The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-01

understood. that the Democrats OF Ohio do not
consent to that arrangement. They consider
slavery to be an evil of such magnitude that
they will feel it their duty at all times TO use
all constitutional power to prevent ITS increase
The Convention also endorsed the constitu-
tonality Of the fugitive slave bill, in opposition
to the views of large portion OF the Democrat
ic party. who consider it to be unconsttutlOn-
nj, as well as the essence and embodiment OF
Federalism Ii Is strange that such a course
should have been pursued, while no one has
yet satisfactorily shown its constitutionallty, or
attempted to answer the argument of the gen
tlcman from Massachusetts, Mr.. RANToUL.
And tins. too. i'm the face at one of the first
resolutions adopted at Baltimore" that the
Federal Government is one of limited powers,
derived solely from the Constitution, and the
grants of power made therein ought to be
strictly construed by all the departments and
agents OF the Government and that al rs iner-
pedicnt and dangerous 10 exercise doubtful con-
ShtuttOndl pOUerS' And the Convention fur
Their pledges the party to abide by law that
abolishes jury trial, allows er pdrte evidence,
creates swarms of petty officers to enforce 1t,
gives double compensation to find every
claim set up in favor Of the master, and pays
the expenses of returning fugItiyes from the
public Treasury.
The Convention also undertakes to make the
endorsement of these measures a test of party
fidelity. On all the old party issues, any varia-
ton of opinion may be tolerated. The Penn
sylyanians who come here asking for IA protect
i've tariff on iron and those of us from Ohio
who are for free trade and direct, instead of
indirect taxation. are, so far this is concern
ed, good Democrats. Our Western friends who
come here asking alternate sections for canals
railroads plank roads, and almost every other
imaginable purpose and Frank Pierce, who
voted against appropriations Tor our Lake har-
bOrs are equally good Democrats. One thing
only is ncedful. All must pronounce the shib-
boeth Of slavery just rs shareholders require it
to be pronounced then they can pass, and not
without. This is the sine qua non-the pathog-
nOmonc symptom OF the Conventions De-
mocracy.
The Convention also agreed to suppress all
agitation of this question Think Of 1.-THE
Democratic party going to suppress freedom of
speech, and to permit to remain in eternal quiet
the greatest political and social wrong that
ever existed in this or any other country.
And the candidates nominated by the Con-
vention were evidently selected not so much
for great ability or eminent services in the
cause OF Democracy as heretofore understood
but manly and chiefly because they are unex-
ceptlonably sound on this slavery question In
Just so far as these candidates stand on this
Compromise platform and are understood to
be ITS embodiment and representatives, they
fail to represent what | understand to be ma
tonal and Democratic ground In that posi-
ton cannot give them my support.
protest against all these interpretations into
the Democratic creed, and against any such |
Interpretation of Democracy as makes it the |
lily OF slavery and oppression. Democracy
md slavery are directly antagonistic. Dcmoc-
acy is opposed to caste-slavery creates it
Democracy is opposed to special privileges
iavery is but the privilege specially enjoyed
~ one class to use another aS brute beasts, and
axe their labor without wages. Democracy is
or elevatlng the laborngmasses to the dignity
II perfect manhood-slayery grinds the laborer
nto the very dust If the Wing party chooses
o form an alliance with slavery, can see no
adcal objection The Wing party has always
avored class gislaton-slayery is but the ex-
RENE Of class legislation The Wing party
.lways tavors the grant of special privileges to
ONE, with the idea of developing the resources
nd wealth of the country-slavcry is nothing
more than the privilege some have of living out I
''hCi'' anu ~ ~ NstIu " Dt blllN way lHc |
wealth and resources Of the South can be
developed. The Wing party has ever been the
aliant defender of vested rights What is
laycry but a state of things based on the
cgally acquired ghts of the master main
am, therefore. that the Wing party, if either,
'ught obc considered the natural ally ofslavery,
md that tho nomocrotio party hoo n hi Cher
md far nObler missiOn--a mission however
rom which it has been attempted to be divert
81 by the action of the Baltimore Convention
! now ask southern men. what have you
gained by the course pursued at Baltimore!
lave you stopped agitation! A convention of
men calling themselves Democrats assembled
1t Baltimore, and resolved to put - stop to the
laycry agitation in Congress This was
'Iccc OF impudent assumption Did that body
mean to forbid us to speak what our several
Constituencies send us here to say! But if
southern men in Congress should attempt to
AIRY out that resolution, will they succeed
hey have not yet. The gentleman from South
'arolina. MIR ORR, from Tennessee, Mr..
iENrRY. from North Carolina, Mr. SrANLY.
rom New York, Mr. ScHooNMAKER, and
rom Massachusetts MIR. RANToUL, have made
pccchcs on that subject, while only one of any
cngth has been made on any other subject
ucc the adoption of the resolution But that
promise to stop agitation in Congress- is not
merely an empty sound it is worse-t il
raud, promise made without the ability or
Intention of performance. You stop agitation
here | would like to see the operation tried
The rules of this House are so framed ~ every
body knows, as to give to minority the power
20 put stop to all business when they choose
This has heretofore enabled shareholders, always
n minority, to do as they pleased How
many months did they stayc off the admission
IF California But this is game two can
play at. 1t is a poor rule that will not work
both ways Does anybody think debate could |
be stopped Nobody supposes it What !
would become of business, if this Quixotic /
of stopping agitation should be at
tempted! The pledge is an insult and fraud /
You cannot stop our mouths if you try and /
You dare not make the trial But have you
all forgotten the maxim of the man all true
Democrats delight to honor, that error of
opinion may be tolerated, 50 long as reason is
left free to combat it, Only think of men
calling themselves JeIlersonian Democrats say
ing the Declaration of independence is merely
II rhetorical flourish, and that the Jetlersonian
Ordinance of 1897 il unconstitutional, and that
free discussion on any subject must not be
tolerated
But will tell you when agitation will stop.
When You can root out all sentiments of
humanity and Justice from the hearts of the
American people when you can still the voice
of conscience in the South, and keep your own
sons and daughters from disclosing the secrets
of your prison-houSc =" when you can hide
from view the effects of that blighting curse of
slavery upon your soil then perhaps you may
hope to stay the sound of agitation But be-
fore You can stop agitation you must, in addi-
ton to everything else render men inscnybe
to sentiment OF national honor and rcputa-
ton
Some twelve years since, was II medical
student IN Paris. On one occasion. while we
awaited our professor, one of my friends. an