The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-07-23

: complished without dishonor. There
no reason to question the good fait
with whicEthe conflicting opinions tha
lay at the foundation OF cur division
were entertained, and we would hav
been more than men. if in euforcin
our respective views, in. m oments of grea
excitement, there had not been fault
on both sides. You have well decide
to forget past collisions, and to ente
upon generous rivalry in the sacrifc
ofpersohal feelings upon ealtar of har
hormony. This is the best, ifnot the on
ly way in which such Reunion can b,
made cfiectuaL
The subject upon which we have diff
fered, is that which now furnishes the
leading issue between the principal par.
ties in the coming election, and to which
all other matters have become subordi-
nate-that of slavery in the territories
My own course in regard to it has been
one, by the record of which l shall al
ways be willing to be judged, whenever
and wherever the acts OF an individual
are deemed Of sufficient Importance to
attract attention. The same thing can,
doubt not, be said by those of you who
have differed from me, aid there we
must leave that matter. We cannot
control each others opinions, when ar
guments fail to convince, and should not
desire to do SO if we could.
have, from the beginning. preferred
the mode Of dealing with the subject of
slavery in the territories adopted at an
early day by the founders of the govern
ment, and continued to a recent period,
and have uniformly resisted depart
ure from it, No man in the country can
have been more sincerely opposed to the
repeal Of the Missouri Compromise l
was Informed of it under circumstances
calculated to make an American most
sensitive in regard to all domestic acts
from which he thinks there is a reason
TO aPprchend danger to tho perpetuity
of our political institutions-in for
eign land, surrounded by the subjects
and advocates Of despotic power. Deep
" sensible of its injustice, and forseeing
the exteut to which the measure would
reopen slavery agitation-the deletcri
ous effect of which few were more capa-
bic of appreciatfDg than myself, did
not hesitate to condemn the act. But
the measure has been accomplished, and
the question that presents itself to those !
who agreed with me in that condemna-
ton is-what is the best step to be next
taken in the matter with reference sim
ply to the puhlicinterest. The PROPOSE
tious brought into view by the principal |
parties in the approaching election con-
;ists OF Ist. The restoration of the Mis-
souri, Compromise; p. The settle
nent of questions relating to slavery in
he territories by the direct legislation
IF Congress Sd. The immediate ad-
MISSION Of Kansas as a free state under
he Topeka constitution and 4th. The
xecutioa of the Nebraska Kansas
ct without regard to the latter move
nent.
Upon each of those propositions I will
ay enough to possess you with my views
n regard to them.
1t is worthy of remark that, not-with-
tanding the seeming fitness Of the fosm
f redress elm 5racedi in The first PROPOSE
ion, there has not from the beginning
cen anythings like unanimity in opinion,
n the part of those most opposed to the
cpeal of the Missouri Compromise, in
,vor of making its restoration a priuci-
al issue in the contest. This has doubt
,ss arisen in part from a distrust of
1cccss, founded on the political c2ndi-
on of the Senate, TIE length of time it
lust take to press the poiut with hope ;
its accomplishment, and the weight Of 5
AGenoe the propositions must encoun- +
L. 1 n
.lieve, contributed to this result The
lly territories left for the Missouri !
to act upon, if it were re- t
ored, are those in Texas and Kanaas I
he restoration of the Compromise If u
fected, might come IN season for the Il
inversion Of the Texas territory into a a
ave state or states, but one can scarce il
doubt that the Kassas question will C
we been settled before that of the
storation of the Compromise, with
'wever much energy the latter might Il
urged. P
OF the restoration of the old mode CT el
ttling such questions I will speak here re
ter. cC
The convention which fromed the To- VI
ka constitution was convened, without W
ecife authority from Congress, in des- T
.e of the will Of the territorial govern OIL
mt, which is recognized as legitimate II
the federal executive, and did not II
en- profess to represent more than cl
rt of the people of the territory. But a
, objection to the admission of new vi
tie into our confcderacy, organized
der such circumstances, are sought to pc
removed by the grave charges that to
, legislative branch of the existing ter is