Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-08-03
SPEECH OF TH0S. II. FORD,
OF 0hio-Delivered June 18th, 1856,
at the Assembly Buildings, Phila-
delphia.

at the Assembly Buildings, Phila-
delphia.
Mr.. Presidenf:-I feel much en-
barrassed when / reflect that rise Ia
represent the views Of the mighty West
on this vexed question Of Slavery. now
under discussion. / would to God
some gentleman more competent to
the task. had undertaken it. Gentle
men from other States have shown a
strong disposition to discuss party pol
itics In this debate. With the dirty
details Of party politics we have moth
ing to do. in Ohio. Our principles are
patriotic and pure, our purposes high
and holy.
The gentlemen who preceded me,
have all mistaken the policy Of the
founders Of our Republic. They new
er intended TO tolerate Slavery, or
even to be responsible for its existence.
With the trainers Of the Constitution
Freedom was the rule, Slavery the
exception; Freed I'm national. Slavery
sectional. But these patriotic gentle
men from tho South are desirous Of
changing the rule. so as to make Slav-
cry national and Freedom sectional; to
extend over territory now free, the soul
withing, God-dishonoring curse Of hu-
man Slavery. s
We. on the other hand, are desirous
Of sustaining the policy Of our FORE
fathers-a Bible based. law loving.
liberty flowing policy. And here we
take issue. The honorable gentleman
from North Carolina. pointing to me.
tsuntingly says: "You of the North
refused 10 extend the Missouri Com
promise Line to the Pacific, when we
offered it to you" To this l reply,
we did so refuse. and for this reason; we
are desirous of extending the area OF
Freedom, instead ofthe curse Of human
bondage.
The honorable gentleman from Ten
nessee and Alabama have said that we
at the North. were generally opposed
TO the establishment Of that Missouri
Compromise Line at the time the com
pact was entered into. in 1920. "On
what prctext can you base your oppo-
sition to its rcpeal?' In answer to the
gentleman, say that the people Of
the North ,cere opposed to the estab-
!ishment at that time, and for this rea-
son. 1t was base surrender of ter
ritory to Slavery, that had been by the
God of nature and our laws consecra-
ted TO Freedom. That at this moment.
instead Of the voice Of Freedom as
cending to Heaven in ardent prayers
for the perpetuity Of this Union. thou
sands Of human beings were clanking
the chains of sbject Slavery there
Those men who were in Congress from
the North and voted for this Compro-
mise. lie forgotten. somewhere-theiI
memories have perished with them
So have we sent those who voted foi
its repeal to their political graves. tc
be remembered no more by us, except
in the long living annals ofinfamy.
The gentleman over the way ask.
me TO reconcile that position. will,
Sir. The territory tho South acquired
by virtue Of that contract is already
nigyered. yes. niggered. all over. Th'
crack Of the drivers lash Ito the dis
grace Of humanity be It said) is thi.
day heard on its every acre. The
voice Of freedom is not heard there
but Slavery, dark and damning. curses
that otherwise beautiful country, hav
ing territory sufficient to make an en-
pire of ireemen. That is the reason
we opposed its repeal, and now ask fol
| its restoration. We cannot recall Sla
very there now--'tis too late! lf W,
could place that territory in the same
situation it was in 1920. there would
be no trouble from our State about III,
repeal Of the Missouri restriction. No
we would. lite men, go into arena and
fight manfully the battles Of Freedom
Yes, Sir, we would see that Freedom
our Inheritance was not turned TO stran
gers. and our homes 10 aliens, and lib
erty left desolatc in the land Of oul
forefsthers.
But the dark and dsmning deed il
done-and. regarding the rights Of tn,
States under the Constitution, we can
not change II now.
And now, after our submission fol
thirty-four years to that iniquity, yo,
come forward and inhict this renewe,
outrage upon us. Y,u say. at i
true, north Of that line was set apar
TO Freedom; but the contract was un
constitutional. and consequently nul
and void"
l care not from what point you view
Il: you have taken oath under tba
cantract, and Of course are bound b,
il. You now come 10 us whiningl'
and say. "This contract Is void. do no
attempt to enforce it," Suppose yo'
give Your note to = friend for 500
borrowed on the Sabbath; and after
wards to avoid payment, set up for de
fence that the note was given on Sun
day. and consequently void. and yo
would not pay IL. Ia what light d
you suppose all honorable men wo'
view It? In no other light than a
cousummate villains. unworthy th
confidence Of NIL honorable men. /
this light Ohio. and the teeming mi
lions Of the mighty West, whom fe,
bly, represent here. view you. Gent,
men. In relation to this Kansas-N,
braska iniquity! | appeal to Repre-
sentatives from the South. In the nam
Of all that Is honorablc-in the nam
Of God. to be this once influenced b
the pure promptings Of right and jus
tice. and restore this Compromise Lin
or from this day hide your delorme
heads and make your appearance n
moe among intelligent beings.
But l am resolved to place the ger
tlemen-lhose ehivalrous Souther
gentlcmen-right on the record. = Nj
ny Of them do say that tho repeal
that lime-houored Line TO uso the
own words) was a wrong. an injui
and m outrage, and that Il ought