Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-12-25
or tne ONrONIC.c
The Presidents Message.


to interfere with slavery in the States, an,
many other things, peculiarly calculated t,
increase the untrendly feelings of Southern
against Northern men, and aggravate tht
evil he pretends to deprecate. This par
eral speeches in Congress. These speeche:
are calculated to make Us acquainted will
the true position of leading men nd o. The
two great parties, Republican and Dem
ocratic.
/ Mr. Hale, Senator from New Humpshire
offered the discussion. Among other things
he sad:-
confess that, in my life and travels
amongst Il Il the psople with whom | have
ever come in contact--the most radical and
the most ultra on all sides of ali questions
have never yet met the first man or woman
who ma intained that Congress had a right
TO interfere With slavery in any State in
this Union.
Senator Mason of Virginia, expressly
claiming, as viii be seen by his language
to speak for the South, in reply 10 Senator
Hale said:--
should have taken no part in this de-
bate, but that am ndisposed 20 allow any
opinion to 20 abroad that we OF the South
entertain very great interest in the lines
OF iScrimilatiOn or the shades of distinc-
ton which may be drawn as to the extent
of the alleged power on the part of the Gov
ernment OF the United States to interfere
with the institution at all, in any form or
shape, or to have it supposed that We take
an interest in having it narrowed down to
the question whether that inter
when it is exerled is to be confined to the
institution outside OF the States, and is not
TO effect it within the States. | low. as
has been said by the Senator from New
Hampshire, in the course of the last cam
vass, occasionally in public discussions, or
in the newspapers, disclaimer has been
made of any purpose TO interfere with slavery
i'll the States. know, as has been sail by
the honorable Senator from Mississippi,
that others al the North, perhaps a few,
and perhaps Of those who may be sly led the
! fanatcal portion, have assumed a right
! or have declared that right exists TO III
terfere with the institution within the
States What | want 10 declare here in
my place on this floor is, that to the South
/ such distinctions are matters of immaterial
concern. l. the Fedora, Government as
sumes right, or if those should get into
power who assume right with purpose
10 exercise it 10 interfere with that ns.i'u-
/ tiOn anywhere where it exists within the
United States, it is a matter perfectly in
/ different to Us whether it is to be done
/ within the States or outside of the States.
| take not the sIightest interest in the dis
I fiction which is sought to be drawn.
Sir, | holl this to be the constitutional
doctrine: the institution q t s'avsry existed
v her the Constitution was iormed; it is
recognized there as all existing social inSti-
tuition. 1t is net only proteatei by the duty
imposed upon the Federal Government 10
see to the rendition OF iugilives from it, hut
it is elevated Tito an element of political
power by the Constitution it is represented
and made an element of political power
That is the contract into which we entered
| say, then, that being so under the Con-
stitution, and in The spirit and tone of the
Constitution, we have r light to the just and 7!
legitimate expansion of the institution; and /
il there we're power in the Federal Gov ,
ernment 10 restrict or limit that expansion. 7
ii would be perfectly Indifferent to Us I
hot nor oh bn bv
ting its expansion within the States where /
it exists, or outside their limits. /
1t was guaranteed to the States retaining /
it as an element Of power, 10. which full (
equivalents were exacted and conceded; and |
it, capacity for expansion, fully to be en-
joyed. is a necessary part Of the contract.
hope the onti-Slavery expansion Dem
ocracy will hear and remember.
Senator Wilson from Massachusetts
said:-
Let me say here, what | know to be true,
that in some portions of these very States /
public meetings were called of persons in
favor of Buchanan, Breckinrdge. and free
Kansas. have read these calls. | have
in my possession one of them, which Was
issued in the State of Pennsy lvania There
are Others in the possession OF members of
this house or the olber. Throughout the
whole canvass in these very States the is
sue.was blinked; and not only that but, it
was claimed thst those members OF the
House of Representatives who voted for
Mr.. Dunn's bill were pro-slavery men; and
men have been elected to the next House
of Representatives under professions of
stronger hostility to slavery Than those very
Republican members.
To this Senator Brown of Mississippi
replied.
But the Senator from Massachusetts says,
and ne challenges denial. that in the last
canvass in several parts OF the Union ban
ners were fluated with buchanan Breckn-
ridge and tree Kansas" displayed at the
masthead. | know rot what banners may
have been reared. nor by what hands, but
| undertake to say that if any banner was
DISPLAYED throughout the whole length and
breadth of this Contedcracy, from the Aroos-
took to the Rio Grande, or from the Allan
TIC 10 IIle dCliCs WIFI SutH all inscription. !
it found 10 response in the heart of the {
American Democracy. That mere neigh
borhvod politicians should have put up such
u banner is ba:ely possible. Mark you. |
say, -.btreIy possible" 1t is much more
likely they were put up by men in disguise
-men like the fellow in Kentucky olwhom t
u personal friend of mine in the other
House told an anscdote. Being of low de- |
gree and Ui bad habits himself, he cuurted
NEST exec !lent girl. She was neither pref t
ty nor rich, and being a dasbiug blade, he I
was asked by friend why lie courted this t
lady. His friend said to him, She had no ,
money, ana IS not pretty; you certainly do !
not mean to marry htr' He replied, II |
will marry her, but not for love, and not for
money, but just to disgrace her fam.ly'
I Laughter. That banners Of this sort