The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-09-30
From the Monroe Commercial.
Review Of MI. McClelland's Speech and Fall
lacies,

10 say, that we nave known MN lor twenty
years, and always felt for him warm per-
sonal friendship In all matters of business,
in all the relations of private life, we have
ever esteemed him as man Of integrity and
honor.
We have often been, and now are, under
many obligations to him, as well in matters
of business as of private friendship. In
brief, VIC have felt, and still feel for him, an
attachment as deep and strong as we could
feel for brother.
But any, or all these things shall not pre-
vent us, in the face of such an issue as is now
pressed upon the country, from canvassing his
position as a politician, and exposing, in
spirit of kindness, yet of perfect freedom,
such of his errors of fact and inference, as in
our conscience, we believe, are calculated to
deceive the people into the support of meas
ures fraught with danger to the liberties of
the country-should we hesitate to do SO for
any such consideration. we should feel that
Mr.. McClelland himself ought to despise us.
He began by referring very appropriately
to Monroe as the place Of his former residence
and friendships. And before undertaking to
discuss any political question, very pointedly
declared that he did not accord to the maxim
that "all is fair in politics" Stated that he,
for one, believed men were equally bound to
tell only the truth, in politics, as well as in
other matters; that falsehood in politics was
equally reprehensible with falsehood in any
transaction of life; and gave his hearers to
understand that he intended to be perfectly
frank and candid. This was the rule which,
he declared, he laid down for himself. No
| ono Jnubtc bo no,roc. ,aee of tho ruia II ia
one would think, an easy rule to follow !;
whether Mr.. McClcllaud succeeded in this,
will appear in the sequel.
He then proceeded to say that the North
were not responsible for slavery in the States
that it was matter depending entirely
upon themselves, and not within the jurisdic-
tion of Congress. This is precisely the doc
trine Of the Republican party and platform,
but this he omitted to state, and though he
did not expressly say SO, yet evidently left
the impression on the mind of his hearers
that the Republicans held the contrary. /
Denounced all attempts to interfere with
slavery in the States though not quite so
strongly as the Republicans speakers do. i
Deplored the efforts of Northern Abolition
lists to interfere with slavery in the States
| We are not behind him in this, though we
think he greatly ovorstated the effects Of this
upon the South Declsred..thst before the
agitation raised by the Abolitionists, Mary
land Lad come within 2 or votes, and Vir-
ginia within 8 or votes, Of abolshing
slavery. We arc under the impression this
is overstated, and would like to see the proof.
In the latter State he attributed this movement
to Mcdowell, but we were certainly under
the impression he did not come quite 30 near
succeeding.1 Declared that Benton started
the same project in Missouri" This we
think would be news TO Mr.. Benton himself
who has often boasted that he was the nsti
gator of that clause in the Constitution o
Missouri, sanctioninG slavery and forbidding
the legislature to interfere with it (see Ben
tons thirty years view, vol. l, page 8.
He declared that "there never was a slave
State admitted into the Union, since The
adoption Of the Constitution, except from
slave territory" This is true; and he nigh
have gone further, and said there never vii
be; because, if slavery is kept out while il
territorial condition, they will adopt fre
constitutional admitted into the territory
aUhile territory, they will form slave con
stitution. Such is the history Of the past.
If Mr.. McClelland doubts this, we refe
him to his own speech made in Congress
: Feb. 10, ls49-see page 8. We cite tn
page, as he may have forgotten it; since h
+ seems to have forgotten that he ever occu
3 pied the same ground Which we nov occupy
others are not SO oblivious. IN this speec
Q he says, in reference 20 territory becoming
a slave State, "Let tho territory be free un
til State Constitution is formed, and th
r danger is forever at an end"
Hence the Importance Of keeping SLAYER
out while in territorial condition; and tn
the Republican party propose to do, by tn
Identical means advocated by ltr. Mcclellan
in the same speech, viz: by act of Congress
b He declared that almost the entire con
!, merce Of the country was in thc hands Of th
North, and always would be while elaver
. exists. Well, be it SO! 1t seems, then, .ht
h Slavery destroys or at least cramps the con
merce Of q country--so much the create
reason why we should exclude it from th
territories; for commerce is one Of the prir
; cipal sources of prosperity in any country.
. He declared himself opposed to slavery
, the abstract, and went SO for rs TO say th,
!, he would vote against it's introduction int
this State. Should he 90 to Kansas, an
, say as much he would be shot or expelled I
others have been for saying no more.
: But we were glad to hear this expression
: though we ere bound to say tha. if seve
years hence, he should vote TO admit SLAYER
here, it would indicate no greater change
: his views, than seeme TO have taken place
u the last seven years.
: lie then undertook, in sonis degree,
palliato slavery--said' the Southern cour
were more favorable to the slave than Il
:, Northern. In this he must have referred
past and not to present times. He failed
l. tell us that the Supreme Court of the Unite
States, majority Of whom are pro-slayer.
have by a majority over-ruled oil the liber
doctrines Of Northern and Southern Court
3 and adopted n construction which will enab
- Shareholders to bring the slaves and wo
them in Michigan.
4. He declared that the Northern people, b
ing more enterprising, would be more like