The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-07-17

! NV FELLow-CITixKNs:
Just on the eve of the August slsctior
end myself, very unexpectedly and very
much against my Wishes, candidate FOL
State Senator. It had been urged upon me
repeatedly to permit my name to be used fol
this purpose up to the time of the nomina.
ton made by the Republican committees Of
the two counties, and had peremtorily re-
fused. also told the members of the com.
nittee from Lee county, whom they started
for Pennington, not to use my name, for
could not possibly run the race. The reason
why refused to become . candidate was
this: that could not properly canvass the
District without causing immense injury to
the affairs Of others, committed to my care
as lawyer. 1t is near year since We havs
had term Of the court at Keokuk, and
there are on the docket now, for trial at our
next term, commencing on the frst Monday
Of September, some three hundred cases in
which am engaged for one side or the 9TH
err. The ordinary Office business Of our firm
demands the continual attention Of one man.
My partner, Mr.. Rankin, is absent in the
East and will not be home before the election,
and with all the preparations for trial Of these
causes on my hands, besides the usual bust
ness of the Office, it WAS impossible for me
to canvass the two counties. If, however,
were to refuse now to accept the nomination
it would be equivalent to leaving my politi-
cal friends without any candidate for Sena-
tor, as it is too late to take measures to get
out another with any hope Of success.
have therefore concluded to accept the nom
ination, and have offered the foregoing re-
marks by way of apology for failing to can
vass the two counties in person. am COM
my fellow-citzens, in order to apprise you
Of my sentiments upon the political questions
which are agtating the country.
My political action heretofore has been in
general accord with the Wing party. That
party no longer has an exietence, or If it has,
there IL no representative Of 1t in this field
for any Office in regard to which you and
are called upon to vote. In speaking OF it
then as u party which has passed into histo-
~, may be permitted to cay that | believe
that in the true honesty Of its purposes, in the
soundness Of it's principles, aud in the bril-
liant constellation of talent which guided its
course, it has never had IN equal in this or
any other country, and its members who yet
survive find themselves enjoying those hon.
ors which are usually paid alone to the dead.
The questions which gave vitality to the
Wing party, and which constituted the bat
tie ground between it and the old Democrat
ic party, having been either adjusted or
passed away in the rapid progress Of the
country, or having become of such minor
Importance as no longer to attract public at
tention in any sensible degree, End myself,
In common with all my fellow citixens of
both the old political parties, compelled to
act In reference to u new, vastly important,
and overshadowing issue, thrust upon us in
manner that admits of no evasion and re-
curing ut our hands conscientious solu-
ton.
You will understand at once that | speak
OF the Slavery question. Upon the subject
OF Slavery have no unfounded preiudices
Was raised and lived in its midst until 80
years Of age, and have had ample opportu-
nifty Of knowing its workings and observing
It's influences. The result Of this is, con-
vinction that both to the white man and the
black it is full OF evil. The institution of
African Slavery as it exists in the United
States, is in my judgment the most stupen-
dous wrong, and the most prolific source of
human misery, both to the master and the
slave, that the sun shines upon in his daily
circuit around the globe. The last vote /
ever gave in kentucky WAS given for can
didtte Tor delegate to amend the Constitu-
sion, who was pledged to vote for a system
of gradual emancipation, and when that
hopelessly failed determined to leave the
State.
But while thus opposed to Slavery, l
recognize, in the fullest sense Of tho term,
the exclusive right Of the States within which
II exists to deal with is for themselves
Slavery IL the creature alone OF local stat
utory law, and to the States where those
laws exist, belongs the responsibility Of its
continuance, and the sole right to provide
for its removal.
But while the nation was reposing itself
upon the satisfactory settlement Of the
Slavery question after the agitation which
resulted IN the Compromise measures Of
looO, the men who had obtained control OF
the old Democratic party, with tho Demo-
cratic Administration 1t their head, without
any necessity or reason for so doing, which
has ever been shown, except personal ag-
grandizement, commenced . series Of mea-
sures Tor the extension of Slavery into re-
gions where by law it did not previously ex-
LIST. This statement make adyiscdly and
on duo reflection, but can only allude,
without ampli6cation, to some Of the evil
dences of its truth.
lst When the only effect which could Aow
from the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise vas to permit Slavery to dow into the
Territories which we're organised BY the Kan
sas Nebraska Act; and do the persons who
voted for that repeal the justice to believe
that they would not have haxarded that aw-
tul convulsion which they knew mus. follow
That act, unisss they had some strong md
well defined purpose in view in 50 doing.
judging mems motives BY their conduct.
then, the only one to be found for removing
the Slavery restriction Has the intention Ia