Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-04-02

leader, our hearts, best hope is about to be
advanced to that high position for which God,
nature and capacity havedesigned him. APP
plause long and loud
Mr.. President La regard to the Slavery
question, will not say anything now except
this, that | did not agree altogether with you
in the views you submitted on a former occa-
zion Our difference was mainly question
of time / say this with great respect, fer
our relations, so far on this floor have been
pleasant, as your elevation TO the Presidency
of this body has been most agreeable to me.
| say that the great question OF slavery is now
10 be met because the issue is national one
aud whenever it GENES, the Democratic party
is never afraid to meet it. And on what
grounds will they meet it, sir? On the
grounds OF popular sovereignty, in the terrific
ries as we'll as in the States-on the ground
that the people have the right to establish
whatever sort of domestic government they
please within their own borders, whether tHey
exist ms Republic independent, as Repub-
lIc connected, or as n territory established un-
der our system, by an act of the general gov
ernment. Now, sir, we go into this campaign
asserting that the people of every territory of
this Union have the right to establish whatever
form of government they please, always provi
ded that they keep within the limits Of the
choose to prohibit Slavery, they can do it.
If they choose to tolerate or establish it. they
can do it. The general government can take
no notice of it, as [ contend, either at the time
it exists in territory, or when that territory
knocks at the door of the Union for admission
as a State At any time, if the people apply
ior admission into the Union, having conformed
70 all the laws that are necessary and applica-
bic. the general government is bound to adj
nit them, whether they apply with slave
Constitution or free Constitution and
think he is not a wise statesman, North or
South, who contends for the right of the gov
ernmcnt at Washington to reject them I'm
der the Constitution they are admissible, and
do not think that it becomes legislature,
which is the creature of yesterday, to put lin
its and conditions upon them not contained in
the Constitution. Applause. Why, sir.
suppose that territory applies for admission
into the Union with Constitution that pun
ishes murder with death, and another applies
for admission with Constitution that Furnishes
murder with Imprisonment. would ike to
know what right the general government
would have to reject either, because of that
peculiar domestic law with which the Consti-
tuition and laws of the United States have
nothing to do. But it may be said slavery is
q different afair-that it is domestic institu-
ton to be sure, and to be governed as such
as much as the punishment of crimes, but
that it is also moral question-that slavery
Is at war with the Bible; and hence it is the
duty Of the general government to reject ev-
cry Slave Statesson moral grounds. But, you
viii find just as many men in this country to
contend that it is gross immortality to pun
ish murder with anything else than imprison-
rnent, while others quote the Bible to prove
that it ought to be punished with death
Hence l say, giving this as an Illustration,
that the matter should be left to the people
who are Immediately concerned in it; and if
it is the will of majority of the people in
territory applying for admission, to incorpo-
rate the institution of slavery into their Con-
stitution, it is competent for them under the
Constitution of the United States to do so,
and the United States have no right to object
or interfere Applause.
It may be remarked as strange. that |
should utter the sentiment at this late day,
but l believe the Missouri Compromise was
wrong in the start. I believe that Congress
had no right to pass it-that it contained pro-
visions which they had no power to make
snd1 think it i'll becomes those who with
one accord opposed its adoption, now to clasp
it TO their hearts, the only thing that can
there find affection, and to clamor for its res
toration as if God would never prosper them
without it OF all the Northern men who
voted for that Compromise, aud they were
very few, there was but one or two | think
who did not find political grave, and their
resurrection has not come yet. Henry Bald
win was returned to Congress, and he was sa-
we'd in spite of his vote on the Compromise
only by his adherence to the tariff, which at
that day was considered of more Importance
TO Pennsylvania than the Slavery question,
or any other question in which the country
was at that time interested If [ have left
ont the name of any other, I hope l will be
corrected but say, that with the exception
Of Henry Baldwin and one other, all the rest
went down head foremost q in a sea of trou-
bles," and now sleep, in the deep bosom of
the ocean buried" Now know that [ have
detained you too long, and l will bring my
remarks to a conclusion but allow me to say
before ] quit, that I heard tonight word of
encouragement as a friend and myself walked
up the ayenne leading to the Capitol, which
came from man just returning from work
l declare do not know when ANYTHING went
to my heart so quickly as this renarl; Of that
man whose hands were blackened with a long
day Of severe toll, whose sleeves were evsl
yet not turned down. although the air was
cold and searching, and he carried his lantern
in one hand and his tin bucket which had
held his dinner in the other As we passed
him, he turned to his companion and said,
Well, all [ have to say is, that if Jimmy
Bu"hanan IS our candidate, well knock the
noise aud thunder out of them" Well sir, it
is true That Is exactly what we will knock
out Of them. We viii knock the noise out
of them-tie thunder is already gone ard
-, I'LL a