The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1859-08-11
Speech Of Il. II. Blair, Jr, of Mis-
souri,

First Free-Soii Speech Ever Delivered I'm ST.
Joseph, Missouri.
From The Elwood (iansas) Free Press, July le.
AT p. m. the Court House in st. Joseph, Mo.
was filled with an audience of four or five hun
dred those in the foreground being the prominent
Pro-Slavery citizens ofSt. Joseph, while scatter
ell around were the laboring men Of the city
the honest, hearty Free State men Of the sec
tion.
IL, B. Branch introduced the speaker, who
was received with loud applause.
Mr.. Blair was thankful for the large atten-
dance present, and must admit he felt some en-
barrassment in addressing them, knowing that
SO many differed from him, aud SO widely.
shall express my views frankly and feariessly,
yet striving not to wouna the feelings Of those
who disagree with me.
! have been reared in the stricest sect of
Democracy. | have not changed, but still re-
main second Democrat yet differ essential
y from the theory OF polite held by the So
callod Democracy OF me present time They
have apoStatizcd and Abandoned every Demo
cratic measure, and are not ca pablc OF utterlng
DemOcratic sentiments. They have iorSakon
every measure heretofore held as Democratic.
and were 10 adduce all thu proof of this
should detain you till Tomorrow morning.
shall only select somo Of thess points upon
which to touch.
HS litoueIt HUI lIc luSJ SOHHIt65 WIN "
proposition for protective tariff Where did
he learn such Democracy? His Administration
came into power with surplus in the Treasury
OF twenty millions, and at the end OF nine
months he asked for an issue of twenty millions
OF shinplusters. Where did hel earn such Democ
racy? This was soon gone, and he askei for
twenty millions more which was voted and
the next session another twenty millions was
asked for and granted All OF this was required
by Democratic Administration, and voted by
a Democratic Congress The expenditures Of
the Administration has been one hundred mil
lions year more than was expended when we
supported an army in Mexico. Economy used
70 be cardinal principle with the Democracy,
but now, extravagance. You know that the
Secretaries OF Mr.. Buchanan have hardly escaped
impeachment. MIR, Floyd sells the military
reserves privately for less than one-tourth their
value, and buys Wiiletts Point from his
friends at a much higher proo than it had
already been offered the Government; while
Toucey lavishes the funds OF the people on Pol
itical aud personal favoritcs by coal and live
oak contracts.
The Democratic party originally framed the
land policy OF our Government,und Tor the ben
eft oi'the people; but the last Democratic Con-
gress would do nothing about it, Your two
Senators defeated the Homestead till, This
party has abandoned all Democratic measures
and gone over TO the Lecompton Constitution,
which the people Of Kansas opposed, since
shown, even in the face Of Democratic Ad-
ministration attempting to bribe them this has
been the sole measure OF the present Democracy.
You, from your position, know the truth Of my
statement. In The late election in Kansas, the
D mocratc party have been forced TO ignore the
Admins tration, and declare themselves The gen
uine Free-Siat party. The Democratic Admin
istration has not only sposta tized, but striven
10 break down the West; il has opposed the
preemption and homestead policy, which made
the West Democratic heretofore, because the
Democracy were loyal TO Che rights Of the SET
tiers. and for which they were paid BY the con-
fiience OF the people, and sustained BY their
votes The South dema eded the opposition TO
the Homestead bill, fearing lest the throwing
open OF the public lands to the poor men of the
North should exclude Slavery and erect tier of
Free States across the continent. Slavery de-
ma nds this, end that Western Democrats should
vote against the Improvements OF rivers and
lakes In the West! II is unconstitutional, they
say. TO free this great river at your door from
distractions, while thousands are expended to
improve Cape Fear River interrupted by a
voice" Didn't Congress refuse TO give any
thing to SavNnnah River ~ Ths City of Su-
sannsh received large sums, much Of which WAS
useless expenditure. Voice-"Tell tue truth, ]
! speak the trUth, but Others may not. Ap-
plauss.
Down on a little river. near the water, WHARF
there 10 nothing but niggers and muske'oes.
money may be expended. but not dollar FOR
the West APPLAUSE
| Douglas is one Of the Democfatic stars