Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-12-26

WHOLE NUMBER 1850.

! of the several States, and it is the
bounded duty to that agent to protect
the property Of the citizens ofall the
States. each being entitled to define
what is property within its own limits.
He argued that the purpose Of the
Republican party was to obtain the
power, and then 10 abolish slavery in
all the States. He asked the gentle
man from Maine. or Member from
Maine "as Mr.. Keitt chose TO call him
if he would not altar the Constitution
if he had the power, so as to abolish
slavery
Mr.. Wtshburn--I will state that
while certainly would not object to
such change in the Constitution Of
the United States AS should give a
power TO the Federal Government to
do what jefferson desired to have
done, what Madison prayed to accom-
plish. what Gen. Scott wished TO be-
hold. to wit: the ameIioration of the
condition Of the slaves, even to eman-
cipation. do not say that If the
Government had that power. should
deem il wise or cxpedient or just to
exercise IL at this time or any time.
Mr.. Giddings now to k the floor,
which fact soon filed the galleries and
crowded the lobbies, for the old war.
horse seemed prepared for gallant
charge. He contended thato one thing
was established by our current histo-
rical history. that we are destined to
continue the agitation Of the great
question which according 10 all past
annals has agitated the North. The
rights Of man are still the themes of
discussion. He showed that the
Declaration OF independence was one
Of the rich fruits Of the Revolution,
and asked the member from South
Carolina, Mr.. Keitt, II he was prcpar-
ed TO stand by that instrument; but
Mr.. Giddlngs got no answer. The
Republican party have responded TO
this question. They have rcaiIirmed
the great truth written by the inspIr-
cd pen OF Jefferson. that call men
are by Their Creator endowed with
certain ihalenable rights. among
which are life. liberty and the pursuit
Of happiness" Those rights came
not from Franklin Pierce. but from
the omnipotent Mind. He put the
question 10 the mcmber from South
Carolina again. II he would stand by
the principles Of the Declaration Of
Independence. and getting no answer
he said, I'll ask any nember Of "thc
Democratic party, North or South,
whether tha, party Is ready 10 stand
by these prlnciples-f pause for an
answer. | heard no reply. Sir, such
il the response | always got 10 my
woll.de6ned intenogatIons Men from
the South unequiyocally deny this
truth. Men OF that party in the North
dar not speak In the Affirmative
There they sit. II they were TO an.
swer In the negative they would be
cast of by there constituents; II In
the affirmative. they will be repudia.
ted by tie South. Thus they yibrate
between heaven "and hell" Great
Lsughterl
He said the self.eyidcnt truth OF the
Declaration Of independence was pro.
nounccd, by prominent Democrat in
the other end OF the Capital, to be q
sclf.evident lie; and that the members
OF the Democratic party now tacitly
sanction the correctness OF that libel,
Hc said Mr.. Stephens Of Georgia. had
endeayored 20 show that Abraham
was stakeholder and dealer; the
Bringham Young. with his retinue of
three score wives, yindicated his doe
trines by referring to Abrrham also.
Both he and the gentleman from Ga.
with great gusto, appealed 10 the civ
ilized word. saying:-"Ilave we not
Abraham TO our father ?" Laugh
teri He showed that the Republican
party were pledged TO support the
Constitution. He repudisted the lee
ture OF the President on the Fugitive
Slave Law. and said he should rather
obey God. lie has seen at one time
nine fugitive slaves dining in his own
house--fathers. mothers. husbands,
wives and children-heeing for their
liberty. and in spite Of the law he
obeyed the divine mandate TO feed the
hungry and clothe the naked lie
did both. and gave them money and
sent them on their way rejoicing.--
Was that treason?"
Mr.. Bennett, of Miss. wanted tC
know II the gentleman wouldn't have
gone one step further.
"Yes." was the prompt reply o.
the gallant old man; II would have
driven their captcr from my door
yard. IL he had made his appearance.
The inquisitive Mr.. Bennett press
ed the matter still further. and asked
il the gentleman would not have jus.
tilted the taking Of the fugitive by
force in the first instance ?
Mr.. Giddings walking Indignantly
out iEto the arena in front Of the
Speaker, in n voice Of thunder. that
made every member feel that he
meant what he said) answered. II
would smite down the Infamous slave
catcher il he crossed my path in pur'
suit Of his traffic"