Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1856-12-25
Proceedings Of Congress.

which is thus noticed in the National IntelIi-
gencer:
/ He recapitulated the charges brought by
the President against the Republican party
numbering among its supporters, -as the last
three hundred thousand of his fellow citizens,
surpassed by none in patriotism and intelh-
gence. He denied each and every one OF the
Presidents allegations against that body OF
American voters-allegatops which he stlg-
matized as equally false and malignant Nor
did he think that the defence of the President,
as set up by one of his supporters Mr. Fugh)
on the floor of the Senate, could be plead III
his behalf, rs it was plain that the Presidents
censures were intended TO fall on the heads
of the Republican party, and were not dl-
rected TO the Abolitiunists proper, rs that
Senator had intimated The President char
ges those whom he arraigns with entertaining
covert designs against the institutions OF ex-
isting States" This charge was meant for
the Republicans, and was Presidential fling
at the honesty and sincerity of more than
million of American citizens.
The speaker then explained the differences
of opinion and purpose between the Repub-
lican party and those who were called Abo-
htionists, either of the ''Garrisonian" or
Radical school, of which the former held
that the Constitution of the United States
was 4 pro-slavery document, and therefore
they ahstained even from voting in national
elections, that they might give no counte-
nance TO such n compact with slavery, while
the latter maintained that the Constitution
was an anti-Slavery instrument, and that,
under its provisions, Congress or the Supreme
Court might tomorrow declare the emanci-
patton of all slaves throughout the Uhion.-
In opposition to both Of these incOnsIderable
parties, the Republicans held that the Con-
Sttution gave 10 Congress no power over
slavery in the States, but did confer Jurisdc
ton over the territories, and did authorize
a prohibition Of the extension of slavery to
territories which were free. This power the
Republicans believed was constitutional, and,
being so, they meant to exert Ii III behalf OF
freedom. 1t is true that the Republicans
were opposed to slavery in every form, and
wherever found; but they recognized the right
Of the States to hold their bondmen if they
thought it right or cxpcdient to do so. lie
had enjoyed peculiar facilities in the late
canvass for asceItauing the sentiments OF his
political friends, and he had yet 70 learn that
a single one Of their speakers or presses had
countenanced the idea Of touching slavery in
the States. lie challenged contradiction on
this point.
TIE speaker then reviewed the doctrines Of
the Republican party as defined by the Phil
adelPhia Convention, and quoted a clause Of
their platform which was intended to disclaim
the right OF interfering with slavery in the
South. The Republican party MAS pre-emi-
nently States-Rights party, and granted 10
the South a It claimed for the North, all the
iinmunItieS OF State sovereignty. He repu-
dated the imputation If 1plHioHism which
it attempted TO cast on the Republicans,
and thought such charge came with an i'll
grace from the party which numbered in It's
ranks nearly every ayowcd disuuonist in the
United States lie quoted from speeches Of
Mr. Toombs, Mr.. Sldeil, Gov Wise, Mr.
Brooks, Of South Carolina, and others, for
the purpose Of discovering who were the real
dlsunionists in the country. lie also replied
TO portions Of the recent speeches delivered
IN the Senate by Messrs Butler, Mason.
Rusk, Brown, and Cass. lie denied thai the
Republican party was sectional in its pr.nci-
pies or its aims. Ii sought to benefit the
white lajoCer Of the South 10 less than u ;he
North, by retaining tie free Territories IS
the common heritage uf both. lie Qau;ed
from the returns Of the last census 10 show
that while only two hundred Thousand men
u the North had Eono - the South six hun
dreI thousand natives cf the South had nrni-
grated to the free North Free laboring men
would ever ehun contact and fellowship with
slavery, The Republicans had no feeling of
hatred - the South. All Southern men were
treated wish courtesy and kindness when they
visited t;te North, even though thny came 10
utter opinions contrary & tie taste and con.
sciences of great majority Of Northern cit
izens. But what citizen uf tho North, he
9ul d.
maintain the principles avowed bv Jefferson,
Madison, or Washington in the State which
had given birth to these fathers Of the Re !
public? There was no freedom Of speech or
Of opinion at the South in the matter Of sla- :
very. In support of this assertion he cited +
the case Of Mr.. Underwood driven from Eir- /.
gini1 fur attending I he Republican Convention /
AZ Philadelphia, of Prot. Ucdrick expelled (
from his chair IN Southern University for (
writing temperate letter in favor Of Mr. I
Fremont and the principles Of the Republi- (.
can party, and other such examples.
The House, On the 22d, under a suspension
of the rules, took MP and adopted the resolu- /
ton offered by Mr. Wa.hburne Of Maine, on
Monday last, calling on tie President to
communicate to the House the amount of
money paid and the liabilities incurred for
the pay and support Of persons called into I
the service Of the United States either under
the designation Of militia in Kansas, or as
posse comitatus by the civil authorities Of the
territory, since the date Of It's establishment:
and for witnesses, and the arrest, detention,
and trial Of persons charged with treason
against the United States, or with the viola .
tion Of the so-caIlcd laws Of the territory.
The House then proceeded to the election
of Chaplain, when Father Waldo was re- /
elected. Sixteen others were voted for-Fa-
thcr Dom, Jesuit OF s.. Louis, was support
Cd LIZ Messrs Mnrrisn1l orN 4 Ill. - u