The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-07-18
An Infiammatory Speech.

Dur]ng the sitting OF the late Phlladelpnla
Know-Nothing National Convention, and while
the Pro-slavery resolutions which passed that
body were under consideration, T. H. FORD, of
Ohio, delivered a speech, which we publish be-
low. We give it place in our columns, not
because We endorse everything said in it
though it contains many home thrusts-but
because we have been requested by an Anti
Know-Nothing Freesoil friend SO to do. 1t is
unnecessary for us to point out those parts of
the speech to which we cannot and do not sub
scribe. Every democrat can at once detect its
inconsistencies. We regard the simple fact of
T. H. FoRD's being member of that Conven-
human liberty. The man who proclaims his
opposition to slavery, and yet is willing to band
with midnight, oath-bound conspirators to op-
press portion of Gods people, is hypocrite,
and undeserving the confidence of freemen.
And yet this is the same T. H. FORD nominated
by the Fusionists as their candidate for Lieu
tenant Governor. But to the speech:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: I feel much embar-
rassment when l reflect that / arise to rep
resent the views of the mighty West on
this vexed question of Slavery, now under
discussion l would to God that some
gentleman more competent to the task had
undertaken it. Gentlemen from other
States had shown a strong disposition to
discuss party politics in this debate. With
the dirty details of party politics we have
nothing 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
the Republic. They never intended to
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 gentle.
men from the South are desirous of chang.
ing the rule, so as to make Slavery no.
tional and Freedom sectional; to extend
over territory now free, the soul-withering
God-dishonored curse of human slavery
We, on the other hand, are desirous o
sustaining the policy of our forefathers-
a Bible-based, law-loving, iberty-buil
policy. And here we take issue. The
Honorable gentleman from North Carroll
ma, pointing to me, tauntingly says: "Yor
of the North refused to extend the Mis-
souri, Compromise line to the Pacific
when we offered it to you" To this 1 re-
ply, we did so refuse, and for this reason
we are desirous of extending the area o
Freedom, instead of the curse of human
bondage.
The Honorable gentlemen from Ten
nessee and Alabama have said that we, a
the North, were generally opposed to th'
establishment of that Missouri Compro
mise line at the time the compact was en-
tered into, in 1920: "On what pretex
can you base your opposition to its re
peal?" In answer to the gentlemen, I sa,
that the people of the North acre opposet
to the establishment at that time, and TO
this obvious reason: 1t was base sur
render of territory to Slavery that hat
: been by the God of Nature and our law
lconsecrated to Freedom, That at thi
moment, instead of the voice of freenne
: ascending to heaven in ardent prayers 70
!, the perpetuity Of this Union, thousands .
human beings were clanking the chains Z
abiect slavery there. Those men VIII
were in Congress from the North and vo
ted for this Compromise, lie forgotten
somewhere memories having pei
: ished with them. So have we sent thos
: who voted for its repeal to their politics
graves, to be remembered no more by II
except in the long living annals of infam!
: The gentleman over the way asks n
: to reconcile that position. 1 will, Si