveroi a,                                  ag a~~)i~ext~l'~~ie
MIinister to Bjolivita, ettd  eqs1oted by  Pseaidesident~'The XWhig party of thii Stat-e wil  tttldoutbtedly preP~~~~ie~~~~rce~~.  ~sent a candidate in oppojitiont to hiim. [Hubbard,.] who
will be a swnift advcatei.t   of Aiti-iu:taver\y principles;  bt
The  Legislature  responded,  and  p'tssed  the  hei will, at the satme titne, lct.ce-saorily er1l htiiself utder
following resolutions, with ottly six niays in the  greater obligatiots to givet a;tl and tcomf'rt to a Presidetit
House  and hy a itrge majority in the Senate               [1`[Taylor] anid Cabitnet hostile to the inhibition of CSlavery ini
our ibrritories.  A Governior with such associates wouvtd
- "Resolved,'That the sentinimeint of this State is profound,  uttterly jail to exert any reoral influence iI fasvor of Fst:Esincere, and almost "rtieersal, tttat the inifluenice of Slave - DOM  N THE TEsRITORmES.  The Anti-Slavery  professions:
ry upon productive etergy- is like the b!ight of mildew;  vwe are sure, of' one who is bound to do the bideing of THo




11
-'RESE',T CABINET AT WASHINGTON, will be taken at their not different from your own, or from tlose usually enter-.rue ralue. The PEOPLE have become JUSTLY JEALOUS Of tained by Northern men. I regard it as a social, moral,
tlose who make such professions, and at the same time cling alnd political evil; and its successful abolition, in my
to the g'reat central power at the Capitol, and FOR FAVOR judgment, would be worth almost any price short of the
rlj:taJE, even submit to THE SACRIFICE OF PRINCIPLES  In the Union itself: The idea of its exte sionI into nlew Territoj rseuzt tensper of the times, it will be very dificultfor szuch to ries tnust be abhorrent to every right-minded and soundobtain power."'                                    hearted men. Nothing could induce me to give my vote
And who is Colonel Smart?  Answer.  Col- or influence to establish it on a single foot of free soil.".
lector at, Belfast, Maine, appoinsted by Pesident   With this letter in their hands, the friends of
y" lefle, while he is now publishing a newspaper Mr. Kimball, on the very eve of the election, went..led the  "Psee Press," pojzng the President to M KI
-e skies, advocating the re. election of General through my district, urging men who had for-,:h e skies, advocating the re-election of General
i'erce with a zeal and fanaticism which thmrows merly been connected with the Free Soil party to
vote for him, alleging, as a reason, that he was
every other Democrat in Maine far into the shade.  more ultra than myself upon the Slavery qestion,
Governor Hubbard, after his nomination, was more ultra than myself upon the Slavery question,
Governor Hubbard, after his nomination, was at the same time producing that letter as evidence
written to by some of his political friends as to at the same time producing that letter as evidence
his position, and made the following reply:
hisposition, and made the following reply:       BMr. Chairman, I could go on at almost any
HALLOWELL, July 17, 1849.  length in proving, by the records of the past, that
GENTLEMEN: Yours of the 16th, requesting a statementhave
of my views in relation to the extension of Slavery into
Territories of the United States now free," is before me. in years past held the same position now occuThe question in all its practical bearings, as a subject of pied by the Republican party; but I have no time
deliberative and solemn legislation, is an extensive one. to put in much other evidence to this point, which
I can only give here a brief statement of the principles
which would guide my action upon it.               I have collected for this purpose.  ButI will now
First. I believe Congress to have entire, constitutional return, and desire to propound the same question
jurisdiction over the whole subject of Slavery in the Ter- to the Democratic party, which the Almighty put
riteries of the United States.
Second. I am opposed to Slavery in all its bearings, to Adam after he had sinned, "Where art thou? 
