Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-02-06
THE sTEDBINS' PLATFORM AND sENA
TOR WADE'S OPINION THEREOF.

TOR WADE'S OPINION THEREOF.
The Democrats in our Ohio Legislature among
their first acts, employed themselves in getting
through that body, by the help of gag law, q set
of shilly.shally resolutions, seeming to endorse
both Buchanan and Douglass. They were entire
ly in harmony with the famous "Stebbins plat.
form" As a capital illustration of the position
OF the Democrats of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New
Hampshire and the Northern States generally on
tho Lecompton Constitutional question, we give
the Providence Journals notice Of that now pop
ular structure.
Tue STEBBINs PLArroRu.-Everybody remem-
bers the Stebbins platform on which the great
Stebbins planted himself who n he run for Presi-
dent of the United States. When asked how he
stood on the Maine law, he promptly answered
that he was Tin favor of the law, but against its
execution" This admirable political position has
been assumed in New Hampshire and other States
by the Democratic party, in resolutions express
ing undated confidence in Mr.. Buchanan, and
pronouucing against the measure on which he has
staked his Administration. Mr.. Hale showed up
the resolutions from New Ham pshire, and said
that the Democrats Of his State only meant to en-
dOrse Mr.. Buchanan, and to r~epudiate his ac,s.
The Ohio Resolutions express entire confidence
in the integrity and ability of the Chief Magis'
trate, say that the administrator commando
their cordial aud undivided support, and re-afirm
the doctrine of the Cincinnati Platform, regard
the refusal of the Lecompton Convention to sub
nit the Constitution to the people as untortu-
nate for the peace of that country, and declare it
to be their unalterable judgment that every con.
stitution for admitting II new State into the Union,
unless otherwise directed by the people, ought to
be submitted to the bona fde electors OF such
Territory for their approval or rejection and cont
cludes by instructing the Senators and requesting
the Representatives, from OHIO to vote against
the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton
Constitution, or any other not clearly expressive
Of the will Of the people.
Last week Senator Pugh presented these resoln-
tons in tho Senate when his colleague, Senator
Wade expressed his views of them as follows
Mr.. Wade remarked that the reason why be
stigmatized the resolutions as disreputable was,
they did not speak out with that manly indepen.
dence with which the Legislature of q sovereign
State should always speak upon any question of
sufficient Importance for expressing any opinion at
all.
These resolutions endorse the President, and
pledge themselves to support every jot and title
of the Administration,
When they intend to conclude by instructing
their Senators to 20 against the only great and
daring measure which the Administration has pre-
scented, why not come directly to tho question at
issue, and with that calm dignity which becomes q
sovereign State, declare and announce their pur-
poses and their will? Why go crouching like
miserable slaves to the Administration and hypo-
critically declare that they have the fullest conf.
dence in it, when they mean to end by declaring
their stern determination to oppose the only i'm
portaut measure it has brought forwardf
The President not only announced his determi-
nation, not 10 allow the people of Kansas to name
their own Constitution, but to force upon them one
made by their enemies, and compel submission to
it with the point of the ~bayonet.
Mr.. Wade proposed, if it should come to tha
to resume the same argument where our fathers
left it. The South had not upon their plantations
II more craven-spirited set Of people than those
who passed those resolutions. (Laughter.)
Y Of course there WAS no necessity for their ia
t structing him how to vote. (Renewed laughter
IF the Executive should persist in this policy, he
5 was a tyrant, and deserved the frowns and repro.
1 baton Of every man.
The resolutions call hi, policy unfortunate but
he called it downright knavery and tyranny
. which demanded not argument but action. II
. tends to q breach Of the peace, and to stir up civi
1 war and notwithstanding all these, they do moi
lose their confidence in him. They say, that al
though we are not adverse to him. We instruct yor
J to throw his message in his face, and for one, he was
ready to 60 it (Laughter.)
: The resolutions were not the voice Of the people
= Of Ohio, and met with no sympathy or acquies
L cence from the Republican party. They were
crowded down the throats of the Republicans in
the Ohio Legislature 6y a cowardly majority under
the gag rule, because they dared not to face thu
scorn and contempt which would have been heap
ed upon them ihad they been permitted libert.
; of speech.
The brave and generous people of Ohio would
y have spoken out directly, without catering to ia
yor any man boldly and independently would
e they have pronounced their will.
n The resolutions were passed under a statemen
|, that haste was Indispensable. and yet more thai
ten days have elapsed. during which time the,
have slept in some mans breeches pocket. He wa
willing to 60 with the Legislature and resist t
the death any attemp pit to force the Lecomptoi
Constitution, or any other not the will of the peo
pie. upon them.
This is the first attempt since the American rev
%olution to take away the liberties of the people
N and it must be the last.
of Nj. Pugh said that he would not interfere witt
ny the special order by making a speech now, bu
= when the Lecompton Constitution was presente
10 he would express his view upon it at length, an
take the opportunity to correct his colleague il
ID some matters of fact.
n The resolutions were tabled, and ordered to b
printed.
al THE B~ARBARIANS OF VIRGINIA.