Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-07-03
Att easonable Purpose Avowe ed and
a Applauded ed in the Philad elphia Con-

= Applaud ed in the Phllad elphla Con-
vention.
General James Watson Webb was 4 dele
gate to the Black Republican Convention at
Philadelphia, and favored that body with
his sage counsels. He delivered speech,
which is reported for the New York Tines,
and from which we make the following ex-
tract, and ask for it a careful perusal
Why, ask, are we here? We are here be-
cause the country is in danger. We are here
because a solemn compact, by which the curse
of slavery was limited forever to the latitude OF
81 deg. 30 min, has been violently disruptured,
torn asunder, and the people OF the North told
" you have this matter forced upon you" Now,
what are the people doing2 Our people, loving
order and loving law, and willing to abide by
the ballot-box, come together from all parts of
the Union and ask US to give them nomina-
tion which, when fairly put before the people,
will unite public sentiment, and, through the
ballot box, will restrain and repel this pro-
slavery extension, and this aggression of the
slayeocracy What else are they doing? They
tell you that they are willing to abide by the
ballot box, and willing to make that the last
appeal. If zee fail there, tchat then? We i0M
drfue back, sucord in hand, and, so help me
God! betieuing this 10 be right, am Nth them =
Loud cheers, and cries of Good Now,
then, gentlemen. on your action depends the re-
suit. You may, with Gods blessing, present
to this country a name rallying around it all
the elements Of the opposition, and we will
thus become so strong that through the ballot
box we shall save the country. But. II name
be presented on phich tre may not rally, and me
consequence is cipH trar-yes, nothing more, and
nothing less, but cirii rar-I ask, then, tohat is
aaT first dufg?
We have marked with italics the treason
able threat on which we desire to concentrate
the thoughtful reflection of all men who ace
not phrensied with fanaticism. Perhaps so
base sentiment would be entitled to little
consideration, coming from so bad counsel
lor, but it will be observed that the threa
was sealed with an impious cath : Even
that would scarcely redeem it from the con-
tempt which it merits, but for the much more
significant and important fact that the avowal
of the menace was followed by "loud cheers
and cries of 'Good.'" 1t was not simply,
therefore, the sentiment of General Webb,
but it was approved and endorsed by the
Convention. What is the sentiment? That
il the Black Republicans fail at the ballot
box to elect their nominee, they will drive
back the ....slaveocracy' sword in hand, or,
as it is afterwards expressed, that if name
cans cannot succeed, then "the consequence is
civil wqr-yes, nothing more, nothing less, but
civa ,oar," Colonel Webb was urging the
Convention to postpone am immediate ballot
hoping that the tide which was then running
so strongly in favor Of Fremont could be ar
rested, and the nomination of Judge Mclean
be effected. He succeeded in the postpone
ment, but not in defeating Colonel Fremont.
1t follows that, in the opinion of Gen. Webb,
the Black Republicans cannot elect Colonel
Fremont. and then "civil war--yes, nothing
more, nothing less, but civil war; is to comei
And this declaration was received with shouts
and applause by the Convention. The Con
vention adopted the threat, and made it their
own.
We are thus notified, in the most unmis-
taxable language, thai if-the people elect the
Democratic candidate for President, the Black
Republican party stands pledged, with an
oath, to resist the popular judgment sword
in hand. If so Infamous a threat a ~
does not arrest the attentiQn.vG
substantial, peace-loving, law-abidI1 u
the North, and induce them to UNITE o(f[I|
energies for the overthrow of "a party which3
enters into the canvass with such sentiments,
we cannot tell what could make an impress
sion on their minds, Who can now wonder
that the laws are resisted in. Kansas, and
that the resistance is encouraged in the free
States, when a Convention, composed almost
exclusively Of delegates from those States,
cheers and applauds solemn threat to dis 1
regard the ballot-box, and to exclude slavery
from Kansas by aresort to civil lwar X Wdsll-
ineton Union. ,- ...i....., ..-..... ........-.