, 1859-10-04

IL. Presideat and Gtntlt,n<n: IN reply1ncto
the remarks which hive been made bT Gov
Ran4a!l, shall briefly touch upon few Of the
points that hare been the subjects Of discussion
With him. As tlcse points embrace the fouu-
dation Of all his positions aud arguments, I
shall cndeasor to reply to them in rs connected
u manner as possible.
He has spoken Of the position Of the Demo-
cratic party IN 1S49. dwelling upon it ut consid-
siderable length, aud with some earnestness. /
am very glad be has alluded to it, for If be had
not, I certRinly should hare done SO myself,
and he has sayed me- the trouble Of Introducing
it. It seems thut in 1919, according to my op-
ponent's views, the Democratic party was right,
but is little singular that ut thnt time it did
not seem 50 to the men who now constitute and
control the Republican party. am quite sure
that in l649 they did not entertain the opinion
my friend now entertalns, for il they had, there
wopld hare been hut one party in the State, for
they must hare unltel with us in making pomi-
nations aud supporting candidates. Tlen il we
my friend has said, in 1s49 which that party
list period. Il we have changed. the1
too must hare changed. They never
co-operatcd with us, JET he says we occu-
pied the same ground all that time that is low
maintained By The Republican party. 1t is the
demonstration Of his own argument, that his
party has changed, If our. platform WAS cor
rect aud true according 10 the belief Of the par
II at that time, there would have been no cause
Of difference between us. Then these Repub.
licans, or by what other patne they may hare
gone, and the Democrats would hare actcd in
concert. But was that the ca~e1 appeal 70
ms Republican friends, if We were not as much
ut variance tLen as now? Did they not rally
then ia convention as DOW, declare their priuci-
pies, and put forward their candidates to strug-
gic for the ascendancy with us: If his argu-
Ment shows any change On the part Of The
Democrats. the demonstration cuts two wars,
and strikes his part! ~bea ii strikes mine;
In 1919, the Democratic party, rs my friend
states. did pass resolutions Of ihe kind be read,
which we regarded as enuncialiug principles
that ought to be carried out. There are many
Of you present, gentleman, who we're members
Of the democratic party in 1S49, aud I will ask
you, il. on this subject ef slavery, we hare ret
gree 10 the vicws We then entertained: And l
ask your candid attention, as thinking men;
speak not for applause, but address myself to
yon earnestly, desiring TO recommend what
say to your n,inds and conscieuces.
In 1919 we declared that in the organization
Of territory, The Wi'nnt pforiso, u it WAS
then called, or = proviso prohibiting slavery,
shonid be aitached to the organic act- II was
the b. liefof a1 parties ia this country that the
power Of legislation on the subject Of slavery in
The territories was vested in Congress- Every
one thought it proper tribunal to determine as
10 the introduction or prohibition Of siasery
Both parties vt that tine thought the power
was vested in Congress. appeal 10 you il
your own memory does not confirm what / say,
that that IVES the principle on which we acted,
and that believing in tbas principle, We were
thea in fasor Of prohibition That was the
xoice Of the Democracy in lS49-we declared
that il Congress was to determine the question
,f z1Avnrp in the fArr1 r. I'M fnr IF
its prohibiting it By The passage Of the Niimot
psoviso.
Gentlemen, since then considerable time
has elapsed, and how do we stand now. Yor-
rill follow me while briefly a1luie to our pres :
ent position on this question, and then Will at
tempt to demonstrate that We hare not changed
our riews, but ar< nose Al radically, and saor6
practically aati-s}drtty tAaa trtr ltfore. Two
thirds Of the argument Of ny fsicud is Just AZ
applicable 10 enc party as 10 the other. We
entertain NO new doctrine or sentiment, but the
same principle that We have always entertained.
In the present campaign We have declared Ger
tain principles in convention, and that declara-
tEon. We think, is ent,tled to respect, unless We
tramp'e upon the principles there announced,
Where do We stand: We hare recently adopt
ed = principle which was not in existence, or, At
least:: was not entertained to any great extent
in 1S49- that iastead Of haying Congress pass
upon this question, re will turn it over to the
Exclusive control Of the inhabitants Of the Ter
two Or three hundred nseu who meet at y ash
iuCtnn and make laws for the country, To man.
ace the uffairs Of distant Territory, We will
leaye that poxer in the hands Of the actual SET
tlers Of The Territory.
That is the view, md that Is the position Of
the democratic partT It the present moment.
EApplause.l Formerly, when the power WAS