The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-08

part of these Territories. 1t is said that they
have been won by our common blood and treas
ure. Well now, if this were an argument to
show that the black race ought to be allowed
to 60 into new Territory-if it was pretended
that they had been won by the common blood
and treasure of the blacks of the South and the
white men of the NORTH could understand
the force of the argument. Applause.
1t has been won by the common blood and
treasure of the white men of the whole country,
and if God assist the efforts we commence to-
night, it shall be occupied by the white men of
the whole country. Cheers.
Well, it is said that it is the part of brethren
to occupy their common heritage in peace and
quiet, and that the white man of the South and
the white man of the North should 60 together
and possess the land but there is one difficulty
about this business. 1t does not depend upon
the law of Congress or the law of any State, but
it is written in the hearts of the free laborers
of our country, that they will not work side by
side with slaves. Cheers. Labor, gentlemen,
we acknowledge to be the source and basis of
all our wealth, of all our progress, of all our
dignity and value but it is the labor of the free
man. Cheers Garry through this campaign
the principle, that the land of the United States
which is not enclosed within State limits belongs
to the white citizens of the United States.
There is nothing revolutionary, take it, in that.
Slavery, as q special interest, does not stand
different from other interests In my judgment,
the slave interest is no more entitled to the
control and protection of the country, than the
financial or the tariff interests. Applause The
people should govern the country, or the people
should desert the country-one thing or the
other.
Another thing in our Republican organization
is, that we are comprehensive in our politics,
and not sectional Now, white men live all over
the country, but black men are geographically
situated. Laughter.I The party Of Slavery is
necessarily geographical party--it is a geo.
graphical party in fact, and it is geographical
party by the lines of industry, which can make
that institution live only in the climate of the
South. But free labor can live everywhere
Applause. Ours, then, is the comprehensive
arty-theirsisthege geographical party. Cheers.
But there is, gentlemen, a much more serious
evil in our politics than this have alluded to-
mean that controlling division called by the
odious names Of North and South. Why, our
country has grown very much since these
names originated. When the Constitution was
formed, the whole population of the United
States resided on a strip Of territory along the
Atlantic coast; and then the country was ne
cessarily divided into North and South-for it
was all East and no West. But l should think,
that, with the growth of our institutions and
population until they now occupy the continent,
and look out upon the broad Pacific, il might
be conceded that there was something besides
a North and South-that there was an East,
a Centre, and West. Loud Applause Now
we know that we stand, not by the North, not
by the South, but by the labor of freemen,
wherever they are, and against Slavery and the
lovers of Slavery wherever they are. Cheers.
We expect to find lovers Of Freedom in Mary
land in Virginia, in Missouri, in Kentucky, in
Tennessee, in Texas, and in every Southern
State. We know we shall find lovers of Slavery
in Massachusetts, in New Hampshire, in New
York, in New Jersey, in Pennsylvania, and in
every free State; and if there be anything
in that discrimination of parties,
it is the geography of the United States.
Laughter and applause.
There Is another very great difficulty which
the NORTH will not say "North," for have
that phrase from our politics but
which the free States of this country greatly
suffer from. l mean the degradation Of poll
ties. We have had left among us, until recent
ly, great statesmen, great orators, great public
men; but these gentlemen had commenced
their career under the impulses and influences
of the new Government, and the general prin-
ciples of Freedom and Equality with which the
new Government started. When, however, Sla-
very came to control the Government of its own
States, and by that means to control the Fed
eral Government, and the politics of the free
States through Its patronage, to feed ambition,
can tell you that so far as | know, though
the old men may be content to acquiesce, the
educated, intelligent, pubiic-spirited young men
of the North have studied, and will study, any
thing but politics which teaches them their deg
radiation. Cheers.
But roll back the tide let it be understood
that, instead of your accomplished diplomatists
and jurists being interrogated before they can
receive admission at Washington, as to what they
think about Slavery, that it may be seen if they
are acceptable to the South-chauge the tone
of the question, encourage free expression
opinion on that as on other subjects, and you
will have your politics purified. Our duty has
a higher consideration than all this. Cheers.
Let me ask your attention for a moment to
an incident of the last winter. The unwonted
rigor of the season had spanned the Ohio with
a free bridge. Applause. A poor slave
mother, with oil the treasure that she had in
the world-her children, from a growing boy
and beautiful girl to an infant upon her breast
had passed over that free bridge, without lst or
hindrance, and was on the free soil of Ohio.
[Applause.l
The power of the Federal Government, un.
der law of which | have no complaint to
make, pursued that slave mother to send her
back to servitude and, not able to release her.
SELF she let out the spirit of her child into the
free light of Heaven, even through the dark
portal of death. Loud applause. If it was
noble aud brave in the stern Cato to taunt the
Roman Senate with their long delay as to
which of the two they would choose, slavery or
death, who shall say it was ignominious in that
poor slave-mother, by quick decision and flash
ing execution, to determine that question for
her posterity? Prolonged cheers All! gen.
temen, one touch of nature makes the whole
world kin and there are many of us who feel
greater pride in sharing the bright red blood
that ran through heart bounding for Free.
dom, under the dark bosom of that poor slave
mother, far greater than that we share in COM
mon with the pale faces Of some of the states
men of the North. Cheers and laughter.l
Thus much for illustration of what is the les
son that L would teach. The infant State of
Kansas now reposes upon the bosom of the
American people. The vows that swore she
should be born free have been violated the
charter of her manumssicn has been repudia-
ted, and she was born exposed to Slavery. A
manly band OF freemen has saved that infant
State; but the Federal Government is now fast
pursuing, to snatch it from their protection and
from yours; and if you admire the spirit of the
poor slave woman of Kentucky, that would
treat her offspring thus to save them from Sla-
very, what shall l say to you to induce you to
come forward to save Kansas, and her millions
to be born, from that Slavery from which a no.
bic band of freemen have rescued her? ZAP.
plause. Are the slaves Of Kentucky of nobler
blood than the freemen of New York; [Cheers,
and cries of "No."l
D,,t "a Al g{xl
must and shall be preserved" laughter and
that is the principal object of nv speecb TO-