Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-12-18

| and New-Jersey, and two Western States In
| diana and Illinois, repudiated, upon q direct
| issue In the canvass made, naked, uncovered
open, any power in the Federal Government
10 interfere with the extension Of slavery into
territory the common property Of all the States,
by majOriteS which carried the presidential
election against that party. | trust there will
be found on all future occasion, if we are ever
to undergo the ordeal from which we have re-
Gently emerged, a northern sentiment sound
! upon this question of constitutional power
sound as we of the South esteem it, who, in
union with the South, will have it in their
power Tor ages to come to perpetuate q Union
that must otherwise be destroyed
| can well understand, therefore why the
| honorable Senator says as a matter of gratu-
laton to those who think with him, that this
is the last message which is to emanate from
its source. | should hope that the truths
which emanate from that paper will reach the
northern mind and that they will unite, in
common, patriotic interest and purpose, to come
back to the Constitution which our fathers
! framed, and to which We are parties-tO come
! back to that Constitution, and to administer it
legltmately and give to the South what the
South is entitled to, while the North and West
obtain what they are entitled to- Or if it be
that they really entertain all honest and con
scicntious conviction that they cannot remain
i'll union with us, let them propose separation
fairly and openly but while the contract is
there, keep it. | hold the most essential part
OF that contract to the South now falling into
a minority, to be, that it shall be kept toward
the minority in honorable faith, and that eve
ry element of political power it guaranteed
to them shall be fairly and honorably con-
ccdcd.
Now, sir, have said not one word of disre-
spect, or of diScourtcSy, toward the party
which has been arrayed against the South in
the late election. | do not mean to do so it
would not become me. They constitute a part
OF the American people, with whom we are in
bonds Of association, and have no right to
question their motives. | do not question
I them but do question their political pur-
poses. l say that When the passions of the
day have subsidized, this country, and the world
/ looking on, will pay tribute Of just applause
to the eminent author of this message, and to
the great principles which he has there pro
pounded.
! Mr. WILSON Mr. President, the Sena-
tor from Mississippi Mr.. Brown has alluded
/ to opinions which he says are entertained and
/ have been expressed by nc. | cannot allow
/ this debate to pass without saving here what
have said everywhere wherever | have alluded
/ TO this question, that do not entertain, and
| never have entertained, and never have express
/ cd the opinion that the Congress of the Uni
ted States has the power to abolish slavery in
the States OF this Union. | never at anv
/ time, or on any occasion, have uttered senti-
mcnt claiming power for the Federal Govern
mcnt to abolish slavery in the States, or as
Scrtin@ that those with whom | act ever in
! tended to assume or to exercise that power |
admit that there are men in the free States Of
this Union who maintain that doctrine The
/ Senator from New Hampshire says he does not
know such men | do. | know Mr. SpOoncr,
to whom the Senator from Mississippi has re-
/ terrrd. | know his opinions and his sentiments
| have read his volume with some little care,
and while | admit it to be a work of great
learning and power, do not assent to it
/ There Is SIN II class of men in the free States
who agree with the sentiments avoWed in the
book written by Mr.. Spooner. Their candi-
date, in the last election, was Mr. Gerrit Smith
OF Newly ork. | DO not know how many votes
he received but | take it not two thousand in
all the free States Of this Union The month
! " publication to which the Senator from Lou
iSlana and Others have referred, published in
New ork-a publication supported aud con-
Quoted by Mr.. Tappan, Mr.. GoodelI, and 9TH
ers who agree with thcm-clams the right on
the part of the Federal Government to abolish
slavery in the States. and advocates that poll
Cy but the people OF the free States, the one
million three hundred thousand men who voted
for John c. Fremont in the last presidential
election maintain no such doctrine never have
maintained it, do not claim any such power,
! and never intend to usurp it,
The party TO which reference has been made
in this meSsage-for take it this assault of
the President Of the United States is upon the
Republican party, and the people who have
supported that organization in the last election
-standS before the country with its opinions
clearly expressed and openly avOwed. 1t has
IA right to claim from the President Of the
! United StateS-it has right to claim from
honorable Senators here-it has a right to
claim before the country that it shall stand up
on its broad and open declarations of prnci-
pie How does it stand ? 1t accepts the De
claraton of Independence and the Constitution
of the United States as its fundamental creed
of doctrine 1t claims that Congress has a
right to legislatc for the Territories of the
United States and to exclude slavery from
them 1t avows its determination to exercise
that power. 1t has a right to ask of the Pre-
sdcnt, and the country, that it shall be judg-
ed by its open and avowed declarations, and
shall not be msrcpresented, as it has been mis-
represented in this document by the President
of the United States The declaration is
broadly made here, not only that these men
are scctionaliSts not only that they have got
! ten up sectional warfare, but that they are
| dncfr;nnc hostile thp nj
of the Union Now, sir, let me say here to-
day, that do not know a man in the free
States who supported John c. Fremont ID the
! I,.t LIZ rot al the