The daily union., 1856-01-26
DEMOCRACY AND SLAVERY.

Speech Of Hon AndysU JOHNSON GOperaor " Tnesss az
Ms late Democratic Coaceati0a.
GnsnEars or rHR oowKsTIoS; think you will believe
me when remark by way OF introduction that came
here o-night unprepared 10 speak don't make this
mark and the time have speech cut and dried
What say true speak tonight wholly without prepa-
ration Ihad no idea OF addressing this convention du
ring its session. till this evening committee you had APP
pointed called on and informed me that Gov. Brown
and self expected TO address you and since that
have scarcely had time TO think OF any subject 10 adj
dress YOU upon must be permitted 10 remark that It Is
with difficulty talk, when have subject be-
fore me know there who speak best without
subject but for myself If can talk better time
than another il is when have competitor [cheers j
when have a bject before me, Icheers when cap
put him upon the dissecting board charge with
being egotisio and perform some of the operations Of
surgery upon him. Icontinued cheers If eau speak best
any time il is when have subject to operate upon
But II is not my purpose TO make speech Tonight
might pick up a single thought from the gentleman who
has Just retired from the stand lie asked what is democ
racy2 And he defined IL we'll Let us If under
stand ourselves. know in common parlance, we may
readily reply TO this question we say y : mat form Of
is the that recognises the right and the
pacity Of the people to govern themselves.
But what Is democracy is satafe? II is great in
hereni principle that exists in man. and inherent In the
compound you call II Is with man-nseparable from
his nature and you may call intelligence prudence any
thing you think proper-t s the great principle in man
which enables him govern himself We should under
stand this especially when coming in contact with certain
circles called intelligent and poiesuch as when you talk
to them about democracy shrink back and think il vn
gar association instead OF recognising II that which
promotes the the Deity in connexion with your
governmental affairs. This in short would be my defn-
ton Of democracy II s the most essential and sublime
conception of the soulhat which ministers 10 the
elevation of the OF Cheers II carries him along
those conyergng lines towards the summit Of per-
fecton in governmental affairs.
Why then, should we be ashamed Of democracy When
look at it one hand II goes down to the humbles
individual and the other it asccnds to the throne Of
the universe Then let say to you, fix for yourselves
th. BAna frnnr
than when he exclaimed, "God the church when
have monkey for priest" Hold on then, to the great
idea of progressive democracy Man be elevated po
lhically we'll religously and while men sneer-ior
it is much easier than to anayzepoint them to
the great summit which man becomes perfect in public
affairs But will not consume your time longer upon this
topic
1t is hardly necessary tell this audience that
democrat entered the service at very early period Of
my life entered not as asix-months man. entered to
serve during the | am still Democrat gentlemen
and after twenty years fighting under that banner have
found cause to regret my enlistment [Cbcers.l
There is another subject to which will aude it has
c0ntended that here at the South have nsttu
ton that is antagonsca democracy and in CON
ict with it, and many attempted to be driven from
their position by appeals to their interest and not to their
d gment Let us talk little about this question of sa-
very; and let talk about it sits. / repeat term
with reference slavery which used awhile ago. 1t is
that slavery EXISTS Slavery is thing that has existed
from the time first formed into communities
down to the present time. SLAVERY ExIsTs and might il
lustrae this in a plain and simple way.
survey the earth geoogicay and penetrate its
face and keeping down through the rnd and the
strata beneath we shall find, as in cutting onion il
may be strata Of sandstone strata Of clay strata o
other rock and SO on, passing through the globe Thus
when TO speak OF the globe and of its component
parts fnd it may be- strata OF rock that exists
and must remain part OF IT. unless the whole structure
itself is reorganzed Again we might take case IN ami
mated nature Taxi tue OK, for instance there is the
horn, the skin, the hair the fesb the bone and
which, when all put together, call the Bat when
to dssect him. we fne bone existing in the OK,
and cannot take it out without destroying the anma.
Now, my illustration is this; What is this thing you
call society," We find some occupying the upper posi-
tions, and Others the lower posnna-cosnposng in the
whole and making up what men call society Society In
politics and morals constitutes In his social condition
We find also this institution Of slavery (wbether white
back) Incorporated into this SOCIAL condition Of man. Al
all periods OF time and in all parts OF the world we lind
slavery existing in society When go to the North,
don't we find the white aud white woman performing
menie service the blacks perform at the South
Thus the institution OF slavery exists aud so long as one
man grows with physical Intellectual power than
another long there will be grades In society The
that can make five hundred rails in day will be better
or than he who produce only fifty The specific differ
social condition necessarily gfoga out Of the very
character Of man. intellectually and physically IL exists
without law well with law and the question is not
whether you win have slavery may and write
upon the subject until they grow gray, and slavery viii
exist and the only question is the kind Of slavery
white or black, voluntary or involuntary. II will exist
way other growing out of the very organization Of
ssciet,. This conclusion cannot be resisted
Let look at the OF the North, 50 much OPP
posed 10 our peculiar institution They opposed 10
black slavery They have found out that white slavery
cheaper Their capital which stood in labor is
In stocks and money. Don't we know that labor aud
money occupy aniagonstcal positions? Suppose you
have slave worth one Thousand dollars dopi ypn want
to produce much you out Of thar slaves labor
Then while you the slave you the advocate for
high prices for labor and your influence Is exred IN that
way. Now, take the Of the who has thousand
dollars In money. lie wants TO hire labor. Don't he
get the products Of your slaves labor for as little
money possble2 Then be Is opposed TO high prices for
labor Thus who have their capital n stocks
and money necessarily opposed 10 capital remaining in
slaves And now, suppose you change places with these
would yon not war; they 10, the high prices
for laborP And this also explains why Great Britain Is
much opposed 10 slavery Ii u because the Institution
Of slavery In this democracy Bringing 10 bear in
huence than the ables nd in morals aud
billion hundred millions dollars stand Ia labor
will not that produce high prices OF labor especially when
that labor produces cotton and sugar constituting the lar
ges items OF commerce loa the reason Of this posi-
ton II s their policy 20 reduce the price Of labor down
10 the point IL will barely sustain life Such gentle
men, Is the position Of those who oppose In
misunderstanding by the side Of Great Britain with
her iron heel upon the pecks Of seventeen millions Of
laborers at home and hfty-four millions abroad
Thus that our institution, instead OF being anita
onsica TO democracy, s in perfect mrmony with it and
moreover don't IL enable TO pay 20 the Massachusetts,
man, whose bowels yearn so much for The slave, still
higher price for his spotted cacocs Where then is The
discord and want Of harmony when look at oil the ee
which constitute this democracy nen as vholcf
Gentlemen, II was my intention only 10 make apology
for the lack Of speech and to tender my thanks for the
complimentary in which you have been pleased
aude to by resolution But " The convention win In
dulge me there is another idea which want 10 connect
with what has been said about being CAPABLE ofogoy
ernmeut When talk about government should get
ideas right The old idea growing Of the idea Of The
divine right Of kings was, that man made FOR govern
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