New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-17
FROM FLASHING TON.
r. w. THOMPSON ON NEBRASKA.
Editorial Conespondencs OF The n. 7 Tribune.
WASHINGTON. Saturday. Dec. Is. 1855.

Editorial Correspondence OF The ~ Tribune
WASHINGTON, Saturday, Dec. Is, 1856.
The Hon. Richard W. Thompson Of Indiana has
been making at home very long and rather smart
speech against Slavery Restriction and the Repub-
lean movement, covering 70 large, close pamphlet
pages Richard is a good declaimer--I know it,
for we have spoken from the same stump-and
doubt not that the liveness and rattle of his
barapgue afforded sensible relief from the prosi-
ness and tedum of mine. That was seven or eight
years ago, when he and were both doing our best
for the Wilmot Proyiso, and the general principle
of coDfnng Slavery within the Territory it al
ready possessed He was born in Slave State,
had been Dougbface, and was not then cOnsid-
cred very sound corn by those who knew him in
timately but he was in Congress bis cOnstitu-
ents were right 80 be held fast TO the side of
Slavery Restriction until he went out of Congress
in lS49 Since then he has been looking after
heavy Indian claims in this latitude, which is
rather south of Mason and DixOns line; so he has
returned to his first love, and is busy prosecuting
the faith he once preached and protested. 1t is
his influence undoubtedly, which has perverted
his law partner, Mr.. Scott, who now represents
the District, and who, though elected on the
square Republican platform, is now voting steadily
against Banks, and so helping to keep the House
in chaos.
have said that Richard is clever declaimer
and this speech in every thing bat its length con-
firms the assertion. Judge that the author is
accustomed to the handling of desperately bad
causes in Court, and so has acquired dexterity
in their management. Bits Of history nicely
culled, quotations from documents Of just so much
as suits his purpose, half truths that subserye
the ends of falsehoOd, assumptions tina. pass for
facts, and suppressions that make black seem
white, form the staple of his discourse. He sets
forth that the Eastern States have always been
Jealous of and hostile to the growth of the West,
and quotes g lot Of hasty expressions and news
paper chat to establish his sssertion-hs strongest
PROFIT text being q proposition of Elbridge Gerry
in the Convention Of l7S7, TO limit the number Of
new States to be thereafter admitted; but, though
making professedly Wing Speech, he fails to
tell his hearers that Elbridge Gerry was through
life a magnate of the Jetfersonian Democracy,
which chose him Vice President with Madison in
1872
But cannot follow him through such q laby.
rinth of sophstry, pretending to champion the
Union and rebuke sectional feeling while doing ais
best to embitter the West against the East.
choose rather to grapple with his fundamental
proposition, which is follows:
Il deny, at the outset, that Slavery, as it exists Ia
h country, presents moral question for our con-
sidersiion tina, Of the Free States have any Just
right to discuss it as moral question. ne Gay Tor
such discussion has passed by-t passed IN ne time'
OF our fathers, when our institutions were tormed
Had We lived in the Patrarcha sge oil Ao'anam,
when, with bis hundreds Of slaves he occupied the
plains Of Canaan, and when q Law promuged by
rim might have governed the world, We might
have en- poy our powers ofeoquence and persuasion
to induce him to abolish the Slavery that existed in
bis douiniops. Blu. as none Of our moral reforners
lived In ks day 70 instruct him in the duties belonging
10 bis condition, be seems, ard that without hesitation,
so far a. we are informed TO have permitted Slavery
to become part Of the political institutions which he