The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-16
SPEECH OF HON. HOWELL COBB, OF GEORGIA,

SPEECH OF HON. HOWELL COBB, OF GEORGIA.
Al the Democratic Meeting in Portland Maine August 7,
1856
FELLow-cITIzESs 1t would be embarrassing to any one
to address this audience after listening patriotic and
eloquent address which you have just heard from my dis
ungushed friend from Louisiana; but upon the
task Like him. look upon this audience and, with
the exception Of few familiar faces around me- look
upon each other as strangers and yet do not feel that
am altogether stranger. Cheers and cries of "no no."
We live in a country under common constitu-
ton; we worship at the altar of a common Union God
grant that our children centuries hence may be able
nounce one to the other the fact Loud applause
would that this cordial greeting which you Of Maine
have extended to Of Georgia were embematc of the
feeling Of the people of this country throughout the land
IT, my friends every citizen of Maine, every citizen d the
North felt that every citizen of Georgia. and every citizen
of the South his brother how would these dark
clouds that now hang threatening the future pass
and happiness upon the whole land [Cheersl |
here to-day tellowcizens disguise the truth-such
not the fact We do not feel towards each other
fathers did in the oden time There is that fraerna
feeling striking chord in the heart every American cit
izen that found vibrating from Maine Georgia du
ring the time of that mighty struggle which gave freedom
to America and this constitution to the people holding
up that instrument lfn l77G it had been announced
in this part OF my country that citizen of the far South
would be here to-day to mingle his counsels with his
brethren of Manef had been announced that he would
be here to-day to unite with you brethren of
country ask you, would that have been
received the mention of humble self has been re-
ceved by portion of the press and portion of the pub
lie OF this country2 Would you have been warned that
the voice OF an enemy was to be heard in your midst
Would you have been told that there to appear
who would seek to pour poison into your minds Or
would you have been tod-"A brother comes among u.s..
Loud cheers
My friends my mission here rs fulfilled nv work is done
if induce my brethren of the North receive and
my friends Of the South your fathers received my faith
Let go back for moment to the day of that
struggle which purchased for you the right this day
meet under the protecting influence Of the American flag
Tell me- your fathers stood side by side with their breh
of Georgia, spirit and feeling inspiring their
common hearts, and common raised in defence of
American liberty and American freedom-tell me- was
there to be found, in all this broad land that who
sought to ns into the heart of his neghbor sectional
prejudice sectional hatred and make look upon their
brethren their ensmies2 "No, no. and loud cheers
Our fathers passed through that struggle They
gethe and all the notes have prepared to address you
upon to-day those furnished to by the Faher of
his Country" and those who met with him, and gave
America this written constitution. Applause When
our fathers met together in common council my friend
from Louisiana has already truly told you the people
representing that peculiar institution which is d-
vldug and distracng this country constituted large
majority of this republic The differences and
dissensions existed in opinion and in sentiment be-
tween the people Of the various sections then now
The interests of Maine or rather of Massachusetts
which included Maine the then that II is
now. The interest of Virginia and of Georgia was the
same then that it is Your fathers had prejudces
my fathers had prejudces They met together upon the
principle of compromise concession brothery love- kind
and cordial feeling They agreed to lay these differences
and dssensions upon common altar and give the
country common constitution. ask you to-day put
it to the conscences of the gentlemen of the republican
party-you who regard me your enemy-you who seek
upon the interests Of my State-you who are arous
ing the prudices of this people against your brethren who
live upon the soil that gave BIRTH ask you to-day
you willing to stand where your fathers stood2 Are
you willing to be governed by the feeling and sen-
ments and spirit which pervaded the hearts Of your fathers
who framed this constitution | ask This Tag
gressive power the slave States asks Give TO
the spirit which your fathers brought the adoption OF
that constitution and the voice of disunon will be hushed
in md fha rln will 81.
overspread us and peace and happiness will be our por
ton for the future My republican friends you ready
for it? will test you will put the test TO your
sciences this day.
Your fathers framed constitution of equality are you
willing to live and die by t2 Your fathers declared by
their voice. and consecrated by their blood the doctrine
that every man in this land capable of segovernment
Applause Your fathers said that the fugitive from the
labor of the southern should be delivered up Your
fathers said States should be admitted into the Union
their constitution was republican in form Your fathers
said the rights of the States should not be trampel upon
four fathers said you should interfere in the slave
trade between the States Your fathers agreed that the
trct OF Columbia should he common territory upon which
the people OF all the States should meet the protection
and IN the enjoyment OF all their rights Your fathers said
that the people OF the Territories should be allowed gov
ern themselves "Good Y good !" and great applause
These are the doctrines these the sentiments
outonary and republican fathers. Tell to-day who
stands by them
Ny friends the man who could not accent that constu
uon the man who could form that constitution II call
Cd upon TO day 10 organize for the people
OF TINS country that be trusted with the
mnisration Of such government Now, gentlemen Of
the republican party suppose that there constu
on and the people OF the several States of this Union
assembled together for the purpose of organizing q gov
ernment and you called upon to frame n constitution
for the United States let ask you what would you
when the provisions Of this constitution offered to
you for your voter Here provision that declares that
the basis Of the representation Of the South shall include
threehfhs Of the saves-would you for that2 An
swer II honestly Laughter. Don't let us have any
dodging about It'll Tell me II you were in convention
to-day to adopt constitution, would you vote for that
provision Some voices, no." Another voice" the de-
mocracy would Then you who would not for the
constitution There just about enough of you illus
trate my argument You honest, those Of you who
say you would not vote for it, and that just what
the people OF the country TO understand. IL Is that
they are against me against the South II is not the
South they warning upon it is the constitution of the
country. Prolonged cheering, mingled with cries Of
"Thats itl' I" That's the talk |"
Now, gentlemen Of the republican party you that
answered me awhile ago. don't be alarmed INTO silence
going to put a few more questions Laughter
Asprited episode here took place gentleman inquired
from the audience If he might be allowed ask question
Mr. Cobb replied Yes; Dozen forty hundred" hun
dred voices called out No no. put him put him out
Considerable uproar ensued till Mr. Cobb said "This is
private light Of my beg leave to manage my own
business This rally put the audience in good humor and
Mr. Cobb continued, the question not being putt
am upon a serious question, and | desire every man
within the hearing Of my voice 10 ponder and reflect
present to another of the provisions Of your consu
ton Remember am now putting questions TO the gentle
men OF the republican partywhat they would do they
were assembled in vention adopt constitution for
the United States Should you put in that constitution
gentlemen Of the republican party provision TO deliver
up ngnves from labor Should you introduce into your
constitution you making for yourselves pro-
vision binding yourselves to deliver up fugitive slaves
voice-"Eo, no, sir n You would notl Just exactly