The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-03-10


fully maintain the rights Of man, as man. |
Living, practical, earnest democracy impera- |
lively requires us, willie carefully sbstaining
from unccnstitutio al interference with the
Internal regulations Of any State upon The
subject q slavery, or any other subject, y in
sistiupon the spplicstion 81 Its great
principles in all the Legislation Of Congress.
.sIFepeat, sir. that We who rmaintaiu these
principles will stand shoulder to Shoulder With
the men Who, differing from US upon other
questions, will yet unite with us in opposition
to the violation Of plighted faith contemplated
by this bill. There are men, and not a few,
who a.e willing to adhere TO the compromise
of 1850. If the Missouri prohibition, which
those compromises incorporates and preserves
among its. own provisions, shall be repealed,
abrogsted, broken up, thousands will cay,
Away with all compromises; they are not
worth the paper on which they are printed;
we will return to the old principles Of the
Constitution! We will assert the ancient
doctrine, that no person shall be deprived Of
life, liberty, or property, by the legislation Of
Congress, without euc process Of law. Car
rying out that principle into It's practical ap-
plications, we will not cease our efforts until
slavery shall cease to exist wherever it car
} be reached by the constitutional action of the
Government. o.. .- -, .f... -..-....f 4 e.
Sir, have faith in Progress. have faitt
! 10 Democracy. The planting and growth o
this nation, upon this western continent, wa
: not an accident. The establishment of tn
American Government, upon the sublim
r principles of the Declaration of Independ
! ence, and the organization of the union o
! these States, under our existing Constitution
'f was the work of great men. inspired BY gres
g ideas, guided by Divine Providence. Thes
b men, the fathers Of the Republic, have be
l. queathed to US the great duty Of administer
E. ing the Government which they organized
IN as to protect the rights, to guard the inter
Is ests, and promote the wel-being Of person
Iy within its jurisdiction, and thus present
d. the nations of the earth noble example {
N wise and just self.government. Sir, hav
III faith enough TO believe that we shall yet full
p this high duty. Let me borrow the inspir'
A. lion of Milton, while declare my beli
g. that we have yet a country "bot degenerate
Sc nor dropping to q fatal decay, but destine
Sc by casting off the old and wrinkled skin
In corruption, to outlive these pangs, and wa
~ young again, ana, entering The GLORIOUS WAY
ts OF pRUTH AND PROSPEROUS VIRTUE, BECon
a. GREAT AND HONORABLE IN THESE LATTE
e. AGES. Methinks | see in uy mind q gre,
ID and puissant nation rousing herself like
lstrong man after sleep, aud shaking her inviI
~ chile locks, Methinks see her as an Gag
IN mewing her mighty youth, and kindliag h
ss undaszLed eyes AT THE FULL MIDDAY BEAl
y, purSing and uAscaling her Iong-abxsed sig
K AT THE FOUNTAIN ITSELF OF HEAVENLY r.
IN DANCE; while the whole noise of timoro'
it and hocking birds, with those also that 10,
IA the twilight, flutter about, amazed at VIII
e. she means, and in their envious gable wou
or prognosticate year Of sects and schisms
Sir, we may fulfil this sublime destiny
4, we will but faithfully adhere to the gre
n maxims Of the Revolution; honestly carry in
ed their legitimate practical applications Il
lg high principles Of Democracy; and preser'
us inviolate pighted faith and solemn compac,
r. Let us do this, putting our trust in the G
er Of our fathers, and there is no dream of n
be tional prosperity, power, and glory which a
he cient or modern builders Of ideal commo
ed wealths ever conceived, which we may n
al hope to realize. But if we turn aside fro
ce these ways Of honor 10 walk in the by-pat
I'm Of temporary expedents, compromising wi
,al wrong, abetting oppression, and repudiatiI
ks faith, the wisdom and devotion and labors
Dr. our fathers will have been a!l--all in vain.
or. Sir, trust that the result Of this discussi,
We will show that the American Senate W
nd sanction no breach of compact. Let ua stril
no from the bill that statement which historic
90 facts and our personal recollections disprov
'e. and then reject the whole proposition whit
OF looks toward q violation OF the Plighted fai
and solemn compact which our fathers mad
by and which we, their sons. are bound by eve
A tie of obligation sacredly to maintain.
es 'o-s ii. .n