Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1852-09-20


stand the manner in which the democrats will
manifest their resistance am now agitating
this subject, and what will you do about III
Now, | hope gentlemen will not feel any partic-
ular deIicacy in showing their resistance. Don't
be alarmed, gentlemen; just stand up here, and
now before the country; show your resistance.
Be not afraid ,genlemen-I am less than the strip
ling of Israel who went forth to meet Gollah =
GU stand pledged to resist Gods truths--to sill
ence the tongues Of freemen. | meet you and
hurl defiance at you, and your infamous attempts
to sthe the freedom Of speech. And now, who
speaks for the carrying out Of this resolutions
Mr.. Chairman, we may E'call spirits from the
vastly Deep but they will not come.
repeat TO the Democrats: | want to know
what you are going to do? You are bound to re-
sist.
MIR. Durkee, lin his seat.) Their tongues are
| lied. ..i-..I ID t..s ser4 aa1a
Mr. Giddings. You are friend of liberty and
not authorized to speak for them. [Laughter.]
| want some one to answer who is authorized to
speak for their party. | ask respectfully ofmy
colleague from the Clrceville district, what do
you mean TO do? How will you resist me?
Mr. OIds. am well aware there is no time
to reply to an in'errogatory while the gentleman
is making speech. 1.-The asks me how, as an
Ohio Democrat, | viii resist the agitation of the
slavery question here and elsewhere, will ans
wer him in minute | shall resist it here by
voting against the suspension of the rules for the
introduction of the apple of dscord into this
House. shall resist it al home by telling my
people to stand by the compromises of the Consti-
tuition, and 'rather bear the ills we have than fly
to others we know not of. -
Mr.. Giddings. Mr.. Chairman, nv colleague
has given an answer entirely satisfactory. He
will vote against any suspentlon OF the rules for
Introducing the apple Of discord. He is perfectly
safe. No motion was ever made to suspef.d the
rules for that purpose, or ever will be. But I'M
derstand, that when in Committee of the Whole,
as we are now, and a member agItates the slave
question, he will sit quietly by and say nothing.
His resistance will be like that Of my Wing
friends TO slaveholding dictaon; he will sit still
and bear it, silently acquiesce, US they now d.
! That is the very resistance which approve. 1t
is safe-itwilI injure no one. But at home, he
goes for the compromise, for agitation. He him
self is to become an agitator. Well, sir, wish
the Democratic party joy, in having such agta-
tors among them.
The Wings in their Convention, also resolved
that they swill discountenance all efforts to con-
tinue or renew such agitation aCeneUer tchereUer,
and however the attempt may be made.'' The
language of this resolution differs from that Of the
Democracy, but its spirit and object is the same.
They intend TO suppress the freedom of speech
here and among the people. On this point, the
two great parties of the nation have cordially
united A coalition for more odious purpose
could not have been formed. Duty to myself, to
this body, and the country, demands ex-
posture of this conspiracy against the Constitu.
ten, against the rights of members here, against
: the people.
! MIR. Chairman, is it contemplated 10 silence
/ the popular voice in this HALF If that be not the
case, these resolutions mean nothing. They are
mere 6 6r1ium fuLmen,'' made for show, to
frighten men of weak nerves. They may do
very we'll among doughiaces; but when those
parties attempt to brighten Flee Sellers, they
should better understand their opponents.
The Wings and Democrats, united, have SUI.
ficient numbers to vote US down, to silence us;
but they will not do it. They dare not do it.
The Constitution has provided "that Congress
shall pass no law abridging the freedom Of
! Speech That Constitution we have sworn 10
support, and, by the blood of our ancestors, we
will maintain it,. Shareholders and doughiaces,
Wings and Democrats, may combine to trampe
that sacred instrument under their feet, by sup
pressing the freedom of speech but, sir, they
have not the moral power to effect that object.
/ Agitation or discussion is not only TO be put
down here, but among the people; they are to
have no more antl-slavery meetings; no more
! Free Soil Conventions; no more sermons IN favor
of Gods law; no more PRAYERS to Heaven for
the oppressed Of our land; the Declaration Of In
dependence is TO be burned; our printing estab-
lishmens broken up, and our social circles are to
speak no more of the rights Of all men to enjoy
life and liberty. a new political police is to be
established, and the American people placed uil-
der slave holding surveillance. Our literary VIII
tiers are 10 be driven into exile But am paying
| undese1ved attention TO these base, these puere
attempts to stihe discussion the subject of hui
rnanv. bold these resolutions in unutterable
contempt. | trampe them under my feet.
spit upon them. Their authors, those who adopt
ed them, had better have been attending some
Sabbath School, gaining intelligence and qualify
ing themselves for useful employment. ae
Aud here will leave this ridiculous attempt
to ape the despotisnis of Europe by sitting dis
cusson upon the absorbing question Of liberty
/ | will now proceed to examine the reasons
/ why these resolutions were adopted.
Why should these parties in their National
Conventions take Congress, the Constitution, and
1 people under their control, and command univer-
sal silence upon certain measures? Evidently
4 because investigation and discussion would en-
danger the future success Of their organizations
The very proposition shows that they have no
confidence in the people. The man or party who
strives to silence discussion; to shut out truth, ad
mits that he is in error. No man, or patty, who
feels that he is right, hesitatesto let the whole
truth be known. He feels that he will be vindi-
Gated by the development of truth, and his honor
will be sustained. h2
But why should the Wings and Democrats
unite to keep the truth from the public eye, in
re0ard to the cOmnroinise measures2 WhV sir.
the first Of those measures was that, establishing
territorial government in Utah, admitting slavery
and the slave trade to be established there, on
soil cpnsecrated to freedom by Mexican laws
l welFknow the people were told that slavery
could not 90. there, as it. was excluded bY the