Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-08-09
SPEECH OF HON. BENJAMIN F. WADE.


the affair, hiigdeiphia Ledgcr.
SPEECH OF HON. BENJAMIN z. WADE.
On tho 2d ult. Mr.. Wade made speech in the
Senate. characterized by his accustomed bodncss,
in some parCs, and in others by the accustomed
concessions Of northern men to Slavery. We make
an extract or two:
The Senator from Kentucky (NTr. thompson
asked US yesterday what VIC meant by tho slave
power? lie looked around with an air Of triumph
as ii he had found n slang phrase which really
meant nothing. He asked US to defnc what we
meant by tho "slavo power" which he heard so
much talk Of. lie explained it himself in the
next breath, for he went to tell us that in the
slave States not one-ith Of the white inhabitants
own slaves. If he had said onc-tcnth he would
have been nearer right; but, taking his own ad-
mission not more than one fifth Of the entire free
population of the Southern States have any inter
est in the institution of slavery. What arc we to
infer from that? By the slave power ! mean that
power which reigns and dominecrs over fourffths
of the people of the South; which rules them with
rod OF iron: which gags the press; which restrains
the liberty OF speech; which makes it per0us even
for you, men of the South, to so home and pro
claim the doctrines Of the Declaration of lndepcn-
dcncc; though you may believe IN those doctrines
in your hearts. You dare rot do it. ] do not
y
umphed over all :hc rest, gagged them, and pre-
scrbcd what they shall do and say on the sulicct
The South Is not free country. The policy Of
this slave power has moulded and controlled the
Government ever since its foundation, and it al.
ways threatens dissolution of the Union if an at
tempt is made t) check its absolute dominion -
This sir is the slave power, and it is felt in every
corner Of the republic.
Gentcmcn frequently talk to me as if were in
terlcrng in matter that does not concern me-
This is a charge which do not like to hear; Cor of
all things in tho world | deprccatc the idea of in
termoddlinS in other peoples business. | have
some interest in this question. Notwithstanding
you say that you will resist all attempts to agtate
certain subjects, the Constitution of the United
States gives me the right to 20 into any OF your
States,t to so 10 Richmond any where else in Nir-
Slnia, or any other Southern State, and there
speak for freedom US boldly as | intend to do here
to-day, and with the same irnpunity. The fathers
OF the Republic were willing that any man should
propagate any doctrine in which he believed, leav-
ing the Judgment to the people to correct him if
he was wrong. How is tho practice in point of
fact? You frequently say that you are u law-abid-
ing and constitutional people; but, sir, it Would be
more pcrilous for me to go into your States and
declare what, before God, believe to be true upon
this suhle t of slavery than il would be to pro
claim Red Rcpublicanism in st. pctersburgh-
lou know it ana yet you talk of the Constitution
and the constitutional rights of the South, while
you deprive us of the plainest and most sacred
sttutional rights.
Why sir Northern man can hardly go with
safety into the South to transact business entirely
collateral to the question of slavery | know a
gentleman from Ohio who went into South Carroll
ma as an administrator to wind up the affairs of an
estate not at all connected with slavery When
he got there he was told that it was understood he
was an Abolitiunist. as all men who entertain my
sentiments arc styled, and committee waited on
him and told him he must leave the place at once.
1t was only Wy the greatest cXertions of influential
lawyers that he permitted to abide in the town
until his business could be transacted. Happy
was he that he escaped at last without coat Of tar
and feathers, or something worse. This is the law
abiding conduct of which some gentlemen talk SO
much and so loudly. proclaim here boldly that,
IN my Judgment, there il not the semblancc of
liberty in the Southern Statcs-no more for the
man living there than for me. | Judge 81 from
this circumstance, that the most extreme and out
ragoous measures in regard to this subject by the
most violent men are never rebukcd there although
there must be in that section as in others, men of
judgment and discretion, lovers Of liberty, justice
and right. II proposition is made Of tho most
extreme and violent character. involving the great
est outrage on the rights Of men; ycu do not hear
the voice Of wisdom ond justice saying, friends,
you arc going too far" No man can say this for
,ho reason that, if he did so, he would &c dcnoun-
ced ut once as an aboitionist Any man who
should undertake to moderate their zeal against
what they call abolitionism would be deemed an
Abolitionist himself, and would stand about the
same chance that reactiOnist did daring the
French Revolution.
] take no pleasure in rroclaiming these things,
although | believe them to be tric. From the nc
cumulated evidence which receive on this subject
from every quarter, cannot doubt for one moment
that the people of the South arc laboring under
one Of tho most accursed despotisms that ever set
tied down upon mankind involving not only them
selves, but citizens Of other States, who have the
right under the Consultation TO 60 there. Still |
am to be blamed rs one who intorleres with other
mems business because 1 stand here to inveigh
against this state of things, and declare to you
that m the South the guarantees Of the COnstu-
ton are a mere rope of sand, When invoke that
Constitution for tho protection Of my right to
speak, publish, and print whatever | see fit You
meet me with coat Of tar and feathers with
the halter of the hangman. Yet tho South seem
to suppose that thoy alone are loyal to the C)nsti
tuition. Thus will men be blinded by interest pas
sion, and prejudice
My Southern friends, do ozagerate any thing
Do | state any thing more than is really existing
among you? When you commenced the agitation
against what you call abolitionism do not believe
since been driven. Hhat the case, however, is as
| have stated, | have no kind of doubt. Does any
man believe that | could go into the Southern
States now, and, in my poor way, mako stump
speech IN favor OF fremont ana Daytdni and argue
the Republican platform in Charleston or Rich
mond with impunity? If were to go there would
it be efectUal for me to invoke the constitution of
the United States? If there be man here who
believes SO, let him speak, for him have offended.
Sir, there is no such man. =, The Constitution has
nothing to do with the rights Of northern men in
your Southern States. You know that it has been
entirely perverted in these latter days to the cx-
tension, upholLins, chershing, and spreading of
the institution of slavery.
have been amazed in stldSiag the history Of
NV rnuntrv 10 Iofcct On the lillerencn heIMeen