The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-08-10
THE GAZETTE.
Speech Of Hon. Jas. W. Grimes

Every one seemed pleased with the ad
dress Of Mr.. Grimes on yesterday, althougl
delivered under very untavorable circum
Istances. Mr. Grimes had been travelin!
ieleven weeks, speaking almost every day
and now arose from his bed, sick, worn out
hoarse, and stood in the open air, a portion
of the time in the rain, and addressed hi
audience. His speech was principally con
fined to discussion or rather an elucidatiol
of the Missouri Compromise.
In his opening remarks he referred t.
several other topics of interest He con
sidered our State Constitution as bette
adapted to years gone by, than to the pres
ant progressive age of the world In regar'
to Temperance he reiterated what he ha!
affirmed time and again, that as Goyerno
he would have no power to make the laws
but that the community may rest assured h'
would never veto either u prohibtory o
license law. His predictions, however
are all in favor Of the former, as is evidenced
! by his course in the Legislature and his
/ long and faithful connection with the tota
abstinence cause in the State of Iowa.
He regarded the question of the extension
Of slave territory as the great issue Of thu
day, and il was the importance of this sub
Iject, forced by our opponents upon the
Wing party, that had caused him to leave
his home and traverse the State. He haC
rendered to Mr.. Bates an invitation to NEE
him at all or any one Of his published ap
pointments, but that gentleman declining
to do SO, he, Mr.. Grimes, resolved at al
events that so far as himself was concern
ed, the people Of this State should know his
views in regard to this momentous question
Very explicitly and conclusively did Mr.
Grimes give his views, and although annoy
ed by thousand noisy *side issues anc
suffering a severe headache, yet did occasion
require it, so lucid and suecinct were his
ARGUMENTS. that we could repeat them en-
tire. He gave brief history OF the Com
promise, showed its binding nature and how
regarded by Mr.. Webster, the acknowl !.
edped greatest Constitutional lawyer Amer
lea has ever produced, and other eHinen'
statesmen and jurists. He spoke of its re-
neal and the consequences that must in
evitably follow. He showed up the un
principled efforts being made by shai
Democracy to delude the people with th'
idea that Nebraska and Kansas never car
become slave States.
Slavery is already introduced there and
was seven weeks since when he traversed
the borders of those territories, and once
given a habitation and a name, it will DEFY
eo;slation. Look at Delaware, although
possessing but few slaves, yet such is the
power and influence of shareholders, tha'
the efforts of her citizens for years to rid hei
of the incubus of slavery have proved una
v,;linp. So it would result in Nebraska
and Kansas. and men need not delude them
selves with the idea that it will be other
wise.
He read from the statutes Of Iowa, show
inc the foreigners present what our etatt
laws require of them to become cltizens
and then referred to the clause IN the Ne
braska bill, requiring beside the sam'
oa,hs administered in Iowa. an additiona
one calling their God to witness that the!
would support the provisions of that nefari
Gus act.
Tie latter part of Mr.. Grimes remarS
consisted of triumphant vindlcauoh 0
himself from vile personal attack mao
uuop him by Messrs. Dodge and Jones, u
which they sought to impeach his veracity
Our readers will remember the circum
stances, as we have already published theh
in full, and the remarks that gave rise Z
hem. They were in relation to certai'
expressions uttered by Butler OF > Carolin
and Stephens of Georgia
In conclusion, Mr. Grimes stated ,hat II
did not solicit the vote of any man. MS on on
iect in addressing them was to make know
his opinions upon the greatquestlon at issue
and if then his views harmonzed WIN 'hel'
and they considered him competent to III
the station of Governor, duty would sugges
the course to pursue. He wished u, no"
ever distinctly understood, that should've .
elected to that office, no man who had ao
yocated the repeal of the Missouri CompF'
mise. or who acquiesced in its provisions
could expect any station or hope for an
favor from him.