Demoine courier., 1855-07-19
SPEECH OF THOMAS II. FORD.
Of Ohio, delivered June 10Th. 1855,
at the assembly Buildings, Phi
lndfIphin.

iadelphia.
Mr.. Presiden,-i feel much embarras
sed when ! reflect that | arise to repres
en-, the views Of the mighty West on this
vexed question Of Slavery, now under
discussion. would TO God that some
gentleman more competent to tina, task
had undertaken it,. Gentlemen Of other
States have shown a strong disposition to
discuss party politics in the debate
With the dirty details of party politics
We have nothing to- do, in Ohio. Our
principles are patriotic and pure, our pur
poses high and holy.
Tae gentlemen who proceeded me
have all mistaken the POLICY Of the found
ers of the Republic they never intend
ed TO tolerate Slavery, or even be respon-
slble for its existence. With the trainers
Of the Constitution, Freedom was the
rule. Slavery the exception; Freedom,
NATIONAL; Slavery, sectional. But those
patriotic gentlemen from the South are
DESTROYS of changing the rule. so as TO
make Slavery national and freedom sec
%,ional; to extend over territory now free,
tue soul whitening God dishonoring curse
of human slavery.
We, on the other hand. are DESTROYS of
sustaining the policy Of our forefalhers-
a Bible based, law loving. liber.y.b built
policy. And here we take issue. The
Hon. gentleman from North Carolina,
pointing TO me-, taun,ingly says: you
Of the Nor:h refused to extend the Mis-
souri, Compromise line to the Pacific,
when We offered il to YOU" To this |
reply we did go refuse. and Tor This rea-
son; We are desirous OF extending the
area OF Freedom. instead of The curse of
human bondage.
The honorable gentlemen from Ten
nessee and Alabama have said that we,
at the Norlh, were generally opposed 10
the establishment Of that Missouri Com
promise line at the time ,be compact was
entered into, in 1920. "On what pre-
tex, can you base your opposition to lie
Iepeai!" In answer TO the gentle man. |
say that the people OF the North were
opposed to the establishment al that time,
and for this obvious reason; II was a base
surrender of territory to Slavery tha,
haG been by the God OF Nature and our
laws consecrated to Freedom. .Fha. q,
this moment, instead OF the soice OF Free
dom ascending to Heaven in arden. pray
ers Tor the perpe,uity of this Union,
thousands of human beings were clank
ing the chains Of abject Slavery there
Those men who were in Congress from
The North and voted for this COMPROMISE
liz forgotten somewhere-,heir memories
having persisted with them. So have we
sent those who voted for its repeal 10
'heiy political graves, TO be remembered
no more By US, except in The long living
annals Of infamy. The gentleman over
The way asks me TO reconcile that positi-
on. l will, Sir. The territory the
South acquired by virtue Of that contrac,
is already niggered-yes. fingered all
over. The crac& of The drivers lash TO
the disgrace of humanity BIZ il said is
this day heard on lis every acre. The
voice Of freedom is not heard there, 5u,
Slavery. dark and damning, curses tina,
otherwise beautiful country, having ter
ritory sufficient to make an empire oil
freemen. That is the reason we oppos
ed its repeal and now ask fol il res'ofa
ton. We cannot recall Slavery there
now-'lis TOO late! If we could place
tina, territory in the same situation i, was
in 1920, there would be no trouble from
our State about the repeal OF the Missouri
restriction. No.; we would. like men
enter the arena aud ight manfully the
battles Of Freedom, our inheritance, was
not turned to strangers and our homes &c
aliens, and Liberty left desolate in he
land of our forefa,hers.
But the dark and damning deed i.
done; and regarding the rights Of The
States under the Constitution, we canuo
change it now.
Anc now, after our submission fol
thirty four years to that inlpi,y, you
come forward and iLflict this rene weC
outrage upon US. You say. IL. is true
north Of tina, line was Sc, apar, By solemn
compacI 10 Freedom; but the con.rac
was unconstitutional, and consequent,
null and void
care no, from what point you view il,
on have taken under that contract, AM
of course are bound by it. You now
come TO US w~hiningly and say. "Thi.
contract is void, do not altemp, TO enforce
It," Suppose you give your note fol
one bundled dollars borrowed on The
Sabbath; and afterwards, to avoid The
payment, set up Cor defence that the note
was given on Sunday and consequently
void and you would not pay it. In wha
light do you surpc.e all honorable
men would view it! In no other ligh, a.
consummato villains. unworthy the con
hdence Of all hor orable men. In thu.
light Ohio and the teeming millions o.
the mighty West, whom l feebly repres
en-. here. view you, Gentlemen, in rela.
ton TO the Kansas Nebraska inquiry!
appeal to Representatives from the South
in the name Of all ,ha, is honorable,-ir
the name Of God. 10 be this once inlu.
enced by the pure promp,ings of riehl
and justice, and restore this compromise
line, or from this day hide your deform
ed heads and make your appearance nc
more among in.ellig.n, beings.
Rut am ~resnlvpd m oIaco IN. rar,lo