The Washington union., 1857-09-15
THE CANVASS IN PENNSYLVANIA SPEECH or
SENATOR BIGLER, AT CLARION, ON THE
6IH INSTANT

lhE CANVASS IN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES or
SENATOR BIGLER, AT CLARION, ON THE
81H INSTANT
In rqply 70 Ge address Of ae Hon Daod Wtmd, dIcod a
philadelphia, on che 24h HA
After giving brief history OF the democratic party
showing how emnenty wise and successful its policy had
been In the past and how II had uniformly in all exi
geces in peace stood by the true interests of the
country and had advanced its growth and prosperity
elevated the dignity and prowess Of the nation claiming
for that party higher degree of purity wisdom and
patriotism than possessed by any similar association
of men in modern times and having also paid hand
compliment To the character and qualifications Of
Gen Packer and his associates the democratic ticket
he proceeded as follows:
Judge Wimot, the republican candidate has evinoed
his entire Willingness to make his views to the
people, and seems quite unhappy that Che State commit
Tee would not agree that the democratic candidate should
waste his time with him ia personal controversy and
st more dspeased that the committee should have sug
gested that the discussion of the slavery question not
essential In gubenatori contest Failing TO
the attractions of General Packer to get up large meet
ings and excitement for him. he has bravey dashed into
the field alone am in possession of copy of his first
address, delivered at Phs ielpha the Gath ul and
published In the Evening Bulletin /" to the leading
features of which shall ask your attention before take
my seat fnd no fault with Mr.. Wmot for appearing
before the public to make known his views. / think a
candidate for any office may properly do l
want OF dignity propety in the practice II pursued
properly appreciating his position will solicit votes
ne will simply declare his views pending questions
ioreshadowing, as best he can, the policy he will
maintain elected so that the intelligent eector may
vote Tor OF against him, may proper But have
searched in vain tor any such oreshadowng in the late
speech OF Mr. Wmot IL is devoted exclusively to the
subject OF slavery except only brief reference to his let
ter OF Americanism State affairs TO have had
attractions for him. 1t almost incredible that
in long speech occupying columns of the Bulletin he
should not have alluded to any one of the interests
which would come under his charge he elected gov
discussed single question connected with the
duties Of the Office for which he is candidate
which the political authority of the State government
could in way be exerted From beginning to end he
has talked outside of the true purpose of his appearing e
fore the public and has failed therefore, to give the
pie the means to decide whether he would make good
governor not. He has talked about slavery and
questions incidental and collateral but not a word
about State affairs. He should certainly have given
us his views tbs question of morn hanks and
paper currency. Many of the people would be glad
70 Know whether he intends to maintain the policy of
.ne present. incumbent, his political friend these
vital questions What does he think of the policy of
giving away the largest share G the public works for an
Inadequate compensation payable to the next generation
and, II elected will he favor disposition of the re-
maipder ON the conditions? Why not give the peo
pie his views these State questions as also ON the sb
Jcct OF paying the public debt maintaining and extend
ing our system of free schools on the granting of spe
ai privileges to facilitate the ends of private gain and
especially on the pending amendments to the constu
non embracing questions of grave concern for the peo
pier All these subjects vitality important and within the
range OF the legitimate duties the Executive seem to
eeen ost sght OF the smoke and dust of kind of
Quxotic onslaught upon slavery and the slave power
But another fact, equally singular s that although
his address abounds with graphic descriptions of the evils
OF slavery and coarse imputatons upon the motives of
ITS advocates it does not contain single practical ue
geston as to remedy for the evils it laments Mr.
declares it to be "a question of vital practical i'm
potance which lies at the foundation of everything valu
ape 70 US as ireeme and yet he has not attempted
IL, yl,tx
apply the remedy Not only this but l shall prove to
you that according to his own showing the people of
Iee STATE have no constitutional right to interfere for or
against the evils he affects to deplore whether in state
or Territory. If Mr. Wilmot found it necessary to make
nus address on national issues entirely foreign to the ex
ecutve duties it is to be regretted that he did not devote
port0n OF his time to his oncefavorte topic-the
I'M Inc Old friends of protection for the sake of pro-
tecuon, whom he expects to rally under his flag would
doubtless be delighted to hear the man whom they
USED 10 designate as the advocate of british free trade
the successful beayer of Pennsylvania best interests
and as u stvile traitor to the State of his birth
fossiby he could have convinced the manufacturers of
iron IN oiarion ana elsewhere that they specially his
ana permitting the dead past to bury its dead
ey shoud come TO his rescue In this his hour of need
perhas there were among his auditors at PHILADELPHIA
those VINO had assisted to give Mr. Dallas to the flames
IN eihgy for following the Wimot lead on the tariff in
1916 and he could induced them to repent that great
wrong on Mr. Dallas as also their ofrepeated imnua
LIONS Upon his own motives and conduct. He certainly
codd have shown those who abused myself and Others
'as' spring Ior agreeing to modification of the tariff
Wen we had no power left to resist it. that they were
unreasonable in that complaint now mistaken in
their support of the distinguished advocate of Brtsh
ifee trade But let that pass will leave the dis
nguished advocate of free trade in the embrace of the
poectioniss and the potectionss under the leadership
OF the distinguished freetradcr The new alliance only
furnishes another vercaton of the homely adage that
political necessity makes strange bed fellows
But TO the speech and will give you its best senti
ment hrst, SO that his friends may not complain II
reads as follows
hold that under the constitution of the United
states we have right to medde directly with the ques
ton OF slavery in the States where it already exists it is
State institution and only be controlled by State
laws and we in Pennsylvania have no more right to
egslate for Virginia upon the subject of slavery than
virginia has the right legislae for Pennsylvania on the
subject OF our public schools But in the Territories the
question is different The Territories are the common
property of the Union and have the common right to
control them"
Then again. speaking of slavery, he says
Inc question is mere abstraction, is it simply
aqieston OF right and wrong, question of morals it
is question of vital practical importance which lies at
the foundation of everything valuable to us as free men,
Touching the Dred Scott decision, he remarks
" And as am on this point, wish to say that l bow
TO the Dred Scott decision matter of law. / raise
arm against the law and would advise any one to
reason my conscience. and will think and vote
for what believe right"
Now let us consider the doctrines of these quotations
for few minutes. In the first he says we have ''no
right to medde with slavery in the STATES where alrea-
dy exists, but that 'the Territories are the common
property of the Union and have the common right to
control them In the second he presents tho effects of