The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-08-24
Aistellnntons.
Speech of Hon. Israel Washburn, Jr,
at Deering Hall, Portland, Aug. IA.

on this beautiful day, and upon the man
happy circumstances Of this occasion-ar
spicious trust, 10 the cause OF right an
freedom in this country.
I" am not going TO delay you now wit
AMI extended speech. know better wha
you want, and better what my duty is, iha
TO do so. There are other men here wh
will address you, and who you want I
hear. There is my friend from Massachu
sets, Mr.. Bauks-one Of the Banks that vii
no, repudiaie, bu, will be sure TO redeem al
his promises. Then there is the distinguish
ed gallant and intrepid Senator fIom Ohio
Mr.. Wade, OF whom IL has been Justly an,
fi,ly said. The has been weighed in the bal
ance and not found wanting Applause.
We have here also my old friend from Con
ne,icui, whom see in the body Of the hall
Gov. Cleayeland. He will cleayc TO lane
and 10 free land too, both now and always
Besides these you will hear from Bell, o
New Hampshire-a Bell that will give NJ
uncertain sound; and then your are 10 have
Hale-s,orm, prophetic irus, OF that All
hail hereafter, when slavery shall be sec
tlonal and freedom national, all over hi.
country.
Blu, am here TO ask you a few simple
questions; and The first is, 'Wha, are you
going 10 do about il i! Wha, ure you going
10 do now, The question is not whether
The fugitive slave law is right-that is past.
II is not whether the Nebraska iniquity
should be opposed and deiesled-that also
is past. These are no questions now-but
the question with the American people TO-
day j., What are yon going TO do about il y
Are you going 10 repeal the fugitive slave
law! (Cries Of yes, yes.D Are you GO
ing to have freedom in The ieTritories!-
(Renewed cries Of yes, yes and we are I;
we will.0 think you will do it.
But my friends there are some people in
this our Northern country who are not
ready TO respond as you have done. There
was convention held at Augusta the other
day. composed of gentlemen who had
nothing 10 say, because they knew nothing
in reference to these questions. You had a
convention also in this city, OF gentlemen
calling themselves wings, who are running
coach upon the same line with the Angus
Ia convenlion-a sort OF one-horse carriage
10 carry off a few men by deception into the
ranks Of the pro-s!avery and hunger de-
mocracy OF the country. They, like the
Augusta men, were not ready 10 answer
this question. They had nothing 10 say
abou, any other question than the Missouri
Compromise. And what were they going
10 do in regard 10 iti Did they propose 10
repeal the clause Of The Nebraska bill which
repeals this compromise! No, they
They were going 10 mark the authors OF il,
Jus, as you would mark sheep upon the
rump. Laushtcr.) This is all they are
going TO do.
Now, my friends, how have things gone
on in this country during the present GEN.
Jury! What have been the aggrcssions,
encroachmen,s and the s,reng,henings of
The slave power in our landl Let US see.
In 1903, Louisiana was purchased. have
nothing to say agains, that purchase. 1t
was undoubtedly necessary. There were
reasons why that territory should
be brough, into the United States, bu, we
all know that il was for the ln,eres, and
strengthening Of the institution Of slavery.
II has already brought three slave States in
to the Union; and there is design which
will be carried out unless we rise in our
might and prevent il, 10 make two more
slave States out OF that territory. For tha,
purchase we paid fifteen millions OF dollars.
The North contributed the larges, share Of
the amount, as she always does contribute
more than one-half OF the revenues of the
Again in 1919 Florida was put
chased, for which we paid FIVE millions
the North as usual contributed more than
her part. Here was added another slave
State. In 1920, men had not generally for.
gotten the doctrines, opinions, sentiments
and convictions Of the fathers Of the Repub-
lie and il history is 10 be relied upon, we
all know tha, their general opinion was ,ha,
slavery was an evil 10 be restrained and
not blessing TO be extended. In 1920,
men of The North were almost unanimously
opposed TO the admission OF a slave State.
Blu, the south bullied and threatened 10 dis
solve The Union, and finally some sixteen
men consented TO take in another slave State,
and Missouri was admitted against oil the
feelings and sentiments and better knowl-
edge of the Nurh, but upon the express
condition that slavery should be forever ex-
cluded from all the territory lying north Of
sc deg. 30 min. North lat. The North lost
wha, she had 81, her heart upon, and the
South gained ii-gained all the territory to
slavery that i, was thought would be OF any
value for ages TO come. Then we went on
aud look in Texas as another slave State,
with four Others 10 be prospec,ively carved
out OF her, thus adding ten more Senators
II the representatives Of the slave power,
with any number Of members OF the House
OF Representatives to strengthen and extend
This institution. Not only did we take Tex
IS into the Union, but we paid her ten mil
lious of dollars toI the honor Of her company.
the North as usual paying two thirds o. The
amount. Then We went 10 war with Mex.
leo. which cos, Us all of one hundred and
tiny millions. and will cost Us all ofa hum
drei millions more before all Of the bills
are raid. We paid Texas fifteen millions
OF dollars for lands 10 which she lad no, a
shadow OF ,llle, but she threatened 10 fog
The rest Of the United States and we yield
ed 10 her. We gave her ten millions oil
dollars TO pay her debts aud her own lands
besides, Tor taking what was not hers bu,
our own. Aud thus the slave power went
on. Texas was 10 have paid her own debts.
Five millions were given her in hand 10 pay
them, and the balance was retained uu,il
we could have some guarantee that the
Uniied States would no, be called upon TO
make further advances. She has not ye,
paid her debts. Those FIVE millions re-
main in her treasury 10 this day. She is
at this moment the riches, Estate in the
Uuion; and yet she and her creditors have
been constantly coming before Congress,
asking US 10 pay her debts and during the
las, session, although the United States
held back bu, i've millions Of This bonus 10
Texas, Congress passed law by which
they voluntarily agreed 10 give some ihre,
millions OF dollars, besides the five millions,
to &c, nd Of Texan imporunilies. A bill
for that purpose was rushed through both
Houses, and signed by the Presiden,-,he
same Presiden, who but few weeks be-
fore had vetoed the French Spoliaiion Bill
IA bill the mos, just and fair that Congress
ever passed, n bill which had had the coun.
,enance and support Of Jefferson, Madison,
John Marshall, and more than thirty com.
niitees of both Houses m bill in regard 10