nmoral, social, and political, and especially am I opposed  and, by the way, that party is very much in the
to its extension.                                  same condition Adam  was when thus intern'oThird. I would adopt all constitutional and equitable
means to prevent the extension of Slavery into Territo- gated; and as he was driven out of Paradise by
ries now free.                                     his Maker for his sins, so the Democratic party
Hoping,gentlemen, that this brief eoseand regardll meet yours, has been driven out of power by the people for the
views, I am, with sentiments of respect and regard: yours,
JOHN HUBBARD.   same cause, with now no very good prospect of
Messrs. ADAMS TREAT, THOMAS M. MERROW, WILLIAM  ever getting back into "Paradise."  But to the
MERRIAm, AUTHOR TREAT, JE SSE SMART, JOHN HODGDON,
P. SIMONTON, G. N. WHITE, NATHAN WORTIITNG, DANIEL         and the answer.
WENTWORTRH, JOSEPH BACHELDER, DANIEL SMITII.        After General Cass, in his celebrated' "NicholIn 1854,the Legislature of Maine-being  in  son letter," in 1848, wandered off South, and pubsession at the time the Kansas-Nebraska bill was lished to the country the fact that a " change had
pending before Congress-passed the following  been going on in his own mind as well as in
pending before Congress-passed the following  others,  out of respect for, or sympathy with, a
resolutions, bnt with six nays in the House, and  others," out of respect for, or sympathy with a
only one in the Senate:                            great political leader-with a love for the spoils,
or an inordinate thirst for power and place, or'"Resolved, That the Senators in Congress from Maine  some other reasons he was soon followed byXno
be instructed, and the Representatives requested, to
oppose in every practicable way the passage of the Ne- inconsiderable number of prominent men of his
braska bill, so called, so long as it shall contain ally pro- party.  From  that day to this, they have been
vision repealing, abrogating, rescinding, or in any way  backing dowt, backing down, and backing down,;onvalidating, that provision of the act of Coigress approved March 6, 1820, commonly called the Missouri until the Democratic party has lost every element
compromise.                                        of nationality, and is now  become a mere sec-' Resolved, That the Governor be reque tested to forward instrumentality, to spr-ad Slavery ito free
a copy of the above resolution to eacht of our Senators
and Representatives at Washington."                territory, and build a great slave oligarchy to
Amongthose who voted for these resolves were  override every other interest in the whole couinHon. N. S. Littlefield, a leading Democrat in my  try.  To allow Slavery to go into the vast fields
State, and four years a member of Congress, and  of Kansas and Nebraska, the Democratic party
President of the last Democratic State Convention  united with the South to break down the great'
in Maine, held in June last, and Hon. Lot M. banner of Freedom in the repeal of the Missouri
errill, another leader of the party, who wvas the  Compact. This party is now using its whole power
i)emocratic candidate forthe United States Senate  to make Slavery national.  Having by sectional
inl opposition to Hon. William P. Fessenden, and  legislation exposed every foot of American soil
is now President of the Senate in Maine.                          g, blighting mildews of Slavery,
During the Congressional canvass in my dis- the party now hugs the viper to its bosom, and
trict, in 1854, and a few  days before election, declares eternal hostility to "restoration," or a
my competitor for Congress, Hon. William  K. correction of the great wrong by them committed
Kimball, came out in a letter, in reply to one ad- upon the best interests of the Union.
dressed to him by Hon. W. H. Vinton and others,    7lat is Democracy in 1856?  Let us examine
inquiring as to his position upon the Slavery  this question.  In order to a right understandi)
iquestion-which letter was extensively circulated  of this matter, I will call the attention of tie lit!,'through the district-in which Mr. Kimball said: mittee to certain resolutions passed by Deme c ris
Conventions in several of the States, as their
" Gentlemen, I have received your letter of the 1st il-  " platform of principles-oas the basis of a nmtion-;stant, and lose no time in replying to it. Upon the general'subject of American Slavery. ynly opirliola, perhaps, are  al organization."




12
First, T xiill read  certain resolutions of the 1 favor Southern interests. Is it a national btenefit'
Democracy of Alabaima, at their late Convention  to extend. Slavery Into  the Territories, or Is it
to elect delegates to the Cincinnati Convention. done for the benefit of a section?  Was not the
This Convention  declared in favor of General fugitive slave law  made for the benefit of the
Pierce's renomination:                                South, and  do  not its  supporters demand its/
Resolved,'8. T'h;rt it is exptlient that we should be rep- execution to protect Southern interests?
resented in the Incrocr:tiic   National Convention upon    The Democratic pl-atform is sectional in all its
sluch condit.ozis as are berellafrlr exp~ressed..sch conditions ls are helt ilerfr eresedatioa  Co  parts; and to call it a "national" platform  is a
"9. That the delegates to the Democratic National Conventioin. to ni;'mioate a.President and Vice President, are libel upon the common sense of every man who
hereby e.xpressly itisttructed to insist that the said Convenltion reads it.
