Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-09-04
John Van Buren.

iOu" 'Ho ioIlONHlg bAIuCt HOn nlS speech u
a recent democratic gathering at Washing
ton's Head Quarters, at Newburgh, N. Y.
II is some years since had the pleasure
of addressing, ms ! now have in part, the
democratic electors of the county of Orange
at Goshen We were then assembled in Il
peculiar crisis in the history of the country
aud rs public reference has been nade Ia
your action aud mine upon that occasion, and
we have heeu invited to support an indepcn-
dent organization for the purpose of defeat
ing the democratic party, desire to say why
have found myself compelled to take very
opposile course, aud how enjoy tie pleasure
ofyouf friendly association in the hearty sup
| port Ot the democratic ticket | shall refer
briefly to the question which divided us from
the democratic party-I mean the question
of slavery, aud wish to call your attention
briefly TO The position in which that question
then stood and now siauds.
slavery had existed IN the District of Col
lInihia ever since lis formation in 1900, aud
we hnd taken no steIs prior to 1918 to abol-
lsh u there. The Fugitive slave law wns
enacted in l7y3 and was therefore the law
ior more tIull halt century IN 1878. Thus
cIrcunI~lnnccd the course Ul the democratic
party had been uniformly the Snmc--to dis
courage the agitation oi this question. to sui.
ter II Ia lr dealt with by time aud the State
authorities, aud to trust To them for the result.
w lille thus situated, we came to have fifteen
Tree and fifteen slnvehuldiug states. A large
urritory, sufficient 10 form dozen new states,
was added 10 our dnuuiOns, aud the propo-
sliion wns made To extend slavery but after
wards the purpose was declared OF carving
slavery into the free territories, aud the SOUTH
ar portion Oi II, stated they would so carry
IL; that they would not support any mnn for
President ar Wee President who denied their
right 10 do 80, aud they claimed to go into
the election Oh that bnss. This was an en-
iirely new question; it had no connection
with abolitonisn, but il led to the formation
~ other stntes at lree-sol party. The
great question was, whether the next state
TINT came into the Union should be free
whether majority of the states of this Union
should be free? or whether il should be q re-
p',slic ofireedom, or ofsIwery.
Now, how does this question stand? lam
nj all times prepared to act in a suitable way
10 carry out my convictions upon il. Slavery
has not gone into those territories; California
has been added To the Union, free slavery
hns been prohibited in Oregon; il has not
been forced into Utah, or New Mexico. This
great result, then, OF resisting the extension
OF slavery has been accomplished not in the
way anliripaIrd-hut the way is immaterial,
nnd say Ihereiore,the very question that led
10 the organization OF the free-sol party, is
by common consent u. nn end, settled 10y the
action of Congress. (Cheers.)
Now, elaborate appeals have been address
ed 10 the democrats ofNcw York to induce
them 10 form n party to defeat the democratic
candidates, and for the purpose ofnbolishing
slavery in the District of Columbia. You
who noted with ne will remember that we
started Tor the presidency in 1918, man
who declared he would veto law nbolshng
slavery ia the District OF Columbia, aud who
snid he was unqunlifedly opposed to it,
Would you be asked for the purpose of re-
penling the Fugitive Slave law, 10 form an
independent party? lhe constitution gives
the Shareholder right to come into n state
and take his property they have n right to
it, ana without a iull aud cordial recognition
OF every part of the constitution this Union
cannOr stand.
don't belong to those who believe in
law higher than the constitution of the Uni
ted States. We don't net with those who be-
lievc II WIS an atrociOus bargain made 10y
our lOreiailIers; il was an honest contraci,
made hy men whose memories are cpnse-
Grated IN our hearts. We will not reject the
wisdom which was hidden to Washington,
and JrfirIson, aud Adams, and Madison, and
revealed only To Garrison, aud Abby Folsom,
and Frederick Douglnss, whenever they
choose to make law that will be practically
operative for the surrender of fugitive slaves.
In the mean time, it they desire to oppose
the present one, have no objection.
Now, such is the condition of this question
aud such being its condition, the democratic
party assembled nt Baltimore and nominated
for the Presidency two uninpeaclnble dem
0crnIs, who hnve never deviated from the
true democratic policy, except the one to
which we reier-One of whom resides in Al
ahnnn, nnd the other in New Hnnpshire-
two states which, in the dark hour of 1870
when New York fell from the side of her
son, who wns n candidate, when all around
WINS defeat aud discOurngenenr, Alabama
alone IN the southwest, aud New Hampshire
alone, in the northeast, stood firm, aud gave
the democratic candidate her vote.
Now, whnt have they resolved upon this
subject? Why, that they will abide by the
compromises that have been made upon this
subject. Ia that resolution concur They
do not say, as they could not that they APP
prove Of these measures. One of The candi-
dates, Mr. King, opposed them; the state of
South Carolina was opposed to them, and
for n long time agitated the question whether
she would stay in the Union. They ucqu-
esced in aud submitted 10 them, however,
so we nsk them 10 unite in this joint resolu-
lion. They have resolved that this subject
shnl not be agitated. ! say il is right SO to
do. | say for fifty years we did not discuss
il; for That time we stood up aud snid this is
"a delicate question. For fifty years we re-
fused to discuss il till presented in the new
slnpe To which have ndverted; and say
now, we should appeal 10 their sense of JUS
tice and manhood, and my word for il, take
Of the outside pressure which was nevita-