Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-03

mine for itself whether il will or will not have
domestic savery-untl they will march up TO
that principle and stand by it, il is entirely GER
tain that nothing like real union and harmony
can be looked for. Cheers
Gentlemen, ] have no wish to advert to this
subject. ] wish there was no occasion for ever
adverting TO IT, But it is bone of contention
in this State. The Democratic party is divided
in reference to this question, and il has produced
the organization which at present exists amongst
us. Until that party can untedy plant them
selves ON the principle have stated--that this
question of slavery shall be discarded from Con-
gress and from the action Of the general govern
ment, and left exclusively TO the different sec
tons and localities-we cannot look for harmony
or union. lCheers.] When the Constitution
was formed, the States all agreed that this sub
ject should be left To the determination of the
States. New York determined the question for
herself. She was then slave State, and she
abolished slavery when she pleased. Virginia
also assented to that doctrine She was then
slave State, and she is one now. She has the
same right to be slave State now as she had
then, and il is no concern Of ours TO interfere.
lCheers. IL is solely her own concern. I've in
this State act as we please the subject, and we
should leave Virginia TO do the same, and the
peace and quiet of the country demand that each
Territory should have the same privilege. Loud
cheers. Oregon has chosen to say that she will
not have slavery. She had right to do so, and
no one has right TO complain Of it. If other
Territories hold different language and adopt the
opposite policy, it is their right TO do So and the
quiet of the country will be best promoted by
leaving to each to govern that matter as they may
think proper. [Cheers. Well, gentlemen, pass
over that subject, for there are ono or two other
agtating questions to which desire very briefly
10 allude We have new party--the "know-
nothngs, as they are called. [Laughter.l |
will do them the justice to say that at the late
convention in Philadelphia, the resolution adopted
by the majority of that convention on the subject
of slavery-I confino my remark to that think
squares exactly with the views of the National
Democrats Loud applause. agree to it for
one. The resolutions adopted by the minority
of that convention, headed by gentleman from
Massachusetts,, are thoroughly aboltionist in
their character. The National Democrats can
never agree TO them. But the convention at
Philadelphia-the majority Of it as well the
minorty-did not, upon other subjects, march up
to the line Of Democratic principles at all Loud
cries of ''Hear, hear.''] They chose to say that
men should be prescribed on account of their re-
lgoss faith. ['sHear, hear" and Kisses Now,
gentlemen, it is one of the first principles of our
goyernment-one which has been inculcated
from the very beginning, that it should be left to
every man to determine for himself his own re-
igous principles, free from interference from any
quarter whatever. Applause. Each man has
right TO chose for himself his own religious
FlcWss iust tdCH Ulie iIcTt Has Ills OWL
views upon those subjects. No one has right
to interfere with the views of another Each
should worship his Maker he pleases. He be-
lieves what he thinks is right and he is not re-
sponsible to US for his opinions but to his Maker
alone. [Applause.l Well, gentlemen, undoubt-
eddy those of foreign birth who come here do not
Immediately grow up to the perfection of Anne
rican citizens. If we should go into foreign
country, we should undoubtedly carry with us
many OF the feelings and habits and usages of
Americans; and if we found Americans there,
we should doubtless associate with them much
more than we should mingle with tho people of
the country in which we might be. And yet, If
we should 90 there with view to permanent re-
sdence, it would be exceedingly desirable that
we should assimilate ourselves to the people Of
the country where we were going TO take up our
abode. But il is not TO be expected that for
eigners coming here will in moment imbibe all
the notions and all the feelings of native born
Americans, and forget at once their attachment
to their own homes. We must therefore, allow
them little time, and treat them with lberality,
as they have ever been treated. Cheers. We
know that many of them are good and estimable
citizens, and we must trust that in the end they
will come to be as good citizens as the native
born--(haar, hear)-so that the principles of the
know-nothings in reference 10 the religious tenets
of foreigners, and those of native born Ameri-
cans too and their peculiar hostility to foreign
bosom of the Democrats Applause. There
is another subject which, to come extent agitates
the public mind, and is worthy of consideration.
| refer TO the Prohibitory law, which is to take
effect on the 18th of July. Hear, hear. Now,
drunkenness is great shame and great vice.
We would all desire TO see il repressed, but we
must not even attempt 10 effect that desirable re-
suit by sacrifice Of the rights Of the whole mass
Of our fellow citizens-(cheersl-an this law
strikes n blow at the liberties of the citizen.
Renewed cheers. As such am quite sure that
Democrats might say all who claim TO be
Democrats-but am entirely sure that that body
OF National Democrats with whom il has been
my fortune Il hope good fortune, and think it
isl to act through my life. are, one and all Of
them, or with very rare exceptions, if any, uni
teddy and decidedly hostile to the provisions Of
that Law Loud cheers. In conclusion, let me
say, gentlemen, that | feel il great honor to
have been selected to preside over this meeting,
and that will endeavor to perform the duties Of
the chair 10 the best of my ability. Loud cheers
After the delivery Of the above address, the
following resolutions were read by Mr.. Genet:
Rcsoirsd, That as national democrats of the city
Of New York, we cannot too often re-affirm our
adhesion TO, and support Of those great principles
Of our party, by the fortunate ascendenoy Of
which, during thresfourths of our national career,
true liberty and national progress have been
secured, the rights OF the States preserved, the
Union perpetuated, domestic discord banished
and the assaults Of fanaticism, intolerance, and
scctionasm dehed; and that in reviewing the
past We arc encouraged all the more trustfully 10
rely for the future upon the great democratic or
ganizaton Of the United States, as the safe homo
| geneous and national party--the only one calcu-
lated to forward the interests Of every section Of
our common country, and To insure our union and
| prosperity as a people.
/ Resolved, That Congress has no power to inter-
fere with or attempt 10 dictate or control the
domestic institutions Of States or Territories, and
that its power TO do in the District Of Columbia
being gravely disputed ought not 10 be exercised
that we deprecate and oppose the agitation Of the
subject Of slavery in Congress, under any shape
or form; and while we approve Of, and will adj
| here to as just and constitutional, the existing
legislation upon the subject of the rendition Of
fugitive slaves, and the principle Of the acts or
| ganizipg the Territories of Utah, New Mexico
Kansas and Nebraska, we dempnd, in the name
Of the sound Union feeling Of tho country, tina,
all insane sectional rejudices--unfraternal agi-
tations-and hypocrtical aggressions, fomented
| by designing and dangerous men, shall cease.
| Resoirtd, That we utterly repudiate and disa-
vow the demand of Northern aboltionists-frsi
| enunciated By the Buffalo Convention, which