shall adopt a plafotn of principles at the basis of a na-'With all these facts glaring them in the face,
tional o-ga.;ziatioe, prior to the nlomlnation of candidates,
unequivocally asserting, in substance, the following prop- the members of the so-called Democratic party.
ositions: 1. The reeognilion alnd approval of the princi- the supporters of the present national Adininisple of nlon-intervewitllti by Congress upon the subject of
tration. have the unblushing impudence to stand
Slavery in ilhe Territories.. That no'restriction or prohibition of Slatery i, artny Territory shall hereafter be made its up, and say to those of us who have, on the stump
any act of Congress. 3. That no State shall be refused  and at the ballot-box, through good report and
admission into the Utnion because of the existence of Sla- evil report, supported Jackson, and Van Buren,
very therein. 4. The faithful execution and maintenance
of the fugitive slave law.                            and Polk, and Pierce, (until he forsook his friends
"10; That if said National Convention shall refuse to and abandoned his platform,) and have clung to the
Pdopt the propositions embraced in the preceding resol- Democratic party like te mariner to the wrec
tion, our delegates to said Convention are hereby positively
instructed to withdraw therefirom.'                  until there was not a single plank of its good old
The  Democratic Convention  of.Mississippi,  platform left to save us from  perdition, that we
The  Democratic Convention  of Mississippi,h e 
have left the  Democratic party-that  we have
which assembled in January last to elect dele-'gates to the same Convention, passed the follow-  changed and gone over to Abolitionism-when
ing resolutions:                                      they know, and we know, and the whole world
knows that they are the men that have changed,
Resolved, "4. That our delegates to the next National      they  are the             the 
Conveition of the Democratic party, to be held for the  they are the deserters, that they have gone off and
purpose of nominatina ca, didates for President and Vice  offered sacrifices to strange gods, while we are
President, are hereby instructed that they are to insist on      the sacramental altars and consecrated
the adoption lby said Convention of a platform of principles whlich shall contain-                            fires of the "God of our fathers."  While we
"1. A recognition and adoption of the principles of the  are, in good faith, maintaining and defending the
act of Congress commonly called the Kansas-Nebraska  doctrine of Jefferson and the Democratic party,
act.
"2. A pledge to resist all attempts to abolish Slavery  they are bowing down and worshiping the Dagon
i.i the District of Columbia. or. to prohibit the slave trade  god of African Slavery.
bletween the State~.'But it may be said the Cincinnati Convention:"3. A pledge to resist all attempts to repeal the fugitive
slave bill, or impair its faithful execution."        will not adopt the platform dictated by the sevThe Democratic State Convention of Geoqrgia, eral State Convention I have referred to.  If any
the "Empire State" of the South, which, Ithink, one entertains this opinion, he is grossly miswas holden on the Gth of June last, adopted the  taken.  What says the Democracy of Alabama?
following resolutions:                                They instruct their delegates  to "withdraw,"
~Resolved, Tht we adopt as our own the following   unless the Convention comes up to the mark;
resolution. passed ualallimously by the last Legislature of while the Democrats of Georgia declare-they "will
Lieorgia:                                             cut off all party connection with every man and
esolred by the C'eeral Assembly of the State of Geor- party at the North, or elsewh ere,  that does not fully
sia. That oppositioni to the principles of the Nebraska
bill. in relation to the subject of Slavery, is regarded by  and fairly come up to this line of action." It may
the people of Georgia as hostility to the people of the be a bitter dose for Northern Democrats, and they
Soull, atnd that atl ifersots who partakle it such opposi- may at first resist it; but it will be of no use, for
tioit are unifit to be recognii.ed as component parts of any
parly or orgatuzalion not hostile to the South.'      they will have to drink the poisoned draught to
Resolved, Phat in ac cordance with the above resolu- the very dregs. Yes, gentlemen, you have got to
tioutiwhilstwe are willig to'actin party association ilt  take the whole dose; and  however bitter and
all soundi and reliable met in every section of the Unlion,. 
we are not-willing to affiliate with any party that shall nauseating it may be, you have not only got to
tot recoginise, approve, and carry out, the principles and  swallow it, but say you love it.  Every N'orthern
pro,:isions of the Nebraska-Kansas act; and that the Democrat will have to mount the Juggernaut car
Democratic party of Gieordia will cut off all party coiinection with every man. and party at the North or elsewhere  of Slavery, " hold t.he reins, or cra&k the whip,"
that does not come up. fully and fairly to this line of ac- or be thrown overboard to be crushed under the
tiotl.;"                                              ponderous weight of its gigantic wheels.  An
I have no time to refer to resolutions of Demo- honorable gentleman from  South Carolina [Mr.
