The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-11-12

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siiege OF the people, it is the duty Of phi
iantnro1 ,,lsts, of the friends of human rights,
OF those who love their country and regard
her true glory, through Congress to prohibit
the introduction of Slavery, to restrain the
spread Of this enormous evil, and thus to
check the causes Of agitation, and Of peril 10
peace and the Union. Ii TO do this IL sec
tionalism, then we plead guilty to the charge.
But we deny the fact that such designs are
sectional, as we deny that we are instigated
| by sectional feeling and impulses. Let us
make couple Of references wholly and hap
PLY in point here, from authorities which our
contemporary quotes. Mr.. Webster in his
| speeches in the Senate upon the Oregon bill,
August 10th and 18th, l84s, commended in one
of the most powerful and conclusive argu-
ments that he ever delivered, that the South
had no cause to complain that Slavery was
prohibited in the act organizing that Terrific
~, for that Slavery was wholly and necessa-
Yly local in its nature, and that II was pre-
posterous to say that they had right to
transport their local laws beyond their own
State boundaries and he closed his first
speech in these words, far more emphatic
and unqualified than any used by us or our
friends, from which our honest contempora-
~ deduces our hostility to the Constitution,
the Union, and the rights Of section Of this
confederacy. Said Mr.. Webster:
s. content myself with saying, in n few
words, that my opposition TO the farther ex-
tension of local Slavery in this country. or
to the increase of Slave Representation in
Congress, is general and universal. 1t has
no reference to the limits Of latitude or
points of the compass. shall oppose all
such extension and all such increase, in all
places, at all times under all circumstances,
even against all Inducements, against all sup
posed limitation Of great interests, against
all combinations against all compromises
This is short, but hope clear and compre-
hensive.o
Mr.. Clay, IN his speech upon the Compro- |
mise, Feb 5th and 9Th, 1850, asserted pre-
cisely the same principles quoted above from
Mr.. Webster, and abiding IN particular TO
the organization of governments in the Ter /
ritory acquired from Mexico, said Slavery
did not exist there, could not exist without ex
press permission of Congress. and employe |
this memorable language:
= repeat that never can, and never will
vote, and no earthly power will ever make
me vote, to spread Slavery over IL territory
where il does nor exist
Third. That Washington, who declared
that he would he glad TO embrace any plan
which offered practicable means Of abolish
ing slavery. and was willing to employ the
agency of the federal government for that
purpose; that jefferson, the great advocate
if not the father of the Ordinance of 1851,
which gave freedom to the Northwest, ana
who said that the Almighty had no attribute
which could take sides with the master in an
attempt to suppress an insurrection of his
slaves; that Madison, who carefully excluded
the word ''slave" from the Constitution. that
in after ages il might never be inferred from
that instrument that involuntary servtude
existed nnder its Igs; that Webster and
Clay, 1--WE leave Jackson 10 the consolation
OF our contemporary who placed themselves
upon record so emphatically upon point so
pertinent here: that these great men whom
our friend has cited, would denounce or de-
plore this position, perhaps the Times has a
reason to conclude from their words and their
character which we have not. If we are Sec
tional in our aims and feelings, SO are they.
If they regarded slavery as a local institution,
and not a national one, then they are wrong,
and fapatical, and sectional, ''black republic
cans and NEGRO worshpers," rs well as
we.
Fourth. To say that the Republican party
cannot be national party aud that the Dem
ocratic party is the only nation ,aniza-
ton, is wholly to ignore the distinction be-
tween local organization and sectional rrin-
ciples, leaving one to be inferred from the
other,-a species of logic when will not bear
a very rigid scrutiny. And as 10 the Demo
cratic party being the sole faithful defender
Of the Union and its compromises, '.holding
no atiliation with disunionists.'' it would have
been better TO have said that II il were not
true thai South Carolina were not always a
fas; friend of thc Democratic party; If Cal
hoan, the arch secesson.st, had not been the
tetd and front of that party AT the South, as
his disciples still are lis advocates and sup
porters if the ultra Southern fanatics could
ever be found supporting ny other ticket,
and if the present Cabinet had not been FORM
cd avowedly with the view of concliatng and
securing the interest of the tre-eatcrs in fa-
vor Of this Administration. With more as
surance might ali this be said, if it had not
with a reckless hand struck down one Of the