Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-11-18

Has Mr.. Douglas seen or heard nothing
of the din and camor of that battle which
has ragged with but short and apparent in
PERMISSION since the time when the ruling
parties of this Republic deviated from the
original policy of the Revolutionary Faith.
ers, to confine Slavery within the narrow.
est limits and TO promote its gradual aboli
ton by local legislation, Does he know
nothing of the ridiculous failure of all the
com promises that were called final settle.
ments! May be, he is not SO blind, bu,
whathe sees. Perhaps it does not suit
him. (Cheers.) The conflict between
Slavery and Democracy might have been
settled in the spirit OF the Revolutionary
times. But it was not; and it springs up
in its true aspect when Missouri claims ad-
missior as Slave State. 1t is represented
to be finally settled by the Missouri Com
promise. And there it again is lurking
under the tariff question. 1t assumes threat
ening dimensions in the question of the
annexation of Texas and the Territories
acquired from Mexico. 1t is again said tn
be finally settled by the Compromise of
1850. But there it rises again more terri
BILE than ever in the Nebraska Bill. DIR
Douglas then. claims to have finally settled
it, by introducing his principle of Squatter
Sovereignty. But the streams of blood and
smculdering ruins in Kansas give HIN. the
lie. (Cheers.) Then Mr.. Buchanan's elec-
,ion was to settle il. But the poor Old man
has hardly set his foot into the White
House, and the Slavery question steps forth
in unhesrd of turpitude from the hand of
Judge Tsney. There it is! ]: is like Ban
quo's ghost, which rises from the ground
again and again, shakes its bloody locks
and sits down at the very head of the BAN
quet table. (Great applause.)
And there are some sinpletons crying
"Peace, peace! Stop agitstiOn!" Who
agitates it! Who agitated it in 1920 but
those who wanted,to extend Slavery into the
Free Westl Who agitated it when Texas
was to be annexed but those who wanted
to give to Slavery an unlimited domain 10
the South and South Westl Who agitated
it by the Nebraska bill bat those who want
ed to break down the :sst barrier to Slavery!
Who agitated it by the Dred Scott decision
but those who wanted to make Slavery the
rule and Liberty the exception! Who agita
ted it by the Lecompton question but those
who wanted to sacrifice the last safeguards
Of seli-government TO Slavery! (Cheers.)
And all those who did SO were but o5eying
The logic of things. For Slavery cannot live
unless it rules, and it can never keep peace
Holess it dies. Continued applause.) And
still, some simpletons are crying. Stop agi-
tation. Where will you begin! Where
will you end!, Stop agitation! The Presi-
dent of the United States makes not the
most trifl:ng appointment, or the Slavery
question is touched upon in the Cabinet
Congress hardly makes the most incons:de-
able appropriation without considering mat,
ters from this point of view, and it is agi-
tated. No legislative assembly in any of
lhe States ever adjourns without discussing
Slavery IN some way, and it is sgitated.-I
Aye, the smallest log hamlet in the West
hardly elects a constable without consider
ing what the mans views on the subject Of
Slavery are, and it. is agitated. And now
stop agitation and cry peace, peace. There
is and there will be war in the Cabinet Of
the President, war in both houses of Con-
yress, war in every State Legislature, war
in the smallest log hamlet in the West
aye, war in every heart, until that al.-ab-
orbing conflict is settled. loud cheers
But now we stand before that awful, per-
picking question. How is that conflict of
principles to be appeased!-
How is the Slavery question to be settled
There are, indeed, some persons, Demo-
Gratis, affecting to be philosophers, who rea-
son thus: "Let Slavery spread wherever the
STAKEHOLDER pleases to carry il; let it con-
Torm the laws of the land to its principles,
ind adapt them to the sole purpose of its |
nevertheless time, the natural
process of development, and the spirit of
he age will do away swith it," All, time
md the spirit of the age may do wonderful
hings. They have even laid the Atlantic
cable; but, by the BY. it requires Cyrus w.
Field to start the movement and keep it
going, Mr.. Everett to superintend the ma
chihery, and Capt. Hudson to steer the
Niagara. Aye, Sir, do those men who reason
Lhus know what the spir it of the age and
The natural process of development meant
will tell you the word-it is action and
notion again! fCheers]. wonder whether
those philosophers have ever looked into the
history of the world. They would have
learned how time, and the natural profess
of development, and the spirit of The age
did away with the feudal system Of society
in Western Europe. What was the pro-
cess of development, that spirit OF the age
then! 1t is now commonly called the French
Revolution. 1t ives the sublimest frenzy
and the bloodiest madness of people. IL
vas the destruction of the Bastie. 1t was
the deca pita;ioD of king and of thousands
Of his adherents 1t was the bsnishment
of the ~to'e nobility and the refractory
priesthood. 1t was relentless persecution
of all conservatives; it was sea of blood;
it was the conAagraton Of continent; it
was txenty-years of universal war; it was
more terrible than an earthquake. tCheers.
Have our philosophers particular liking 20
that kind Of natural process of DEVELOPMENT
and spirit of the age, But as true as the
sun will rise to-morro ", they will have the
full benefit of it il their policy, unfortunate
ly for themselves, should prevail (Repeat-
ed applause.)
There is but one way of avoiding forcible
revolutions, and that is hy beginning
rourse of progressive reforms in time
When tha. season of absolute necessity