eratic Conventions in other States; they are all KEITT] the other day, in eloquent but plain lanof the same tenor.                                   Oguage, announced to the Democratic party the
The:Democratic platform  has three principal line of policy it had got to pursue to receive
planks:                                               Southern support.  That gentleman said:
1. The Constitution of the United States carries   "The Democratic party at the North has been cut down
Slavery into the Territories, and there protects it; in the fight. It hats passed through fire atid water. It has
2. No restriction or prohibition of Slavery in  come ut clealsed witl vnietted.arrneits. It is low
tstroTe n  enotigit to do battle for the Constitutioin.,Vill you
the Territories; and                                  swell it, for the spoils, with a motley horde, wearing
3. The maintenance and execution of the fugi-  soiled alid tattered robes?'If you will, give the platform
tive slave law,                                       to the Souzth, and the man to the North."  *  *  *'*  *
"The South should establish iii the platform the principle,
Here is a platform    constructed exclusively to  that the right of a Southern tmanit to his slave is equad ill its 




13
lenagth and breadth to the right of the Northern man to his disruption of these States.  We revere the Conhor4e. She should make the recognition of thie might full, stitution and live up to all its oigations;  and
compliete, and indisputable.",stitution and live up to all its obligations;. and
complete, and indisputable."
There is one other piece of evidence I will offer when we are charged with disloyalty to this
upon this point. Franklin Pierce and his Admin- great charter of Freedom, we hurl back t* charge,
istration are endorsed by the Democratic party. and deny the impeachment.
Of course, what he believes they believe. Now,   But who makes these charges against the Reto show his position and that of the party who  publican party?  What political organization
support him, I will read an extract of a letter stands up to charge the Republicans of this counfrom  Senator Evans, of South Carolina, recently  try with political treason?  It is the so-called
written  and published, recommending  his State Democratic party that has done it, and is now
to go into the Cincinnati Convention.  He says: doing it.  Sir, this issue has been forced upon
to. go. into. the. Cicus, and we accept it. We will not only act on;;President Pierce is a man after our own heart. Both
in words and deeds he comes nearer to our opinions than the defensive, but we "carry the war into Africa.'
anly manl who has preceded him for the last thirty years. How stands the Nebraska Democracy upon this
Our vote may give him the nomination, and my best judg- question?
mellt is that we ought to join in the selection."
I have some recollection about a Southern ConIn the face of these facts, we hear it proclaimed vention at Nashville, in June, 1850. I do not say
in these Halls, upon the stump, and everywhere, for what purpose this meeting was called. I will
that the Democratic party. is a national party.' let Colonel Trotti, a delegate from  South CaroMembers of this Southern-sectional party talk lina to said Convention, give his understanding
with great flippancy about " national Democrats,"'of the matter, by giving an extract of a speech
" national Democracy;" and almost in the same made by him  at the meeting at which he was
breath denounce the only truly national party in chosen.  It may be found in the National Intelthe country as "Black Republicans," sectional- ligencer, in June, 1850.  He says, in giving his
ists, afid fanatics. Black Republicansl Who can own views:
help admiring the taste of a party who, for the   "That Convention should say to the non-slaveholding
want' of argument to sustain their cause, resort to  States, the South will maintain her rights and equality in
the doubtful experiment of dealing in opprobri- the Union, or she will dissolve it."
ous epithets?' "Black Republicans I "  Sir, let   In this Convention figured several distinguished
the party whose very existence is shrouded by gentlemen of the Democratic party.  One of the
the "black" pall of Egyptian night, first wash  resolutions there adopted declares
ouit the " black " stains of its own pollution, before'"That the slaveholding States cannot and WILL NOT
it deals out contemptuous,  reprotachful terms submit to the enactment by Congress of any law imposing
onerous conditions and restrainls upon the rights of masupon its neighbors.                              ters to remove with their property into the Territories of
Mr. Chairman, before closing my remarks, I the United States."
