The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-25
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A
me as was with him, and give me a categorical
answer Be-
Mr. BENNETT was understood to say that
equals toere endoteed lcith these rights"
Mr. GIDDINGS. II is my opinion that God
has given 10 the member from Mississippi the
same claim to life and liberty that he has be-
slowed on the President of the United States.
The member from Mississippi, with his slender
physical system is not the equal of myself In
strength but will he admit that bis right to life
and liberty is more doubtful than mine? Do l
understand him to admit. that because have the
physical power, therefore | possess the moral
right to make him my slave? God forbid. The
most degraded African that treads the footstool
of God, possesses the same right TO h life and
his liberty that Franklin Pierce enjdEs and l
would be as willing TO see the PresidenNhow be-
meath the LASH as would the humblest indfNd-
Ral who perspres beneath African SUM- I
would as soon see the wife or child Of the Presi-
dent taken from his arms, and sold like swine IL
the market as ! would see the wife and child Of
any other man made merchandise. These are my
sentiments, honestly entertained and frankly eX-
pressed. have no apology 70 MIKE - tae-fiefR-
Der from Mississippi, to the Democratic party,
to mankind, or to my Creator, for these honest
convictions of my Utmost soul. | regret to see
Republicans stand here and apologize for their
dislike of an institution hated Of God and de-
tested by all good men. Il was for the mainte-
nance of these sentiments that our fathers met the
hosts of Britain upon unnumbered battle-felds.
They shed their blood to uphold these doctrines;
and shall their descendants apologize for enter
tanning them2
This equality of right among all men to life
and liberty is the rock on which the Republican
church is erected, and neither the gates Of hell
of Democracy shall prevail against it.
! know that the Democratic party deny thls
equality of rights. If they do believe in the di
vine right Of Kings, they certainly believe in the
divine right OF Shareholders. Even the President
in his message claiming to represent the people
of the United States generally, and the Democ-
racy in particular, speaks Of men enslaved
property degrades man, with his intellectual i'm
mortality, TO the same rank in the scale Of beings
cattle and swine. 1t is rank iniidelity-infdel-
ity TO God and TO mankind.
| now pass to the next point in our Republican
/ platform. The second resolution further reads
| as follows:
"Tha, as our Republican fathers when they had sbOl.
ished Slavery in ali Territories ordained that no per
son shall be deprived OF life liberty. property. with
out tuc process Of law, it bt comes duty
ths provision of the Constitution against all attempts
violate H. for the purpose OF establishing Slavery any
Territory of the United States by POSITIVE legislation pro-
| hl0iliug ITS existence or extension therein
| Here we reach the important and practical
/ issue which presses upon US at this time. J
| desire TO call attention to this issue upon main
! tanning the Constitution of the country. The Re
pUblicans insist that this ordained will Of those
! who framed the Constitution, that No person
s'aH be dpTired Of lie, liberty property, lriLous
due process Of LSc,' shall be maintained; that
wherever our Federal power extends, there the
Constitution shall be upheld. Tho Democrats
! take issue with US. They insist that in Kansas
and other Territories Of the United States, men
may be eDslaved robbed Of their earnings de-
| prived OF their liberty, without process of law;
and If they resist the commission of those crimes
! they may be murdered, deprived of life at the viii
| Of the pretended owner, without process of law
am not now discussing collateral matters I call
attention to fundamental truths. Shall this con-
stitutional decree, which is in perfect harmony
with the conscience Of every honest and intelli-
gent man, in harmony with the rights of mankind,
! in harmony with the laws of nature and of ma
lures God, be maintained? II is an important
| question. Have the American people the virtue,
the iirmness Of purpose, the intelligence, the pa
triotism, to maintain this constitutional proyis-
| ion
| BY the Observation-Disclosures bill. we extended over
! those Territories the whole criminal code OF the
United Ststes, and declared tho Constitution TO be-
in force there but the Democratic party, while
swearing to sustain the Constitution in its gene
rails and in all its details. turn round and say we
have right to exclude the crime Of Slavery
That greatest Of all crimes, of IL transgressions
mus, be permitted. If a man rob another of his
money, ne is confined il prison for years but If
he rob him of the earnings of his life of his lib
n.
maphood, the offender is TO be protected, and the
Constitution is not to be enforced They deny
that this Territorial Government was constituted
TO secure men in the enjoyment Of life, liberty, and
happiness the objects and designs Of human
government spurned, and the laws of God
and nature arc set at defiance.
Against those who endeavor to defeat the
intentions of our fathers, the Republicans 1.-THE
friends of Liberty have waged an unceasing,
determined warfare. Our association is Of recent
date. 1t differs from all other political parties
formed since the adoption of tire Constitution,
in this: it is based upon the rock Of eternal
unchanging Truth, Liberty and equal justice 20
all men, Our cause is upheld and sustained
by the patriot the philosopher, the philanth.o-
pist, the Christian. We hold to the command
nent of Him who spal,e as never man spako,
when He declared, Thou shut lore thV HsIi6Jr
as Hyseif; it is as binding upon politicians a.
upon ministers Of the gospel or members Of
churches. And he who consents that one maa--
may enslave another, can have no claim to be
called a follower of him who commanded that
Whatsoever We would that men should DO 10
you, do We even so unto them" Men who deny
these doctrines must be regarded as outlaws
from the commonwealth Of Christianity. With
these doctrines and principles the basis of our
Republican organization, we have increased in
numbers, and in moral and political power, with
a Tapidity unknown IN the political history OF
tive departments of fourteen sovereign States,
comprising more than two-thiTds of the free pop
ulation of the Union, and far greater portion
of the wealth, of the moral and physical power
of the nation. In this Hall, large plurality OF
the members with us. Four hundred news
papers and periodicals now constantly lay
ing truth before the people. Ministers who preach
the gospel of Peace earth, good val t0tcGrds
men" are with us. The sympathies and pray
ers Of the Christian world are with US. And I
hesitate not to declare that no intelligent unbi-
assed, candid mind, who believes in the power
of truth, can doubt our speedy triumph.
The sentence of the people has gone forth
against all those who are recreant to the cause
of Freedom. Many are the new made political
graves which cover from sight the cast-off poll
ticians of by-gone days. Yet, in the midst o.
this general carnage, the survivors here, and in
different sections Of the country, are exultanr
with JOY that they have not qU been slain-that
few yet survive; and truly they may be said
to be monuments Of the sparing mercy of the
people.
The President, among others, has found him
/ sell victim to the Slave Power. Having ex-
pended what moral and political influence be
possessed in favor of human bondage, they have
cast him of, as no longer useful. Given up by
Northern and abandoned by slaySholding friends,
he can do nothing more than submit to that
sentence of condemnation which the people have
pronounced against him. But while he yet lin
gers upon the verge of public life, he seizes
upon the last moments Of his political existence
TO send forth 10 the country the very extraordi-
nary message now before us.
In bestowing n few moments attention upon
this most singular State paper, shall pass over
1 that which may be regarded rs merely the da-