Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-03


4 81 hope ever 10 see America among tho fore
most nations in examples of justice and lberality
and presume that your fellow citizens will not
forget the patriotic part which you took in the
accomplishment Of the Revolution and in the
i establishment of the government; or the impor-
tant assistance they received from nation in
which the Roman Catholic religion is professed.
\ Tremendous applause, which continued several
/ minutes. la conclusion he says: and may the
members Of your Society in America, animated
by the pure spirit of Christianity, and still con-
Quoting themselves as the faithful subjects Of our
\ free government, enjoy for ever every temporal
and spiritual felicity.
Il These were the sentiments, and this the prayer
of Washington Ii now remains to be seen
whether the know-nothings, who call themselves
a purely American party will act upon the coun-
sells OF that illnstrious man. or whether thpation
has so degenerated as to ignore tho lciples
and purposes which he advocated. Gentlemen
having referred to the doings of the Massachu-
sets Legislature, let me close that part of my
subject by inquring what this party would do, if
by any chance they got a majority in Congress,
! upon the question of the annexation of Cuba For
the only proper test for any political party is to
inquire how it would act upon great national
question. There are few Americans who do not
believe that the acquisition of the Island of Cuba
would add greatly TO the power and prosperity OF
the Union In every point of view, the acquisi-
ton of this island--f it could be carried through
4 ,
war-would be an object which every one would
I approve. Now hold it to be simple PROPOSE
! ton, which may be very easily demonstrated,
4 that II the Know -nothings should gain majo-
4 rity in Congress such,acqusition would be totally
1 impossible, if their proclaimed principles were
constantly carried out. We should be obliged to
admit Cuba into the Union as State, as we did
Texas, Louisiana, and California, giving its peo-
pie all the privileges enjoyed by the citizens of the
several States. But consistently with the doc
trines of the Know nothing party, we could not
do this, because should be obliged TO admit as
citizens at once two or three hundred thousand
| foreigners. Now, hold that such party is OPP
| posed to the genius of American lberty--op-
! posed to expansion of territory--opposed to the
mission of the United States, which is to extend
freedom over the whole continent Of America.
Its principles and policy, II carried out, would
have LETT our country boundaries now confined
/ to the limits OF the old thirteen States. We
should have never acquired Florida, California,
1 and the whole of our splendid possessions on the
Pacific coast; and have yet to learn that, after
fair and candid view of the whole subject,
7, Americans can ever be induced to give the prin-
| ciples of such party their approval. No, gen.
! tlemen, it is party for the hour. 1t is disease
on the body polite. Suggestions from the par
| quette-"sIt's not the consumption" 1t is an
| epidemic which will soon disappear before the
pure air of national Democratic principles. Gen
| tlemen, we have another issue before as in the
coming campaign We will be obliged to meet
| and fight once more the slavery question--for
Abolitionism is of the subdivisions Of fana.
tclsm at the North, and singulary enough, WI
are obliged to meet it in the form of the Nebraska
bill. think that can briefly relieve this quo
ton OF much of the misrepresentation and mys-
hcatlon which have been thrown around it by fe-
signing and corrupt presses, and still morese-
signing politicians. Anxious inquiry in khe
boxes" Give US the names ''-s'hush, '"ord,r"
Ego on. affirm as proposition, that ssus-
ceptibe OF the clearest proof, that the Nebaska
bill SO far from being violation of any COM
pact or agreement existing between theStates
or any of them, is an honest and faithful falf-
ment OF the agreement made by the compromise
measures of 1850, when Webster Clay, our own
Dickinson, Applause, and other eminent men,
arranged the plan for the adjustment of all future
questions OF the same kind upon the principle
OF territorial and popular soveruignty-that
hereafter, the question oc slavery, IN any State
or Territory, should be left entirely 10 the will of
the people occupying the Territory. The Federal
Government had previously acted Tpon differ
ent policy Mr. Sickles proceededto detail the
circumstances attendant upon the resolution Of
the compromise of lS20-the admission of Texas
and Oregon-to show that Congress had pre-
viously taken upon itself to setteall difficulties
about slavcry.l The consequence Of this policy
was that every time any new Territory was
added to the Union, the slavery question was
again revived, with all its attendant evils The
should be settled at once, and forever by the
affirmation of the principle that the people of the
Territory should settle the queston-slavery or
no slavery-for themselves That decision is
now one of the well settled principles ofthe Demo-
cratic party. We hold that New York should not
make laws for Massachusetts,: nor Massachusetts,
for Kansas. The people of Nebraska should
make laws for themselves. Several FESTIVE
young men called loudly for . Brady ~ They
supposed to know their own business
Congress, in passing the Nebraska bill, only acted
up to the compromise measures of 1850, which
had been sanctioned in the election OF 80 by the
votes of three-fourths Of the people of the United
States upon the platform laid down by the
Democratic convention al Baltimore A few
weeks ago the people Of New York were address
ed in this very hall, think, by one Of the abcst
among the abolition agitators, who traced the
history of the party, and claimed that it had
made great deal OF progress at the North--that
its meetings were undisturbed--tlat il elected
Senators, members Of the lower house, and gov
errors Of States. Now, there may be great
deal Of truth in all this; but should like to ask
what progress the abolitionsts have made in the
Sonth, the only quarter where il could be of any
practical good to their cause. In 1889, before
there were any abolition societies, Mr. Randolph
introduced bill in the Legislature of Virginia
for the abolition of slavery in that State Ii found
many advocates, and il was believed that, had il
been pushed TO a test vote, many Of ia provisions
Woulu nave passed. III was lald over 10 the next
Legislature for consideration and amendment, MS
i would be the work of some time TO arrange a
plan for the gradual abolition Of slavery. This
measure, which, starting in the great State of
Virginia, would have been initiated inmany other
slave States, was stopped by tho formation Of the
abolition societies in 1885, "a, '35 The South
was then forced TO take the defensive. They met
threats with defiance aggression with resistance,
| and turned deaf ear TO the fanatics who attempt
ed TO teach them how to manage their own affairs
From this we may see that TO the abolitionists at
the North must be attributed the continuance of
slavery at the South. New York is essentially
free city; all its attributes are those of freedom
il is peopled by all nations; all kinds of pursuits
are carried on within its borders New York city
is place where fanatics can never succeed IN
fixing their erratis doctrirsRs upon the people;
are opposed TO them in our very natures. APP
plause. And ! think that if we, as National
Democrats, go into the coming contest with the
inscription on our banners-"Popular govern
inent IN the Territories; opposition to intolerance
IN religion-(applause) deposition 70 the pro-
scription OF any man on account Of his brthplacep