desire to notice another charge of a more serious    I think a majority of the meeting, after getting
character, brought against the Republican party. together, were opposed to taking any violent measThe members of this party are charged with be- ures to bring about a rupture with the General
ingr " disunionists."  Never was there a charge  Government; yet Governor Foote, of Mississippi,
more unfounded, more untrue.  I call upon gen- in a speech in the United States Senate, July 18,
tlemen who make this groundless assumption  1850, says:
to bring out your proof, or "back out." But it  "That there were disunionists there, (though I regret to
was said on this floor, prior to the organization  acknowledge it,) is a fact which cannot be d,rtied, for sevof this 1-louse, that the distinguished gentleman  eral gettlernen who acted a prominent part in the Conven{lom Massac who  with so much abil ttion are understood to have unfurled the flU'g of disunion
from Massachusetts, who wi th so much ability  since the Conventioni adjouraled."-Appen. Cong. Globe,
and impartiality presides over our legislative col. 22, p. 1320.
deliberations, upon a certain occasion said, there    Hon. Jefferson Davis, now Secretary of War
"might come a contingency when he should.be    Hn. Jefferson Dvs, now Secretary of War,
~"migh come a  contingency when  he should be in a speech in the United States Senate, June 27,
willing to let the Union slide;" and almost any  n a speech in the Unted States Senate, June 
C~   ^,1850 when speakino of " disunion " saidamount of holy horror was expressed by the                   
Administration members of the House over this    It is tlt alterlative not to be atticipate'l-one to which
I could look forward to as the last resort; but it is one, r:t
rumor.                                           me say, which under certain contingenlcies I amn utilling to'Now, sir, supposing the honorable Speaker meet; and I leave my constituents to judge when that condid make this remark-which I do not admit-it lilgency arrives."-Cong. Glohe.
is no threat of disunion; it expresses no desire    I could go on and read from  speeches of emifor disunion; and it never can be tortured into the nent gentlemen of the Democratic party, in times
expression of a sentimentfavorable to the disso- past, in which they make direct threats to dislution of the Union under any contingency. I solve the Union; but I will only read two or
defy any gentleman to point me to a single Repub- three extracts from speeches made by Democrats
lican Convention, in any part of the country, that upon this floor, containing their opinions upon
has ever been holden, where anything like dis- this question.
union  sentiments have been uttered.  These    An honorable member from  South Carolina,
charges of disunion against the Republican party, [Mr. BRooKs,] in a debate in this House on the
or any of its members, when investigated -and 24th of December last, said:
weighed in the balance of truth, will all disappear,' The gentleman from Massachusetts has announced to
like the "baseless fabric of a vision."  Neither the world that, in ceriain contiitlencies. he is willing to
is there anything in the political  pinions or let the Untiotn slide. Now, sir, let his contingencies be
is there anything  in the political opinions or I reversed, and I am willing to let the Union slide; ay, sir,
platform of the Republican party, that tends to a to aid ie making it slile."




14
Another honorable member from Virginia, [Mr. notions of constitutional lawv?  Sir, we near a
MCMUtLLIN,] in a debate in this House on the 20th  great deal of boasting about " National Demoof December last, said:,                           crats"-" National Democracy."   These terms
c"One of the greatest misfortnes of the country, Mr  mean nothing but this: a party that is in favor
Clerk, is the fact that our Northern brethren mistake the of spreading Slavery into free territory.  Again,
character of he Souh. They supposethatthe Southern  we hear gentlemen declaiming loud and long
disunionists are confined to the Calhoun wing of the
Democratic. patty. That, sir, is the greatest error that about our "constitutional obligations," which,
the people of the North have ever fillen in!t;o. And I tell when being truly interpreted, mean " catching
you, sir, and I want:the' country to know it-I want the runaway negroes.
gentlemen from the free States, oulr Republicans, our   The   again  we hear t
Seward Republicans, our Abolitionists, or whatever else
you may be called, to know it-that if you restore the denounced as Black Republicans, Disunionists,
Missouri Compro-mise, or repeal the fugitive slave law, Abolitionists. Very well, we understand why these
this Union will be dissoled.
