The republic., 1851-09-05


signed TO break up the public slave establishments
which had been located there 1t does not affect
the right of any citizen of the District to import
slave which he has purchased for his own use, ana
therefore does not affect, TO any extent whatever,
the rights of the citizens of the adjoining States to
sell to any citizen Of the District Tor his own use,
this description of property stli' Il Is an attack
10 some extent, upon the right OF alienation; and
although, as an original question, should MT
have given this part of the Compromise measures
my sanction, yet will not run the risk oi losing
all the good which has been secured to the South
by the passage of the Fugitive Slave bill, by any
attempt now TO repeal this Objectionable feature,
am willing to stand by the whole, as measure
of peace and reconciliation, and eminently condu-
Give to the perpetuation of the union of these
States.
While, therefore, shall give my hearty support
to these measures, and shall advocate their uncon
ditlonal fuhment by the free States, in carrying
out faithfully the provisions of the Fugitive Slave
law, lam free to declare that | shall go far
he who may go farthest in resisting all encroach-
ments upon the constitutional rights of the south
ern States, and shall be prepared TO meet any
emergency in which the nation may be involved,
growing out of any attempt to impair the security
of their property, the failure Of other States to
discharge their constitutional obligations.
In reference TO the tariff, question which, from
present indications, is likely also to be brought up
in the next Congress, ] have only TO say that this
has never been, and never can be- In the nature oil
things, made mere party question. II 10 one 30
purely OF sectional character, and addresses
itself SO thoroughly to the selfinteresr OF in
dividuals, and of classes OF individuals, that
no mere party division OF men can ever be
brought 20 unite, as such, upon any well-defined
principle of universal application. A uniform tariff
OF duties, which might operate benehcally upon
one class OF domestic operatives might operate IN
Juriousy upon another, and the dlfhculty OF com
ing to a common conclusion would be greatly in
creased by the degree of protection which this or
that rate Of duty might afford to one or the other OF
the differ ent branches Of domestic industry seek
ing the advantages of protective tariff The only
true rule, looking to state of uniformity, 1t seems
to me, would be strict adherence possible TO
the revenue standard; and yet such determinations
might be made, in levying duties for revenue, as
would bring protection to those branches OF domestic
industry which faithful representative, looking to
the wants and interests of his immediate constitu-
ents, might feel IT to be his duty as well as his In
clination to promote As for myself, / have never
doubted the constitutional power TO lay duties with
a view to protection; and the only consideration
with me, in reference to this whole question OF the
taxing power OF the Government has been rather
one of expediency than of constitutional power. 1t
is very well known that have always advocated
the levying by Congress of retaliatory duties upon
an amount of imporations from those countries
which have imposed such heavy duties on our
great staple, tobacco, equal to the amount exclud-
ed by their unjust and onerous restrictions. Upon
the productions of both France and England
would lay high retalatory duties, until they mani
fest willingness to do US justice by lessenipg the
burdens imposed tobacco trade. am well
aware that such system OF Legislation would
operate also to the advantage of many other
branches of our domestic industry, at least SO long
the retaliaory duties in existence; and to
none more advantageously, perhaps, than to the
iron interest of Maryland, as well as to certain
other manufacturing interests of the State but, in
doing so, ehould have the qualification to know
that the great agricultural interests of my con-
stituents would at the same time be promoted, and
should feel gratiied at the success of measure
which afforded such conjont relief to many
different interests Of the people of my State.
shall continue to exert all my efforts to the promo
tion of SO desirable result; and in the arrange
m toft he tar / nd tie he le Of
no duties with view to the protection of any par
ticular branch of domestic industry, unless at the
time they be SO levied as to promote the agri-
cultural interests of the State confess feel
deeper interest in this department of human labor
than in any other, and shall strive to devote my
main efforts to the furtherance of its success and
to the advancement of its prosperity.
take pleasure in saying, also, that j shall give
my hearty support to the present administration
of the General Government The faithful and en-
ergetic manner in which the present Executive
has discharged his duties, in executing the laws of
the country, and the firm and decided purpose he
has exhibited, to carry out in good faith, the Com
promise measures Of the last Congress, deecrve,
in my Judgment, the appreciation of the whole
country.
In conclusion, fellow citizens, feel constrained
to say word or two in reference to my opponent.
am sure he will believe me to be sincere when
declare that have for him personally the great
est respect, and the highest admiration of his char
acter and abilities l have been, for many years,
on terms of intimacy with him, and in the bonds
OF an uninterrupted friendship. nope 10 Oe per-
mitted TO remain still. My opposition to
him this occasion is, ! can assure him,
companied with bitterness of feeling. i'm
pute blame to him. My cause of COM
plant is with other and different persons-I
mean that self appointed and self constituted
body of men who met at Bladensburg the
30th day of August, under the name and style Of
convention OF the Wing party, without warrant
of authority, and with no single particle of power
iegitimatey derived from any source whatever,
much less the Wing party of the district, under
took to prescribe me with spirit of relentless and
obstinate persecution, which would have well be-
come the bloodiest and most proscriptive days of
the French triumvirate. feel myself impelled by
every consideration of selfrespect to resist with
all my might, the contamination of their unjust
designs; and with unkind feeling towards my
opponent, but more in sorrow than in anger,
have entered the arena of political strife to protect
my political reputation from their ruthless assaults;
and to the verdict of a just and generous people
forced to look for that retributivc justice which,
sooner or later, is to overake " the doers of
evil and the workers of iniquity."
THOMAS F. BOWIE.