Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-08-11
From The Eluood tKansaD Free Press July ls.
SPEC G H o F -
F. p. BLAIR, JR.,
OF MIS- soURI.

OF MISSOURI
Fsrst Free Sod Speech sper Delivered in
81. Joseph Msssonri.
AT Pm. the Court House in St. Jo-
seph, No., was filled with an audience Of
four or Eve hundred, those IN the fore
ground being the prominent Pro-Slavery
citizens of st. Joseph, while scattered
around were the laboring men of the city
--the 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 at
tendance present, and must admit he felt
some embarrassment in addressing them,
knowing that so many differed from him,
and so widely. l shall express my views
frankly and feariessly, yet striving not 10
wound the feelings Of those who disagree
with me. ss7s ss3
have been reared n The strictes. sect Of
. Democracy. IhaYe not changed, but still
remain sound Democrat; vet / differ es-
sentially from the theory of polite held
BY the so-called Democracy Of the present
time. They have apoststized and aban-
doned every Democratic measure, and are
not capable of uttering Democratic senti-
ments. They have forsaken every meas
sure heretofore held as Democratic, and
were I to adduce all the proof of this, /
should detain you till tomorrow morning.
/ shall only select some Of these points up
on which 10 touch.
The President met the last Congress with
proposition for protective tariff
Where did be learn such Democracyi His
Administration came into power with q
Surplus 10 the Treasury of twenty millions,
and at the cad of nine months he asked
for an issue Of twenty millions of shin
psasters. Where did he learn such Democ-
racy? This was soon gone, and he asked
for twenty millions more, which was voted !;
and the next session another twenty mill
ions was asked for and granted. All of
this was required by Democratic Admin
istsstiou, and voted by Democratic Con-
rress The expenditure of the Admins
tration has been one hundred millions a
year more than was expended when we sup
ported an army in Mexico. Economy
used to be a cardinal principle with the
Democracy, but now, extravaganza. You
know that the Secretaries of Mr.. Buchan-
an have already escaped Impeachment
Mr.. Floyd sells the military reserves pri-
vately for less than QUE fourth their value,
and buys WiIletl's Point from his friends
at mnch higher price Than it had already
been offered the Government; while Tou
cey layisbes the funds of the people on
Political and personal fayorites BY coal and
liyeo contracts.
The Democratic party originally framed
the land policy of our Government, and
for the benefit of the people; but the last
Democratic Congress would do nothing
about it. Your two Senators defeated the
Homestead bill. This party has abondon-
ed all Democratic measures and gone over
to the Lecompton Constitution, which the
people of Kansas opposed, as since shown,
even in the face of Democratic Admins
tration attempting to bribe them this has
been the sole measure Of the present De-
mocracy. You, from your position, know
the truth of my statement. In the late
election in Kansas, the Democratic party
hare been forced to ignore the Admins
tration, ane declare themselves the genu-
inc Free-State party. This Democratic
Administration has not only apostatized,
but striven to break down the West; it has
opposed the preemption and homestead
policy, which made the West Democratic
heretofore, because the Democracy were
loyal 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 and erect tier of Free States
across the continent Slavery demands
this, and that Western Democrats should
vote against the Improvements of rivers
and lakes In the West 1t is unconstitu-
tional, they say, to free the great river at
your door from distractions, while thou
sands are expended to improve Cape Fear
River, interrupted by a voice-'Didn't t
Congress refuse to give anything to Savan-
nah River?"l The City of Savannah re-
eeiyed large sums, much of which was use
less expenditure. [Voice-"Tell the
arath."l l speak the truth, but Others
may not. fApplause.
Down on little river, near the water,
where there is nothing but niggers and
musketoes, money may be expended, but
not dollar for the West. Applause.
Douglas is one of the Democratic stars.
{voice: .That's so."] He is so much of a
Democrat they dare not repaciate him.
fApplause.l Douglas says the people
should be taxed to improve the tide-water,
but nothing for the West.
The Pacific Railroad is in the same tix
as the rivers and lakes. The West will
never have it till the Democratic party
goes out of power. Applaase- The De.
rnocracy refuses TO survey the Central
route, but imported camels to survey the
southern desert and his union route, which
. proved fit only for camels, carrying water
IN their bellies for three or four days. GAp-
.plause.l They refused aid to the Central
route lest there should be a chain of Free
States on this parallel. The Southerr
route was surveyed without an appropria
tion, for what care they for the laws O
Congress?
Missouri asked for an overland mail, and &
al