The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-09-30
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN C. KNOX

Delivered at Cochranville, at four o'clock,
Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 18th 1858.
On making disappearance, Judge Knox
was greeted with hearty applause. He
said {:
FELLow-CITIZENs: It is some years
since | have addressed meeting on po.
litical topics, but rejoice that am able
here this day to speak in behalf of great
principle in favor of one of its noblest ad :
vocates. Applause If this were mere
" local contest or the issue were sim
ply personal one, should not, as l am
not resident of this congressional dis
trict. have deemed itproper to take any
part in it. But the issue is not local or
a personal one. The principle involved
is as broad as humanity itself, and the
fame and reputation of your candidate
for Congress, John Hickman, is dear to
every true hearted Pennsylvania. A deep
interest is felt everywhere in bis success.
Those who have watched his course in
Congress are satisfied that be is an honest,
honorable, and intrepid public servant,
that he stands up for the rights Of the
people, regardless of consequences; and
this being so, as men desirous of doing
their full duty, it is for you of this Con-
gressional district to stand by him. Zap
plause.
The question that has occupied more
of the public attention, for the past few
years, than any other, perhaps, is that
which by the Republicans is called the sla-
very question; by the Lecomptonites, the
"settled question:" but which | choose to
treat as the Territorial question. 1t is a
question of vast Importance to the people
of this country. 1t is not a new question
but is older than the Government-"a
ancient as free government itself" 1t
attracted the attention of the Congress of
the United States before the formation of
the Constitution. At the time of the
Revolution there was large body of un-
settled lands claimed by several of tho
States. 1t was alleged by the State that
although these lands we're not within
their boundaries, yet they were included
in their charters. They claimed to have
succeeded to the rights of the crown. On
the other hand, it was stated that, as the
struggle for independence was common
one, therefore the lands in truth belonged
to all common, and were the property of
the confederated Government. Congress
at an early day passed q resolution re-
questing cession of the lands 10 contro-
versy to the confederation. The cession
commenced prior to the close Of the Rev
olution. To 1871 New York ceded her
lands New York was the first, and Geor.
gia the last, her cession taking place in
1902.
In 1854, the difficulty of governing
these Territories began to excite general
attention. A Committee of Congress was
raised in 1884 on the subject, of which
Thomas Jefferson was chairman. Mr..
Jefferson reported temporary plan for
the Government of the Territories. and
that plan EN- braced the celebrated Jeffer-
sonian ordinance, which have not time
to read 10 full. Itprovided that after the
year 1900 there should be neither slave
ry nor involuntary seryitude, except Of
those duly convicted of crime, in any OF
the States to be formed out of the terrific
~ which had been ceded by the States to
the General Government. The plan also