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

neoA-ih lowing uown 70 heartlees money ar1s-
tocracy--in supporting the extension Of slavery
over the Continent Such may be the doctrines
OF the gentleman from Illinois He may best SUBJ
serve his political ends, by standing shoulder to
shoulder with the advocates of Slavery Extension
lie may esteem that man demsgogue who boldly
stands up in the face Of power in defiance of all
opposition, the advocate Of truth, the inflexible
supporter Of principle. There are demagogues,
however, who succumb to power who istter 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 it for promotion they
tremble and turn pale at its frowns. Many fear
to stand on the rock of Truth, unsupported save
by a consciousness Of rectitude and duty, who,
sensible Of their weakness, lean with their whole
weight DDoo the strong arm Of some great interest
... - = sN'.''
Mr.. Chairman ibe continued) am charged
~, e~---~.----. -.-.4---e pia.,..e.~e
the arts Of the demagogue-with keeping alive
a miserable excitement to secure by own
elevation to Office. When have | been found
at the footstool Of power? When have address
ed myself to propitiate its smiles 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 accuser? No, sir, mo- have kept the faith
| | have redeemed the solemn pledges given to a
| generous constituency-a constituency, sir, that
! have stood around me, and sustained me, with q
! 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 a
| 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 il is one
of the strongest Democratic districts in the State
W. p eEHSysy------ " S,ol aonists he means
a class of persons who assail the Constitution
and seek the overthrow of slavery by violent or
unlawful means then, sir, there are no Abolition
lists in my district. II by Aoolitionists the gen.
tleman intends to be understood all such as are
opposed to the extension of slavery, then sir, we
are all Abotionists together. IL sthe most rad
ical, thorough, inhexible Democratic district in
i
tenance of the great cardinal principles of the
| Republican party-opposed to high protect
! i've tariff, to a national bank, TO extravagant
schemes Of internal improvement by the General
Government, to a 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 q
part Of their faith and part which will not be
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 ard they will stand by it to
the last, against all temptation and in the face Of
all opposition They will adhere to their princi-
| pies they will make them the guide of their
action, the rule of their conduct They will fol-
! low no organization that has for it's 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 the dAaanAiatie~e Of
the entire South move them one jot or title 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-savery as himself IL Is not my pur-
| pose, Mr.. Chairman, to reflect upon the motives
or conduct of any gentleman in this House. Ii
| 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 a
| Government like our 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 a candidate for an
election to seat in this Hall It then, sir, you
! would have expressed the voice of the country.
A settlement upon such r basis would stand
would command respect. 1t 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 il would
seem that a 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 asprants instead Of the faithful
representatives of the People Party interests and
party success exert controlling influence over
the deliberations of Congress 1t is but a 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, il was an " old principle Of the
Wing party! A devoutly cherished doctrine
They had always opposed the controlling infu-
ence of slavery in the Government The De-
mocracy had always courted and succumbed to
the Slave Power" Such, bat 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--a,ways ready always anxious. 1t was not
then premature--there was no lodging in those
days Who 30 blind rs not to see that great
change has come over the leaders Of that party,
and the representatives Of that party on this floor
After having obtained power by professions Of
signal and lasting devotion to Freedom, they now
seek TO retain il by compromises with Slavery.
They are now willing to abandon the old policy
of enforcing the Ordinance of 1887, Indeed they
have abandoned it for the " on-sction policy Of
the late Executive. The new dynasty, it is said,
favOrs a different policy; it is disposed, so says
rumor, to take passage in the Omnibus, which has
been numbering its way for months through the
Senate. lfthis be so, we shall soon see cores
nnndinQ change In the nnsitinn of marty leaders