Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-02-18

hates it; but have never uttered or felt
wish that the enslaved should use any
more violence than is actually necessary
to obtain their freedom. That they may
obtain it peacefully, hope and pray
but if they cannot obtain it in that way,
l still hope they may obtain it, at what
ever expense may be necessary to the
OppressOr.
And, now, in turn ask the gentle
man from Mississippi. Ar. BENNETT,
whether he holds TO the self evident
truth, that all men are endowed by their
Creator with the inalienable right to life,
liberty, and happiness? Will he be as
frank with me as was with him, and
give me categorical answer?
Mr.. BENNETT was understood to say
that "equGls aOsre endO'Usd agith these
rights"
Mr.. GIDDINGS.-It is my. opinion
that God has given to the member from
Mississippi the same claim 10 life and
liberty that he has bestowed on the Pres
ident of the United States. The mem
Der from Mississippi, with his slender
physical system, is not the equal of my
self in strength /; but will he admit that
his right to life and liberty is more doubt
full than mine? Do understand him 10
admit that, because have the physical
power, therefore l possess the moral
right to make him a slave? God forbid.
The most degraded African that treads
the footstool of God, possesses the same
right to his life ard his liberty that
Franklin Pierce enjoys; and would be
as willing to see the President bow be-
meath the lash, as l would The humblest
individual who perspires beneath an Af-
( rican sun l would as soon see the wife
or child of the President taken from his
, arms, and sold Ike swine in the market,
as | would see The wife and child of any
other man made merchandise. These
are 10 y sentiments, honestly ea.ertaiaed
and frankly expressed. have no apol.
ogy to make to the member from Missis'
sippi, or to the Democratic party, to
: ; mankind. or to my Creator, for these
: honest convictions Of my inmost soul.
regret TO see Republicans stand here and
apologize for their dislike of an institu-
ton hated of God and detested by al
good men. II was for the maintenance
of these sentiments that our fathers met
the hosts of Britain upon unnum5ered
battle fields. They shed their blood tc
uphold these doctrines, and shall THEN
descendants apologize for entertaining
them?
!, This equality of right among all men
to life and liberty is the rock on which
tho Republican church is erected, ant
T neither the gates Of hell nor of Democ
racy shall prevail against it.
know that the Democratic party den!
q this equality of rights. If they do no
e believe in the divine right of Kings, the.
h certainly believe in the divine right o
n shareholders. Even the President in bi
: message. claiming to represent the peo
Y pie of the United States generally, ant
e the Democracy in particular. speaks o
II men enslaved as property degrades man
h with his intellectual immortality, TO tn
. same rank in the scale of beings as cattl
and swine. It's rank infd elity--ipfdel
. ity to God and to mankind.
NOW pass TO the next point in ou
A Republican platform. The second reso
luton further reads as follows:
7 "That as our Republican fathers, whe
they had abolished Slavery in all on
" Territories. ordained that no person sha
! be deprived of life, liberty, or property
/. without due process of law, il become
i our duty 10 maintain this provision of tn
,f Constitution against all attempts to vic
late il, for the purpose of establishin
y Slavery in any Territory of the Unite
n States, by positive legislation prohibiIin
n lis existence or extension therein"
e Here we reach the important an
/ practical issue which presses upon us a
d this time. l desire to call attention t
d this issue upon maintaining the Consii
e tuition of the country. The Republican
l. insist that this ordained will of those VIII
1 framed the Constitution, that ''.No perso
d shall be dtpriued Of life. Liberty, or pror
s. erty, acithOm due process Of ldw,'' sha
L. be maintained; that wherever our Fede
10 raj power extends, there the Constiiuio
Ie shall be upheld. The Democrats tax
er issue with US. They insist that in Kan
Ii sas and other Territories of the Unite
g States, men may be enslaved, robbed c
y their earnings, deprived of their liberty
Of without process of law; and if they resi-:
10 the commission of those crimes, the
L may be murdered, deprived of life at th
J. will of the pretended owner, wilhor
J. process of law. am not discussing Co
y lateral matters 1 call attention 10 fun
e. damental truths. Shall this constitu
E. tional decree, which is in perfect hal
re mony with the conscience of every hor
N est and intelligent man, in harmony wit
d. the rights of mankind, in harmony wit
D the laws of nature and of natures Got
es be maintained? 1t is an important que
s ton. Have the American people IL