The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-02-02

great body of the people, north and SOUTH, Is
opposed Ito that trade. And, sir, wnen ne
tenders that issue to the Democratic party In Ohio
or elsewhere, he tenders an issue that cannot
be- made up before the country. The gentle
man knows full we'll the legislation on the sub
iect andGso far asI know, we have laws
stringent enough at present against the slave
trade; for they make it piracy.
Mr.. GIDD1NGS. l have referred to the
coast-wise trade. t5
Mr.. cox. The gentleman undertook to
place the Demoeratic party in a false position
He undertook to convey the idea in his speech
that the party to which l belong was a pro-
slavery party, when he knows, sir, better than
any ether man, that that party is neither a pro-
slavery party nor an anti-slayery partyj that 1t
has always planted itself upon the doctrine
that Congress should not interfere IN relation
TO that subject, either to establish or to prohlb-
it; and that by no congressional continuance
should it compel Territorial or. State Iegisla-
lures, in any way to establish, prohibit, regu-
late, or interfere with, the institution of slavery.
1t leaves that subject to the peoplet to deal with
as they may think proper; to deal with 1t, by
/ the popular ballot, by the voice of the MAORI
ty, which is the largest reach of popular and
personal liberty. .IA9tI4E aga
1 know, the theory of the gentleman. 1t is
based on that equality which he fndsin the Dec
~laration of Independence He misinterprets the
Democratic policy +; for / say that the highest
refinement of personal liberty is that which is
called popular liberty. 1t includes all other
liberties. The right to cast a ballot in respect
to local affairs is the sacret emblem and instru-
1 ment of true -republicanism. That little quiet
| right, which every man exercises when he
drops his ballot, as the snow fake, may seem
nothing in and of itself, but it becomes, by
combination, the voice of a great people. 1t
becomes an avalanche of power, which makes
our constitutions, which protects property, con-
science, reputation, life, and personal liberty.
Popular liberty is the doctrine of the Demo
cratic party and the gentleman cannot lay
down any doctrine which would subordinate
the rights of popular liberty to his phllanthro-
pic idea in regard topersonal liberty. 2
Mr.. Chairman, allow me simply to say this
here: the gentleman has seen proper to say
that he was spoken of as a candidate for the
guvernorship of ouryState.t l am sure l mean
no disrespeetto himswhen I say, that l hope he
may be nominated, and that his friends will
have the courage to stand on his doctrines as
he enunciated them. / know that during the
last canvass in Ohio a large segment of the
! Republican party, in my part of the State,
held with the distinguished Ex-Governor Cor
win, to che idea, that the philadelphia Platform
did allow the admission of Sieve States. Yes
and they quoted the vote of the honorable gen
| Glouldu ulll6cl1 III UhO
bill to sanction the doctrine. Laughter.) Now,
nv friend, who is a sort of Jove on the Repub-
| lican Olympus, hurled two epistolary thunder
bolts against Governor Corwin, but never got a
response from him. Let the gentleman come
to Central Ohio, and we will give him a hear
ing and a warm welcome. Lethim come there
with his theories on personal liberty, and we
will give him time to ponder on the philosophy
of old Aristides, who said that he yielded to
IL. -o--I,- Ill - rarord avian whop II
drove him into exile. (Laughter.)
But, Mr.. Chairman, l will not detain the
House further. The gentleman planted him.
self, in his speech the other day, on the idea
of negro equality with the white man. True,
| he did not come up to it exactly in his printed
speech, but he did so on the floor. l notice,
that in his printed speech he has interpolated
the idea that he was not willing quite that the
African should vote in our elections. Now,
let him come up manfully and carry out his
own ideas of equality. We will meet him on
/ that. as we will meet him at all times in regard
to all his ideas.
Mr.. GIDDINGS. The gentleman has to-
tally misunderstood me-.
Mr.. cox. Is the gentleman in favor of al
lowing the negroes of Ohio to vote?
Mr.. GIDDINGS. / have expressed no opin-
ion on that subject. (~Laughter) But if the
negro have equal intelligence and morality and
virtue, 1 would give him all the rights that
would give to my friend. 1 judge men by
their virtue and intelligence, and not by then
complexion.
Mr.. COX. Is my colleague willing to give
to Africans in our State the right to vote
Mr.. GIDDINGS. 1 am willing to give that
right to all meme of equal knowledge, morality,
and virtue. l..
Mr.. cox. Will the gentleman come out
and answer my question categorically?
MIR. GIDDINGS. I will. L say that so fal
as the negroes equal the members of the Dem
o~cratic party, in knowledge, morality, and vir-
tue, 1 will give them leave to vote.
Mr.. COX. I have heard the gentleman
state this insult before in one of his letters
but why does he not come up to his genera
position and say whether he is or is not in ia
vor of African equality and negro suffrage in
Ohio
Mr.. GIDDINGS. I repeat what I have
just stated 1 put the negroes and the Demo
Gratis on the same footing. 5HE@ -
Mr., cox. Answer the question, sir. The
gentleman talked about my hiding under the
bush. Let him come out if he dare from his
%coverti .Iaughter.) Cy-~9
i Mr.. G1DD1NGS. / say that l do notinter
fere in this question as to superiority between
the Democrats and the negroes.
Mr.. cox. He talks Of his Democratic col
! ! leagues skulking under the bush. He himsel1
now shirks. He dare not answer my question
/ will not press the gentleman further. My
respect for him will not allow me to put him t.
the torture further. He never could get the
nomination fer the governorship if he had an
swered my question categorically; and | an
anxious he should be nominated. daughter.
r Mr.. GIDDINGS. So far as the Democrat
ic party is concerned, I repeat that I judge the
Africans by their intelligence, and virtue.
t do not enter into quarrel between them with
the Republicans. [ do not mean to put then
on7a equality with the Republicans. = -
Mr.. cox The gentleman does not answe,
my question. I therefore will not press him
further. f-+ a-7 zataa e-aaIot f..
AN thatI wished was to put the Democratic
party right in regard to this matter of slavery
and they are right on it. The gentleman may
go on and get the nomination for Governor