Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-08-19
Mi5tfllunruus.
From the EIwooI tKansas) Free Press July l6
SPEECH OF F. p. BLAIR, Jr.
OF MISSOURI.
FIRsT FREEsoIL SPEECH EVER DELIv-
Erred IN ST. JosEPH, Missouri.

Erred IN ST. JosEPH, MISSOURI.
Ats P. NJ, the Court house in ST.
Joseph, Mo-, was filed with an audience
of four or five hundred, those in the
foreground being the prominent pro-sla-
very citizens of St. Joseph, while scatter
ed around were the laboring men Of the
city-.he honest, hearty, free state men
of the section.
II. B. Branch introduced the speaker,
who was received with loud applause.
Mr.. Blair was thankful for the large
attendance present, and must admit he
felt some embarrassment in addressing
them, knowing that so many differed
from him, SO widely. shall express
my views frankly and fearlesslly, yet
striving not to wound the feelings Of
those who disagree with me.
have been reared in the strictest sect
of democracy. l have not changed, but
still remain sound democrat yet |
differ essentially from the theory of poll
itics held by the so-calcd democracy of
the present time. They have aposta-
tizcd and abandoned every democratic
measure, and arc not capable of uttcrins
democratic sentiments. They have for
sakcn every measure heretofore held as
democratic, and were | to adduce all
the proof of this should detain you till
tomorrow morning. shall only select
some Of these points upon which to
touch.
The President met the f3st Gon.9 uss
with a proposition for protective tariff,
Where did he learn such democracy -
His administration came into power with
surplus in the treasury of twenty mil
lions, and at the end Of Hine months lie
askci for an issue Of twenty millions of
shinplas,ers. Where did he learn such
democracy: This was soon gone, and
he asked for twenty millions more, (which
was voted ; and the next session another
twenty million was asked for and grant
ed. All Of this was required by dem
ocratic administration, and voted by a
democratic Congress. The exp .nditure
of the administration has been one hun
d,ed millions year mere than was ex-
pended when we supported an army in
Mexico. Economy used to be ca-di-
nal principle with the democracy, but
now, extravaganza. You know that the
secretaries Of Mr.. Buchanan have hardly
escaped impeachment. Mr.. Floyd sells
the military reserves privately for less
than one fourth their value, and buys
Willett's Point from his friends at a
much higher price than it had already
been offered the government; while Tou-
cey lavishes the funds of the people on
political and personal favori.es by coal
and liye-oak contracts.
The democratic party orisiually franz
ed the land policy Of our government,
and for the benefit Of the people; but
the last democratic Congress would dc
nothing about it. Your two senators de,
feated the Homestead bill. This party
has abandoned all democratic measures
and gone over to the Lecompton consti-
tuition, which the people of Kansas op-
posed, as since shown, even in the face
of a democratic Administration attempt
ing to bribe them this has been the sole
measure of the present democracy. You
from your position, know the truth o
my statement In the late election in
Kansas the democratic party have beer
forced to ignore the Administration and
declare themselves the genuine free state
party. This democratic Administration
has not only apostatizcl. but striven to
break down the West it has opposed
the pre-empiion and homestead policy
which made the West democratic hereto
fore, because the democracy were loya
to the rights of the settlers, and for which
they were paid by the confidence of the
people and sustained by their votes. The
South demanded the opposition to the
Homestead bill, fearing lest the throw
ing open Of the public lands to the poor
white men of the North should exclude
slavery aud erect tier of free states
across the continent. Slavery demand;
this, and that western democrats SHOULD
vote against the improvements of river,
and lakes in the West. 1t is unconsti
tutional, they say, to free this great riy
er at your door from distractions, while
thousands are expended to improve Cap'
Fear river. Interrupted by voice
"Didn't Congress refuse to give any
thing to Savannah river p The cit,
Of Savannah received large sums, mucl
of which Was useless expenditure. [Voic,
TELL the TRUTH Ispeak the truth
but others may not. [Applause.l
Down on little river, near the water
where there is nothing but niggcrs an,
mosquitoes, money may be expended
but not dollar for the West. Zap
plapse.
Douglas is one of the democratic stars
Voice: "That's so." He is SO nuch o
democrat they dare not repudiate him
Applause. Douglas says the peopl
should be taxed to improve tide water
put nothing for the West.