The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-22

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He (Mr. wy was educated In the republican
school All his opinions upon political questions
were strongly tincturcd with the doctrines of that
school. Nowhere In the teachings Of the fathers"
had he found it laid down, that Democracy con-
sisted In wearing the collar Of slavery about bis
neck--in bowling down to heartless money aris-
tocrscy-in supporting the extension Of slavery
over the Continent. Such may be the doctrines
OF the gentleman from Illinois He may best sub
serve his political ends, by standing shoulder to
shoulder with the advocates of Slavery Extension.
He may esteem that man demsgogue who boldly
stands up in the face Of power in defiance Of all
opposition, the advocate of truth, the inaexible
supporter of principle. There are demsgogues,
however, who succumb TO power; who Aatter the
strong, and deride the weak; who are always
found in support Of that policy best calculated TO
advance their interests who are ready to change
opinions with change of dynasty and who ever
lean for support upon some strong, and as they
believe, controlling interest. The Slave Power
has so long held ascendency 10 this Government,
that certain gentlemen seem to think that their
political fortunes are secure only when they stand
in close alliance with slavery They lean upon it
for support; they look to il for promotion T; they
tremble and turn pale at its frowns. Many fear
to stand on the rock of Truth, unsupported save
by Consciousness Of rectitude and duty, who,
sens6e or lnsh r0~ss.ss-. A., ~ ;AS::= .1lc'
weight upon the strong arm oil SOM 4asereo,
o.
Mr.. Chairman, (he continued) l am charged
4 by the gentleman from Illinois with practicing
| the arts Of the demagogue-with keeping alive
miserable excitement" TO secure by own
! elevation TO office When have been found
! at the footstool of power? When have address
ed myself to propitate its smiles or its favor {?
When have | abandoned principle, and taken
refuge in the arms of any great moneyed interest
for succor and protection When have proved
false to my professions, or my pledges? Who is
my accuser7 No, sir, no; | have kept the faith /;
| have redeemed the solemn pledges given to
generous constituency constituency, sir, that
! have stood around me, and sustained me, with
devotion and constancy of which any man, the
greatest in this nation, might well be proud; and,
Sir | would sooner stand against the assaults of
thousand such as the gentleman from Illinois,
than disappoint the just expectations Of the
humblest man who gave me his confidence and
support Does the gentleman from Illinois know
anything about the district from which come
| Has he ever informed himself as to the charac-
ter and political principles of those ] represent
! For his information will tell him, that it is one
Of the strongest Democratic districts in the State
of Pe8DsrIYaDsa.. III by Abolitionsts he means
class of persons who assail the Constitution,
and seek the overthrow of slavery by violent or
unlawful means, then, sir, there are no Abolitioa
lists in my district. II by Abolitionists, the gen.
tleman intends to be understood all such are
opposed to the extension of slavery, then, sir, we
are sill Abolitionsts together IL isthe most rad
icsl, thorough, inaexibe Democratic district in
the State; and has ever been true to the main
tenance of the great cardinal principles of the
| Republican party-opposed to a high protect
| i've tariff, to a national bank, to extravsgant
| schemes of internal improvement by the General
Government to distribution of the proceeds Of
the public lands; and in favor of the independ-
ent treasury, and of every other measure with
which the Republican party has been identified
for the last twenty years. Nay, more it took the
lead in Pennsylvania in support Of many Of these
great questions. The Democracy of my district
advocated the independent treasury, and more
liberal revenue policy, before either of those
great measures had commended themselves to
popular favor with the party in that State. | was
with them then, | am with them now. Ii is
part Of their faith, and part which will not he
compromised or surrendered, that slavery ought
not TO be extended the free soil Of this con-
tinent They embrace this great principle as
part of their creed and they will stand by it to
the last against all temptation and in the face of
all opposition. They will adhere to their princ-
pies they will make them the guide Of their
action, the rule of their conduct They will fol-
low no organization that has for its object the
prOstration of their principles. The gentleman
! from Illinois would read them out of the party
! When they are excluded from the Democratic
party, it will be past hope in Pennsylvania
That State will then have taken its position per-
manently in the ranks of the opposition. But
do not believe that they will allow the gentleman
from Illinois to excommunicate them from the
Democratic party nor will tho demonstrations sf
the entire South move them one jot or little from
their principles.
| have said, Mr.. Chairman, in my judgment
this whole controversy would have been settled
without agitation, and without this protracted
struggle which some gentlemen profess to think
! endangers the stability Of the Union, had the
Representatives from the North faithfully carried
! out the will of their constituents do not intend
| this remark as a reflection upon the gentleman
! from Illinois. His district, for aught know, may
! be as pro.slavery as himself IL is not my pur-
! pose, Mr. Chairman, to reflect upon the motives
or conduct of any gentleman in this House. 1t
would be out of order for me to do 80 yet can
not but feel, that the true way to settle existing
controversies is not by patched-up compromises
which ought to have, and can have, no force, if
made against the public sentiment of the country.
! The principles upon which this controversy should
| be settled are the same as those upon which all
| great political questions should be settled in
| Government like our own-by an honest and
| faithful representation on this floor, and in the
other branch of Congress, of the voice Of our re-
| spectve constituencies Let every man vote as
his constituents desire him to vote--as it was I'M
derstood he would vote when candidate for an
election to a seat in this Hall then, sir, you
would have expressed the voice of the country.
A settlement upon such basis would stand
would command respect. Ii would be in harmony
with the spirit and genius Of our institutions.
Upon this basis alone ought all great questions to
be settled and had it been faithfully acted upon,
the present controversy would never have had an
existence. The question of slavery in our Ter
ritories would have been long since settled, and
settled on the side of Freedom But II would
seem that q different atmosphere prevails here
from that which gentlemen breathe at home. We
have here political combinations looking to the
Presidency, and to the patronage dispensed from
that high office Men become the mere partisans
of Presidential aspirants instead of the faithful
representatives of the People Party interests and
party success exert controlling influence over
the deliberations of Congress. Ii is but short
time since, when the Representatives from the
North, who occupy seats on the other side of this
House, were, to man, the advocates Of positive
legislative prohibition against the extension Of
slavery Ay sir, it was an " old principle Of the
Wing party! A devoutly cherished doctrine
They had always opposed the controlling iDAu-
ence of slavery in the Government The De-
mocracy had always courted and succumbed to
the Slave Power Such, but short time ago,
WAS the universal language Of Northern Wings,
in and out of this House well remember with
what alacrity and zeal they walked up to the
vote--abwsys ready, always anxious 1T not
then prematnre-there no lodging in those
days Who 80 blind as not to see that a great
change has come over the leaders Of that party,
and the representatives of that party this floor
After having obtained power by professions Of
signal and lasting devotion to Freedom, they now
seek to retain it by compromises with Slavery.
They are now willing to abandon the old policy
of enforcing the Ordinance of 1887 Indeed, they
In hnu for e aciion y rnlicu Of