" If the Government goes into the hands of the North, reproachful terms are applied to the Republicans.
into the hands of the Republican party, of the Abolition It is simply because they believe in the doctrines
party-for I like to call things by their true names-I say  of the Declaration of Independence, that the Conif the Government of the country goes into the hands of      embodies the reat
the Abolitionists of the North, and they either repeal the  embodes he geprinciples of personal
fugitive slave law or restore the Missouri Compromise, I liberty; it is because they stand upon the old
tell the House, and I tell the country, that there will then time-honored platform of Washington, of Jefferbe union at the South upon this question."                           of Langdon  of Madison  and
son, of Franklin, of Langdon, of Madison, and
The same gentleman goes on still further to  all the early fathers.  Sir, could the Father of
say:                                               his Country awake from the tomb, and leave the'" And let me ask gentlemen from the North,if this Union quiet retreats of his own Mount Vernon, and his
is dissolved, who holds your National Capitol! But let stately form  again revisit the national Capitol
me say to gentlemen of the North, you cannot get posss- bearing his name-could the sainted spirit of the
sion of this National Capitol.
"'Tle, Capitol now belongs to no section. It belongs immortal Jefferson be reunited to the dust that
alike to North, South, East, and West. But, sir, it was now  reposes amid the solitudes of Monticello,
erected upon slave territory, and if the hand of disunion
shall ever sever the States of this Republic, you shall   again mingle with the living, they would
never take possession of it while I occupy my seat as a both be denounced by this same Democratic party
Representative upon this floor. And more, I tell them  with contumelious opprobriums; they would both
that when the North and the South sever the connection
which now. binds them together, the Norlh will never be denounced as Black Republicans, Abolitiontake possession of this Capitol unless they pass over my ists, traitors to this great Republic, which their
dead body."                                        wisdom and patriotism founded.
The gentleman says this Capitol was erected    Mr. Chairman, we are gravely told, in this
upon slave territory; and, in case of a dissolution, House and other places, that if the Democratic
if the North get any part of the public plunder, party are defeated in the next Presidential elecwhile he occupies a seat, they will have to " pass tion, and the Republican party elect their candiover his dead body."  When I listened to this  date to the Presidential chair, the Union uwill be
remark, it brought "vividly to my recollection a  dissolved.  Let me say to gentlemen on the other
scene that was witnessed in this same slavehold- side of the House, not tauntingly, but respectfuling territory," in August, 1814, when a handful ly, in the face of your threat, we shall beat you
of British soldiers and sailors, after spending  if we can.  If we succeed, (as I trust in God we
about a month upon the waters of the Chesapeake, shall,) then I say again, not to menace, but to
landed, and dragging their three pieces of artil- warn you, Dissolve this glorious Union if you dare
lery up by hand, over this same " slaveholding  do it.  You have practiced this same game too
territory," applied the torch to the Capitol, re- long-you have "dissolved the Union" too mnany
duced it to a heap of smouldering ruins, and, tintes before, to disturb the repose or unsettle the
after destroyirng our library and public archives, nerves of the intelligent, patriotic citizens of
leisurely re-embarked, and quietly sailed away to  these thirty-one States.  Gentlemen, " Othello's
other scenes of operation.                        occupation's gone." Your thundering gasconade,
The Democratic State Convention of Alabama, that the " Union will be dissolved," has died
before referred to, in their fourth resolution de- away in harmless accents, and ceases to alarm
dare-                                             even the fearful and timid.  But, if gentlemen
"That any interference by Congress for the prerenation rely desire to dissolve the Union, why not do'f Sitavery in any of the Territories, vould be an inexcu.-a- something besides talk and threaten?  Why not
b'e a A unconstitutional infringement of the rights of the begin-why not try the fearful experiment? You,Soutil. which, it is the deliberate sense of this Contvemlion,
~,t a osld beC tihe diuty of the people of Alabama to resist erven need not wait a day on the account of the Repub-t tSRUTTIo.N OF TIE TIES THAT BIND TIIIS STATE TO TIIE lican party.  We are as willing to meet you nosw
C'N'ItOS'"                                        as at any future time, and settle this question, if
This is the party which taunts the Republicans you want to try it.  Yes, gentlemen, we will
with the charge of " disunion."  Let this party  meet you upon this question whenever and wherfirst " cast the beam out of its own eye," before ever you present it.  The Republicans of these
it undertakes to "' cast the mote out of its brother's  United States, upon this issue, have but one flag,?eye."                                            the "stars and stripes."  Not one star upon its
Where can you find a Republican Convention  floating folds will they ever see bedimmed or
passing resolves deliberately threatening to " Cis- blotted out-not one stripe disfigured by the lawsolve the Union," if the particular measures of less hand of treason. They have but one mottothe party are not adopted, or if the legislation of the motto transmitted to the American people by
the country shall not happen to conform to their the immortal Jackson, i' The Union-it must be




15
3reserved; " and, like the old hero bf the Her- arism, when you yoursefves applied the smoking
nitage, they are, every man of them, ready to torch.  You have raised the wind, now you must;' swear by the Eternal" it shall never perish at "ride the whirlwind."
