The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-09-25

the truth. The Democratic Pla form, and
the position occupied by the administrati n
and the leaders Ct the party, bewildered him
He had always acted with that party but
som cthing strange had taken hold upon The
leaders in these latter days which lie could
: not explain TO is satisfaction as a Democrat
and fn 'pponcn. to slavery extension. He
wanted light that he might vote correctly,
and denied that the Dem 'cratic party was
on trial. Odly the leaders Of that party were
arraigned before the American people, and
upon their acts the voters Of the county were
to pass Judgement While they all professed
opposition to the extension of Slavery, the
acts of the admin istration, and the Senate
rave the lie TO their dc dtclarations-and actions
speak louder than words. 1t is these men
and their spologiste Mr.. Edgerton among the
number, who are called upon to answer for
their conduct at the bar of wronged and out
ragged constituency. He alluded TO the
course pursued by the administration in al.
ways defending and protecting the Border
| Rufians in Kansas, to the refusal of the Sen
ate Of the United States to concur in the
House amendment TO the army appropria-
ton bill, and to the Cincinnati platform
The South, upon the slavery question, are
unit, and from the best light he could gather,
it was his opinion that Mr.. Buchanan was
nominated with view to secure that vote,
hoping that, however odious their position
might be TO the North, they should yet be
able to carry enough of the free States to
secure his election.
Mr.. Way spoke for about an hour, with a
force which is only possessed by an honest
man advocating righteous cause The
most enthusiastic responses were made to
his unaswerable reasoning, and he took his
seat amid tremendous applause.
Mr.. Edgerton again took the stand to reply
to the Arguments of Mr.. Way. lie said no
sensible man would judge of party by its
past acts-they should look to its future for
their action. Rather strange doctrine,
but we presume il is democratic He then
read the following extract from resolution
in the democrutic platform, and asked Mr..
Way if he could subscribe to it:
Reso7oea, That Congress has no power un-
der the Constitution, to interfere with or con-
troll the domestic institutions Of the several
States, and all such States are the sole and
proper judges of everything appertaining to
their own affairs, not prohibited by the CON
sttution.
Mr.. Way responded, most hearty, but
l contend that the doctrine of that resolution
has not been carried out in its true spirit and
meaning by the administration and the lead |
ers of the party. l claim, Sir, that the very
men who controlled the Cincinnati Conven-
ton and secured the adoption of that resolu-
ton, arc now and have heen THE aiders and
abctters of Atchison, Stringfellew' &C.
[ Great applause.
Mr.. Elgerton resumed, and endeavo-ed to
evade the issue made by IIr. Way by say
ing that Mr.. w. subscribed TO the Cncinna-
ii platform and yet would: not vote for its
nominee, thereby endeavoripg to show in
consistency on his part. Mr.. f. spoke for
about fifteen minutes, but introduced no
new arguments worthy of mention.
Mr.. Way responded in few pertinent and
well timed remarks in which he reiterated
his positions, and declared that he had made
up his mind under his-present light, that it
was not his duty to vote for James Buchan-
an. Great applause. While he endorsed
the extract read from the Cincinnati platform
relative to the power Of congress over States,
he by no means subscribed to the entire plat |
form, or to the doctrine that Congress had
no power over the territories. The issue
had been forced upon the party by its leaders,
and it could not now be evaded. But for
this issue, there could be no doubt but Mr.. |
Edgerton would be triumphantly elected to |
Congress, but with it, and taking the post
which Mr.. E. had, his defeat was equally
certain. Cheers. The Democratic party
is right, but the leaders have attempted to
force upon it the unnatural and uncalled for
issues. Benton, who had done more TO sup
port and sustain Mr.. Jackson than any other
man, was turned out of the party by these
men, and if Old Hickory was now alive, and
if Thos. jefferson was still on the stage of
action, he believed they would both be dis
carded by these same corrupt leaders. Ap-
plause.l
1t is impossible to give anything like
satisfactory notice of this discussion in or
limited space. The audience, two-thirds of
whom were Republicans, were aroused to
pitch of enthusiasm beyond anything we
have before seen. They were prouder than