Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-03-15

American party-haye taken no position on
the subject of slavery at all, yet the sentiment
Of that State approaches uDanimity, and do
not know Nebraska man in the Legislature,
and l am sure there is not Nebraska man in
the delegation of the House, and upon the
floor of the Senate we are unit upon that
measure "a voice. "No doubt about that.
AS to the organization of the American par
ty, in some sections it has had influence in IA
vor of freedom, in other sections it has been
hostile to freedom.
Nj. Douglas. The Senator says that in
some sections they have been in favor of free
dom, and in other sections hostile. Will he
show me where they havesupported Nebras-
ka man in any one district of America
Mr.. Wilson. understand they elected
Nebraska man in your district, sir, Mr.. Gey-
er in the chair and defeated Col. Benton,
who was opposed to the Nebraska bill
Mr.. Douglas am speaking of the Free
States. Have they been for Nebraska men
for the Legislature, or for Congress, in any
distrietin the Free States?
MT. Wilson. l cannot speak for districts
out of my own State. I should regret to hear
that any adherant of the American party
supported the Nebraska BILL
MIR. Douglas. Did they in your own State !
Mr.. Wilson. No, sir. | beg leave to tell
the Senator from Illinois we cannot run any
other than an ant-Nebraska man and get any
votes Laughter. .........
The Senator from Indiana Mr.. Petti] has
made long argument tonight to prove the
inferiority OF the African race. Well, sir, L
have 20 contest with the Senator upon that
question. | do not claim for that race intel
lectual equality; but say to the Senator from
Indiana that know men of that race who
are quite equal in mental power to either the
Senator from Indiana or myself-men who are
scarcely inferior in that respect, to any Sena-
tors upon this floor But, sir, suppose the
Senator from Indiana succeeds in establishing
the inferiorty of that despised race, is mental
inferority valid reason for the perpetual
oppression of the race Is the mental
moral, or physical inferiority Of man just
cause of oppression in republican and Christ
ian America p? Sir, is this Democracy? l.
it Christianity? Democracy cares for thu
poor, the lowly, the humble. Democracy de
mands that the panoply of just and equal law
shall shield and protect the weakest OF th'
sons OF men, Sir, these are strange doctrines tt
hear uttered in the Senate Of republican Amer
lea, whose political institutions are based up
on the fundamental idea that "all men ar
created equal" If the Afcican race is int
rior, this proud race of ours should educat
aud elevate it, and not deny to those who be
long to it the rights Of our common humanity
The Senator from Indiana boasts that hi
State imposes fine upon the white man tina
gives employment to the free black man.
am not surprised at the degradation of the CO
ored people of Indiana, who are compelled
live under the degradation of such inhuma
laws and oppressed by the public sentimer
, that enacts and sustains them. | thank Got
sir, Massachusetts is not dishonored by sue
laws! In Massachusetts we have about seve
+ thousand colored people. They have the sam
rights that we have; they 60 to ourtrec schools
they enter all the business and professions
+ relations of life, they vote in our elections
and in intelligence and character are scare
ly inferior to the citizens Of this proud an
peerless race whose superiority we have hear
SO vauntngy proclaimed tonight by the Sen
ators from Tennessee Mr.. Jones and Indians
, mr. Petit.
, Now, sir, assure Senators from the South
that we of the free States mean to change GU
policy. l tell you, frankly, just how we fee
aud what we propose to do. We mean t
, withdraw from these Halls that class of publ
, men who have betrayed us and deceived you
q men who have misrepresented us, and not deal
frankly with you. And we intend to SEN
! men into these Halls who will truly represen
| us and deal Justly with you. We mean, sill
/ to place in the councils Of the nation men who
in the words of Jefferson, shave sworn on til
3 altar Of God eternal hostility to every kind G
oppression of the mind and body of man.
, Yes, sir, we mean to place in the nationa
councils men who cannot be seduced by tn
establishments, Or deferred by the threats @
power; men who will fearlcssly maintain gu
principles. assure Senators from the Sout
/ that the people Of the North entertain &c
, them and their people no feelings of hostility
but they will no longer consent to be misreE
resented by their own representatives, or pre-
, scribed for their fidelity to freedom. TIL
! determination of the people Of the North ha
s manifested itself during the past few month
in acts not to be misread by the country. TIL
stern rebuke administered to faithless Nortl
crn representatives, and, the annihilation
r old and powerful political organizations, shoul
f teach Senators that the days Of waning poy
r cr are upon them. This action of the poop
teaches the lesson, which l hope will be hee
;. cd, that political combinations can no long,
G be successfully made to suppress the sentimen
: of the people
= Mr.. Benjamin. l should be exceeding
!. unwilling to disturb the course of the Sen
r. tors argument, or interrupt his speech; but,
o he is giving us what certainly is very int
n esting to the country, an exposition OF tho
V views which he cntertains, and Of which he
If the exponent on this floor, would the honor
d BILE Senator be kind enough to state-that
t, may understand fully his views and those
}. his party-whether, in conformity with t
st principles of that party, if a Territorial c
:. ganization were now superseded by Sta
It constitution in any of the Territories of tt
j. Union. and, by that constitution, the poor
it of the State should adopt slavery as one
10 their domestic institutions, it would be co
: sistent with his principles to admit that Sta
" into the Union with that constitution
If Mr.. Wilson. | will answer the Senat
10 frankly. stand here ready to answer al
r questions put by the Senator from Louisian
or any other Senator. The party with viii
J act is new organization. 1t has, so far
n know, in Massachusetts, and in all the 9th
= States never expressed any opinions or a
5, sumed any position on the question of SLAYER
t | cannot, therefore, speak ior it. The mel
d bers of that party in my own State, in the