the hands of any party, North or South.        But what party continues agitation upon the
A friend some weeks since placed in my hands Slavery question?  Who sends message after
i pamphlet, containing the speeches by the dis- message into both Houses of Congress, falsifying;ikguished Senator from California, Mr. Weller, the great truths of history-denouncing the peoand of three distinguished gentlemen belonging pie of the free States, falsely charging them with;o this House-Colonel Orr of South Carolina, numerous derelictions of duty? Who sends Govp:-Speaker Cobb of Georgia, and General Lane ernors to Kansas to enforce the brutal laws of a
3f Oregon-made in Concord, New Hampshire, bogus Legislature upon the squatter sovereigns
3rior to the last election in that State. Colonel of that Territory? What party is now moving
3rr near his closing remarks is reported to have heaven and earth to force Slavery into Kansas,
4aid:. against the will of the people of that devoted Ter"-Roll back this swelling tide of Republicanism. If you ritory, and in direct violation of an old compact,
lesire to save the Union, you must overwhelm it."  to which both sections of the Union were a party?
This sounds very much like Caleb Cushing's I leave the people and the country to answer these'crushing out."  The distinguished gentleman questions.:alls upon his political friends to " overwhelm    Mr. Chairman, we are deliberately told by the,
Republicanism."  Yes, gentlemen, if you "de- Administration party, that if the Missouri Comfire to save the Union, you must overwhelm it." promise is restored, and Kansas made free-that'But how did the descendants of " Molly Stark," if the old compact of 1820 is substantially carried;he unterrified yeomanry of the  glorious old out-it "will be an end of the Union."  You
GIranite State, respond to this call. Who was make the issue, gentlemen-we accept it. It is a'overwhelmed" in New Hampshire?  Was it part of the mission of the Republican party t(c
the "swelling tide of Republicanism? " No, sir I make Kansas a free State; and gentlemen on the
So, sir!  It was "sectional Democracy "-the other side of the House have chosen Kansas as
legions of the forlorn hope of all that remains of the great battle-ground of Freedom, and there we
that once honored and respectable party, led on meet you. The'designs and purposes of the Reby General Pierce-that was "' overwhelmed." publican party upon this vital question are like
The honest people of that patriotic State "over- the "laws of the Medes and Persians," unalterwhelmed" them, buried them up, and with the able. Our Southern brethren, more than thirty
funereal rites perished the last fading hopes of years ago, for a consideration paid in hand, solFranklin Pierce of a re-election to the Presidency  emnly agreed that the vast and fertile regions of
Who was "overwhelmed" in Rhode Island a Kansas and Nebraska should forever be free terrifew weeks since, and who in Connecticut a few  tory; and we mean to hold you to the contract.
days since?  Was it the "swelling tide of Re-   The great Republican party has taken its posipublicanism?" No, sir; it was this same "sec- tion. Its.banner has been unfurled, and now
tional Democracy "-a party that has gone so far proudly floats in the breezes of heaven, while upon,South, that it has even lost sight of the "North its folds are inscribed in golden capitals of living
star."                                       light-NO uMnP- EXTENSION OF TIIE FOOT-PRINTS OF
But, again, the Republicans are denounced as SLAvERY  9 AttW TERRITORY. Around this ban-'agitators! agitators!!"  Sir, who began this ner are rn  -.,, the patriotic from all sections in
agitation?  The very party who now denounce the Union....
it.  Yes, gentlemen Democrats, you fired "the   But one spirit animates the great army of Freefagot pile," and now, when its roaring flames dom. Their watchword is " Onward! onward!"
send their ghastly, lurid glare in every direction  their battle cry, the soul-stirring words of the iurall over the whole Union, you turn round and mortal Henry-" Give me liberty, or give me
denounce your innocent neighbor with incendi- death."
WASHINGTON, D. C.
BUELL & BLANCH.RD, PRLNTERS.
1856.




TO TIHE OPPONENTS OF SLAVERY-EXTENSION.
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Persons sending us ten dollars and upwards can have the amour
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sired, until the money sent is exhausted. Address
LEWIS CLEPHANE, Secretary,
Washington, D. C.
BUELL & BLANCHARD, Printers, Washington_ D. G