Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-06-27


sumphs; the latter seeks no support, ex!.
cept from those, whether citizens Of
slave States or free States, who are will
ing 10 follow democratic principles,
whi,hersoever they lead, without any OK.
ceptions in favor Of oppression. The
Independent Democracy, Mr.. President,
is stronger, as yet, inprinciples than in
numbers; and yet this party, at the last
Presidential election, numbered in It's
ranks little more than one twentieth
Of all the votes in the United States.
There arc but three Senators upon this
floor who are Identified with this politi
cal organization: tho Senator who has
just taken his seat, from Connecticut,
(Mr. Gillette,) my friend from Massa.
chusetts, (Mr. Summer,) and myself. 1t
so happens that our number is little
less, in proportion to the whole number
OF Senator'S, than that Of the lndepen.
dent Democratic electors in proportion
to the whole number of American vot.
ers. l-,-ft v
The doctrines which guide our action,
in respect TO this bill may be summe |
up in a few words. We insist on the
denationaizng of slavery, ana the de.
Capitalization Of power. The national
government, in our judgment should
cease all interference with slavery. 1t
should uphold it nowhere. Only with.
in the slave States, and SO far as the IN.
stiiution is beyond the reach ofthe con.
slitulonal lcgislalionof Congress, should
slavery be allowed 10 exist. Within
those States, slavery should be left to
control, regulation, amelioration, or abo'
ltion by State law, according to the dis
cre,ion of the people.
wish had that power Of persua'
sive eloquence which so graces and dis
linguishes the Senator from Louisiana,
(Mr. Benjamin,) and would in my turn
appeal to Senators from the slave States.
| would say TO them: You wish for peace
You tell US you ask for nothing but TO
be lie: alone. We ask you to let US
alone. Do no, seek TO involve US, The
non Shareholders of,he couatry,in the re
spcnsibii,y Of upholding system, con-
demned by our deepest poll,ica j, moral,
and religious convictions. Seek no ex'
tension Of it through the action Of the
general government. Within the limits
of your States, act upon your own con.
scientious judgments. We shall rejoice
if those judgements lead yoa in the di.
reclion Of emancipation. Should it be
Otherwise, we shall claim no right,
through the agency Of your common
government, to dictate or control your
actions. Doing this, you can have peace.
Letting us alone, you will yourselves be
10, alone, ... .4
SEQ no other road, Mr.. President, to
peace, than this. The religious convic-
lions. the social sentiments, the ccenoml'
cal opinions, Of most OF the sl,vehold'
ers, and of the great mass Of the nom
Shareholders, are widely and irfecon'
cilably at variance in respect 10 slavery.
1t is impossible, so long as the action
oil the government shall be in any way
Or anyslegree invoked in aid Of slavery,
to withdraw the question from these
halls. So long as slavery continues
here a, the seat Of the national govern
ment, sanctioned and regulated by act,
Of Congress; SO long as slavery is per
mitted in the nalioral territories; so long
as the save..rale is allowed by law in
licensed and enrolled vessels Of the
United States; so long as men, women,
and children are sold at auction. under
process OF the federal courts; so long as
lugitive.slave acts remain on the statute
books ofnational legislation; so long as
the powers Of this government shall be
exerted for the acquisition of additional
slaveholding territory, jus. so long will
this agitation continue, just so long will
there be no peace.
But sir, if tho principle Of denational.
izing slavery did not constrain us to op.
pose this bill, the principle of do.cen.
tralizing power would compel US, as
Independent Democrats, to Withhold our
support from it. The patronage Of the
Executive is already vastly too large;
we wish 10 diminish it, as far as posi-.
Bile, by withdra wing from the Preside Mt
the appointment Of officers, so far as Il
can be cons,itutionally done, and conf
ding their election to the people. We
oppose this bill because it enlarges the
power OF the Executive, and because it
denies to the people Of the territories the
power to elect their own officers. ST.
Now, Mr.. President, whatever others
may do, the Independent Democrats
will 90 forward without faltering or wa.
vering in the path ofpolitical duty, which
their honest convictions prescribe. II
men Of other parties, seeing, at length,
the utter ineompatibility between the
pretensions Of the slave power, and the
| Just claims Of freedom, AMI recognizing
The absolute necessity which requires the
non shareholders Of the country TO de.
mand inlexibly the complete divorce Of
the general government from slavery,
and the exertion Of its legitimate infu.
ence on the side of freedom. shall mani.
fest a disposition to unite their efforts
for these objects, the Independent Demo
|crats will not hesitateato make common
cause with them. II no such union oi
1.-The friends Of freedom will take place.
1.-The Independent Democrats vii, trust,
be found ready to cooperate earnestly
and honorably with any other parry
which is willing TO- act with them for
the maintenanco. Of gfIcsdom III all
events, and under oil Acirchmsta nces,
l Al Al. .ss-.As s-.l