The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-11-30
Speech Of Salmon P. Chase,
oN THE 2oth OF OCTOBER LAST

Speech Of Salmon p. Chase,
ON THE 2ofh OF OCTOBER LAST
| The Republicans of Cincinnati had an ir-
mense gathering to exchange congratulations
upon the gratifying result of the election in
Ohio MIR. Dennison the Governor elect, and
Gov. Chase were present, and addressed their
fellow citizens. -so6a g f.asesa,
At the conclusion of Mr. Deunison's speech,
Mr.. Hassaurrk made a few telling remarks
and was followed by Gov. Chase. who was
enthusiastically received When the Presi-
dent Of the meeting said that an introduction
by him of S. P. Chase to the people of Ham,
| ilton County would be like an Introduction of
the old Napoleon to Frenchman. by a corpo-
raj OF his army. the audience made the old
hall ring with their cheers of welcome. As
soon as silence was restored, the Governor
spoke nearly as follows: astz1 4lti
! SPEECH OF GOV. CHASE. E2A
| 4 should be more insensible than stone, fe-
low citizans. if i we're not deeply grateful for
the kindness constantly evinced towards me
by the friends of Freedom in Ohio, of which
your reception of me tonight is one more to-
ken and manifestation. My heart swells with
grateful emotion whenever think with what
steadfast zeal, and against what formidable
opposition the great principles of which have
been, l trust, a faithful though inadequate
representative. have been sustained by you
who hear me tonight, and by your compatri
OTIS throughout the State
/, am not ignorant that it has been nv mis-.
fortune, as it has been tie misfortune of other
pnblic men. to be misconstrued and misappre-
hended. know, only too well that here, in
this city, dear to me as the home of my boy
hood and of my manhood. many excellentmen
have attributed to me sentiments and views
which / have never entertained, and have
made this misconception the foundation of
earnest and persistent opposition. never
+ blamed them. Their error was an honest er-
ror, ! never, permitted myself TO cherish an
unkind sentiment toward those who, msnnder-
standing. honestly opposed me. felt sure
that if lived these misconceptions would be
rectiied, and that The great cause l served
would yindicate, at length, the very humbest
Of its servants. (Cheers1 In this confidence
: have not been Disappointed I see before
me tonight very many whom once encount.
cred as adversaries, but whom now rejoice to
meet as friends animated by common love
for great and noble cause. The few thous-
ands who stood by me in this county when
was first entrusted with the standard of Free.
dom and Reform in Ohio, row doubled and
i trebled in numbers join in acclamations which
announce great victories won and predict great
er victories yet to be achieved. ~
Ny Friend (Mr. Hassanrek.) who has just
addressed you. has styled the result of the re-
8 cent electionga Republican victory prefer
s to call it a popular uerdict fCheers.) The
, cause of Freedom and Reform against Slavery
and Maladmini< ira ion has been on trial be-
fore the people of Ohio, The verdict has
Just been rendered-the judgment has been
s already annonnced-the process of execution
n has beea awarded. 81 d ~
To those of us who have been entrusted
c with the conduct of onr State affairs during
the last four years. there is special cause for
J. graduation in this result. We have endeav-
Ord to administer the government economic
ally and honestly. To the best of our ability
we have faithfully served the State But the
disclosure. in 1851. .'of the well-known defal-
cation, and the false representations by which
it had been concealed by the State Treasurer
i; elected by the Republicans in 1855, had ex-
i posed his associates in the State government
to misrepresentation of which our opponents
20 did not scruple 10 avail themselves to the ut
a mosf. Challenging Investigation and conrting
= scrutiny, we submitted our official action to
y the decision of the people, May We not we'll
% rejoice in the Judgment which indicated Us
,t National questions have, ,of conrse, entered
at largely into the recent canvass. The GREATS is
of sue of Slavery or Freedom has more than any
: lother. commanded and eng ossed public at
tention. On our side we have distinctly an
It nouneed our purpose to prevent by all consti-
IN tutional means. the extension of Slavery be-
Sk.ka li,,o.to md sf,o
;. 1dominafion of the power and interest Of Sla-
~ very in the national government.
70, Our opponents have met Us with but one
n. plea--ihe plea of popular sovereignty. They
have not defended their national Admiristra-
=, tion Like the man without friends whom
everybody may kick, that Administration has
a. been abandoned to general contempt and ig
'st nominy. Even those who have set US some
MS claim to be its special champions have, by &
rst sort Of common consent allowed the battle tt
:. lbe fought under the banner Of the author o
:" the Nebraska Bill. Mr.. Douglas himsel
los came into the State to pay as he said, a deb
fof gratitude he owed to me for my visits Il
wn Illinois. He spoke at Columbus. in this city
ia and at Wooster. Everywhere he was follow
-, ed by eager crowds of now-a-days Democrats
oia who sought by every means to give the great
nit est possible eclat to his advent and bis teach
IN ings. .--- ----.--.-.z.-- 3.
at. Now it is not to be denied that this wa
~, skillful management on the part of our oppo
"'' nents. If there is any cloak at all that wi
e serve to cover from public indignation the de
Us, formities of slavery extension, that cloak
= the one fabricated by Mr. Douglas. If ther
is any excuse at all for not prohibiting the el
i tension of slavery, that excuse is to be foun
inp in the doctrine that the people of territor
may safely be left to protect themselve
os' against the evil. The words Popular So,
on ereignty are good words the idea which the
she embody is good idea. The bold assertio
tho that the so-called Democratic party are th
champions. aud that the Republican party or
agn The enemies of Popular Sovereignty, is til
ood cunningest device which could possibly b
contrived to cover up the propogandism {
slavery and the usprpations of tie slave po
,ost er. 1t is the old plan of stealing the liver
.,a of Heaven to serve the devil in"
We love Popular Sovereignty, for it is th
o'S bulwark of Human Rights. We revere tn
luty Power OF the people. because we see in
har every mans safest defence against wrong.
II a Now, just so far as the people of Ohio coul
r.. be made to believe that the true idea o. Poi
'"' ular Sovereignty includes the right to enslal
.rINL 49,