The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-07-19
Speech of Thomas II. Ford.
3f Ohio. Delivered at the Assembly Build
ings. Philad Ell iphia

views OF The mighty West on this yexed ques-
ton OF Slavery, now under discussion |
would to God that some gentlemen more com
petent 10 the task had undertaken il. Gentle
men from other States have shown a strong
disposition TO discuss party politics in this de
bate. With the dirty details Of party politics
We have nothing to do. in Ohio Our princi-
pies are patriotic and pure, our purposes high
and holy
The gentlemen who preceded me have all
mistaken tie policy Of the founders Of the
Republic They never intended to tolerate
Slavery. or even 10 be responsible for is ex-
iS5safs on reedom bh was h ff9h fe File a S9sR
ception; Freedom. national Slavery, sectional
But those patriotic gentlemen from the South
are desirouS of changing the rule. so as TO
make Slavery national and Freedom sectional;
to extend over territory now free, the soul
withering, God -dishonoring curse of human
slavery
We on the other hand. are desirous of sus
tainiug the policy of our torefathers-a Bible
based, law loving, liberty built policy. And
here we take issue. Tie Hon. gentleman
from North Carolina, pointing 10 me, tauntlns-
" saws: You of the North refuse TO extend
the Missouri Compromise line 10 the Pacific.
when we offered it 10 you To this | reply,
We did so refuse, and for this reason: We are
desirous of extending the area of Freedom,
instead Of the curse of human bondage.
The Hon. gentlemen from Tennessee and
Alabama have said that we, At the North,
were generally opposed to the establishment
of that Missouri Compromise line at the time
the compact was entered into in 1890. ION
what pretext can YOU base you opposition to
lis repesl?' In answer to tie gentlemen, |
say that the people of the North were opposed
to the establishment at that time, and for this
obvious reason: Ii was base surrender OF
territory to Slavery that had been by the God
of Natune and our laws consecrated 10 Free
dom. That at this moment, instead OF the
voice of Freedom ascending TO Heaven in ar
dent prayers for the perpetulty Of this l MON,
thousands OF human beings We're clanking the
chains Of abiect Slavery there. Those men
who were in Congress from the North and
voted for this Compromise, lie forgotten some
where-ther memories having perished with
them. So have We sent those who voted for
its repeal to their political graves, to be re
membered no more by US, except in the long
living annals OF iniarny.
The gentleman over the way asks me to re
concile that position ! WILL sir. The terri
tory the south acquired by virtue of that con
tract is already NIGGERED-yes, NIGGERED al
U'uT ~ ei.v Io-,.
disgrace of humanity be i said) is this da7
heard on its every acre. The voice Of Free.
dom is not heard there, but Slavery, dark and
Gamning, curses that otherwise beautiful
country, having territory sufficient TO make an
empire of freemen, That is the reason We op-
posed lis repeal and BOW ask for its restoration
We cannot recall Slavery there now-'liS too
late" II We could place that territory In TIE
same situation it was 1t 1890, there would be
no trouble from our State about the repeal OF
the Missouri restriction. No; we would like
men, enter the arena ard fght maniully the
battles OF Freedom. Yes Sjr We would
see that Freedom, our inheritance, was not
turned to strangers and our homes to aliens.
aud Liberty left deso!ate III the land Of ouI
forefalhers.
But the dark and damning deed IS done
and regarding the rights OF the States under
the Constitution, we cannot change i. now.
And now. after submission for dirty
four years to that iniquity, you come forward
and lntllct this renewed outrage upon US
ou say,-"lt Is true, north OF that line was
set apart by solemn compact to Freedom; but
the contract unconstitutional, and con
sequently null and void.
| care not from what point you view i:
you have taken under that contract, aud OF
course are bound by it. You now come to
US uhiningly and say, This contract is void
10 not attempt to enforce it, Suppose YOU
give your note to a friend for one hundred
dollars, borrowed on the Sabbath; and after
wards, TO avoid the payment set up for de
.ense that the note was given on Sunday and
consequently void, and You would not pay
In what light do you suppose all honorable
men would View 1t! In no other light than
as consummate Williams, unworthy the conf
- ali I, Il
Ohio and the teeming millions of the mighty
West, whom | feebly represent here, view
you, gentlemen, in relation TO this Kansas
Nebraska iniquity appeal to Represents
tives from the South, in the name of all that
once inaaenceu " ti;e q9 e e shiS
right aud Justice, and restore this compromise
line, or from this day hide your deformed heads
and make your appearance no more among
intelligent beings.
But am resolved to place the gentlemen
those chiyalrous Southern gentlemen, ,-righ
on The record Many OF them do say that th'
repeal OF tha. time honored hne TO use thel
own words J, was wrong, an injury, and al
outrage, and that II ought to te restored.
saw many OF YOU have SO said TO me: and IN
aSnuch as every gentlemen from the Noru
has been challenged 70 give the name OF an,
Southern man who has dared to even breath
one word in favor Of Freedom, therefore, L
avoid being asked 50 to dc, come up 70 tn
confessional, or l shall without hesitatlo
name the gentlemen 10 this Convention
Cheers aud laug hter
CAtlength Hen. Kenneth Rayner. Of Mort
Carolina, arose and stated that be had 50 sax
and took this occasion to say that he consde
ed the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise
wrong and an outrage. to which the Mort
ought not 70 submit He said if he had bee
member OF Congress. he would have hs
his right hand severed from his body befo
be would have consented to the iniquity.
Gov Brown. of tennessee. said he h.
stated that it was wrong and unjust 10 rept