Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-12-15

ed, arrested, indicted and tried, and, if found
guilty, he must suffer the punishment. He
then is deprived of life by due process of law.
If found guilty of robbery or arson, he loses
his liberty by the same process Of law, being
confined in prison. On this doctrine the
Democratic party take issue. They insist
that men may be rightiully euslaved in our
Territories without any process of law; that
the STAKEHOLDER in our Southern States has
the right to take his slaves with him into our
Territories in spite of the Constitution, and in
spite of any and all powers of Congress. Here
then, rests the principal issue now pending
between the two great parties OF our coun-
Try.
Having defined the issues between the par
ties, and laid down the general doctrines of
the Republican party, pass to an examina-
ton of the Presidents Message, assailing that
party and It's doctrines. l shall pass over all
that part which may be regarded merely as
declamatory, and come TO that portion where
he makes a distinct and we'll defined issue
and here l call the attention of the Mem Der
from South Carolina Mr.. KEITH to the fact
that he did not sustain the Presidents sssev-
erations. desire to know whether that gen.
tleman vindicates the truth of the Presidents
actual assertions: The President says:
"ln the long series of acts of indiscreet ag-
by citizens Of the Northern States, in Congress
and out OF it, of the question of negro eman.
cipation in the Southern States
Sir, if there be man in this body who can
tell when the question of negro emancipation
in the Southern States wss ever agitated here
or in the Senate, l beg him to do the Pres-
dent the justice to state it. The President
does not allege that they had committed acts
tending to that object, as represented by the
member from South Calolina Mr.. keith, but
he asserts unequiyocally, without quali6ea-
ton, that We had agitated the question OF ne
gro emancipation in the Southern States
l suppose no man doubts the authorship of
this message. The special pleading, the astute
reasoning, the sophistical manner in which the
questions are propounded and argued and the
reckless disregard Of facts, leave 10 doubt
upon that point in the minds of those who
served in this House with the distinguished
Attorney General in the Cabinet.
Sir, have been a member of this House
longer than any other gentleman here. Ihave,
perhaps, served longer, continuously, than any
member OF either branch of Congress, and l
have been regarded as the most ultra aboll-
zionist in either House. The President prob.
ablp intended to refer to me but say, un.
hesitatingly, that l never presented petition,
resolution, or prorosition-1 never made
motion nor delivered speech-agitating that
subject. l proposed a resolution Yesterday
calling on the President for any information
he may possess on this subject, but it was OBJ
jected to by friend of his. So far as my
knowledge, OF information, or belief extends,
no such proposition was ever presented in
either House by any member.
But, sir, suppose We had done so, are we to
look to the President for permission to speak
what we think-to utter what we feel 10 be
our duty! Why, sir, if Northern members
have not proposed negro emancipation in the
South, Southern members have proposed to
carry slavery into the free States. think it
was in 1888 or 1889, that distinguished
member from Virginia Mr.. Wisel, proclaimed
on this floor the right OF STAKEHOLDER to carry
his slaves into or through any free State. In
l849. distinguished member from Georgia.
MIR. Toombs, now holding a seatin the other
end of the Capitol, declared here, that it was
the duty of the Federal Government to pro.
tect the STAKEHOLDER in the possession OF his
slave wherever the American flag may float;
and since that gentleman has held seat in
the Senate, he is reported to have said "he
would yet call the roll of his slaves under the
shadow of Bunker Hill monument that he
would pollute that holy ground which drank
the blood of Warren and those patriots who
fell i'll the cause of freedom, by the footsteps
of Gods image held in chains.
Sir, these gentlemen had The right TO speak
their real sentiments--to avow their doctrines,
and the President has no more right to censure
them than they have to turn round and cen.
sure him for the expression of his opinion. L
stand here to defend the constitutional rights
OF members of this body, whether from the
North or the South, whether they be in favor
of slavery or freedom. L denounce this i'm
pertinent-this insolent attempt of the Presi-
dent 10 dictate to this body how we shall act,
or what we shall say.
The President seems to think that he was
placed in the Presidential chair, not only to
discharge his own duties, but to read lectures
to officers Of the legislative branch Of the gov
eminent. l for one, repudiate his right to call
in question the action Of the members of this
body.
But the President charges the people of the
free States with agitaling this question of ne
gro emancipation in the Southern States
Well, sir, suppose they have done this re.
ply, they have a right to do SO. 1t Mt being
a matter over which think Congress has
power to legisate, never agitated it here
But have not the people right to discuss the
question OF serfdom in Russia, of cannabalism
in the Feejee Islands, or of slavery in our
Southern States They pay money 10 send
Christianity and intelligence to India, to the
Sandwich Islands, and to our slave States.
recently saw statement of the money collect
ed and expended by our Southern Aid Socis-
ties during the past year, in efforts to enlight-
en- the ignorant blacks and whites of the
Southern States. And have they no right to
talk Of the best manner of extending civiliza-
ton and Christianity there? L know that
gentlemen in this and the other end of the
Capitol have spoken in an apologize manner
Of the radical aboltionists of the North l re-
greet it. | say to those people, speak what YOU
verify believe to be just and right unfold
your own intellects speak forth the senti.
ments of your hearts the President is your
servant, and not your master; you may chide
him with propriety; you are the sovereigns
OF this nation, and would have you realize
your own true dignity. Southern men do
not hesitate to Talk Of carrying slavery into the
flee States; indeed they carry their slaves into
our territory they contaminate our SOIL
Even a judge in Pennsylvania has substantial.
ly decided that they have the right to carry
slavery into Pennsylvania. Sir, from my
heart | feel humbled at this degradation ofmy
native State. But while these things arc
done, and the President approves them, he
attempts to lecture the people of the North for
speaking their feelings. l spurn, and hold
such arrogance in supreme contempt. say to
the President, the Constitution of the coun-
try has declared, /" that the freedom of speech
and oil the Press shall never be abridged" and
no petty tyrant will be able to hold the free
men Of the North in awe Of his arrogant usurp-
rtion.
But pass to another definite assertion In
this Message. The President saws -