Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1855-06-23
sPEEoH o. CAPT. TEos z. FORD
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tnis fcAca question OF CiANeIr, now undo
discussion, would 10 iol that son
gentleman more competent to the task ha
undertaken IL. Gentlemen from otho
States have shown a strong disposition 4
discuss party politics in this debate
With the dirty details OF parry politics W,
have nothing to DO. in Ohio. Oar prin
ciples are patriotic and pure. our purpose
ligh and holy.
The gentlemen who preceded me have
all mistaken the policy ofthc founders o.
the Republic. They never intended tc
tolerate Slavery, or even to be responsible
for its existence. With the trainers of the
Constitution Freedom was the rule, Slave
ry the exception: Freedom national, Slave
ry sectional. But those patriotic z ntle-
mel from the Soath are dcsireus of chang
ing the rule, so as to make Slavery ma.
ti,nil 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
sustaininging the policy Of our forelathers
"a Bitle-based, law-lo,ing, liberty built
policy. And here we take issue. The
Honorable gentlemen from North Carroll
ma, pointing to me, tauntingly says: "You
of the North refused to extend the Missouri
Compromise line to the Pa:iifc, when we
offered it to vou.' To this | reply, we did
SO refuse, and for this reason: we are des-
irous of extending the area of Freedom,
Instead of the curse of human bondage.
The Honorable gentlemen from Tenncs-
see and Alabama have said that we, at the
North, were generally opposed to the es
tablishment Of the Missouri Compromise
line at the time the compact was entered
into, in 1920. 'On what pretext can you
base your opposition to its repeal? In
answer to the gentlemen, | say that the
people of the North were opposed to the
establishment at that time, and for this
obvious reason. 1t was base surrender
Of territory to. Slavery that had been by the
God ofnature and our laws consecrated to
Freedom. That at this moment, instead
of the voice of freemen ascendingto to heaven
in ardent prayers torthe pcrpetuity of this
Union, thousands of human beings were
clanking the chains of abiect slavery there
Those men who were in Congress from the
North and votedfor this compromise, lie for.
gotten, somewhere-their memories hav-
ing perished with them. So have we sent
those who voted for its repeal to therpo-
litical graves, to be remembered no more
byus, except in the long living annals OF
infamy.
The gentleman over the way asks me to
reconcile that position. Twill, Sir. The
territory the South acquired by virtue of
that contract is already fingered, yes, mig
gered, all over. The crack of the drivers
lash Ito the disgrace of humanity he it
said is this day heard on its every acre
The voice Of Freedom is not heard there,
but Slavery, dark and damning, curses
that otherwise beautiful country, having
territory sufficient to make an empire of
frcemen. That is the reason we opposed
its repeal and now asked for its restora-
tion. We cannot recall Slavery there
now,-'tis too late ! If we could place
that territory in the same situation it was
in 1920, there would be no trouble from
our State about the repeal Of the Missouri
restriction. No: we would, like men, en-
ter the arena and fight manfully the battles
of Freedom. Yes, sir: we would see that
Freedom, our inheritance, was not turned
to strangers and our homes to aliens, and
Liberty left deso!ate in the land Of our fore
fathers.
But the damning deed is done; and,
regarding the rights of the States under
the Constitution, we cannot change it now.
And now, after our submission for tiir-
ty-four years to that iniquity, you cannot
come forward and inAict this renewed out
rage upon us. You say, it is true, north
of that line was set apart by solemn con-
pact to Freedom; but the contract was un
constitutional, and consequently null and
void
l care not from what point you view it;you
have taken under that contract, and of
course are bound by it. You now come up
AMI say to us willingly, this contract is
void, do not attempt to enforce it, Sup
pose you give your note to friend for one
hundred dollars. borrowed on the Sabbath;
and afterwards, to avoid the payment, set
up for defence that the note was Civ.
en- en- the Sabbath and consequently void
and you would not pay it. In what light
do you suppose all honorable men would
view you? In no other light than a con.
summatc villain, unworthy the confidence
of all honorable men. In this light Ohio
an the eming millions of the West
whom | feebly represent here, view you
Gentlemen, in relation to the Kansas Ne
braska iniquity! l appeal to representa-
tives from the South, in the name Of al
that is hoaorable-in the name of God, tt
be this once influenced by the prompting,
of right and justice, and restore this com
promise line, or from this day hide you
de(ormed heads and make your appearance,
no more among intelligent beings.
But [ am resolved to place the gentle
man those chivalrous Southern gentl, m Il
right on the record. Many Of them d
say that the repeal of the time honore,
line. Ito use their own words twas wrong
an injury, and an outrage; and that it ough
to be restored. | say many of you hav
said so to me and inasmuch as every gen
tleman from the North has been challene
ed to give the name of any Southern ma
who has dared to even breathe one word !
favor of Freedom, therefore, to avoi
being asked so to do, come up now to Il
confessional, or shall, without hesitatie