Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-12-21
HIRTY.sIxrH CONGRESS.


newspaper proceeded to explain that he believed
the Democratic party the North, if not corrupt,
was eorruptible. He did not accuse them of COM
plicity or sympathy with John Brown, but simply
wished to say that. the question of Territorial
Rights of the Southern people, a large portion if
not the whole of the Northern Democracy,
unsound. The Southern people believe that.
der the Constitution. they have right to emigrate
with their slaves into the Territories; that they
have right TO the protection and enjoyment of
their property there, and that 1t is the duty OF
Congress to give that protection. This the North
Democracy. at least the Douglas portion OF 1t,
deny; they say Congress cannot give that protec-
tion, that the people have the power TO regulate
slavery as they please, and that neither Congress
any other human tribunal has power TO inter-
fere. He considered this position was as unsound
the Wilmot proviso. When he spoke of the
Democratic party being cOrruptible, he spoke of
them in political sense, and that they would be-
corrupt under the pressure of strong and
overwhelming sentiment at the North. If they
had not already become abolitioniZed they would
become So Mr.. Bigler of Pa was surprised to
hear the remarks of the Senator the other day
He thought he did the Democratic party of the
North great injustice, fer he certainly used strong
language when he said they were rotten and
corrupt as the Republican party. Such decla-
ration had 10 foundation in fact. The Denocra-
cy SympathiZed with neither old Brown nor abo-
Iitionism. He gratifed with the Senator's
disclaimer as far 1T went, but justice required
him to declare that the Northern Democracy had
labored day after day, in season and out of
Bigler said the Senator from Georgia could hard
ly realize how the expression of the rottenness
of the Democratic party fell on his ears At the
North, Democrats were called doughfaces because
they stood by the South. He admitted they did
not all agree in opinion with Mr.. Iyerson on the
question of territorial rights For himself. he did
not claim that the Constitution establishes sla-
very, or prohibits it anywhere but that it decla-
red the States perfectly equal and that new States
sh all come into the Union on terms of perfect
equality with the old States. On this principle
slave owners have an equal right to the occupan-
cy and enjoyment of territory SO long IT re-
mains in its territorial existence. The fugitive
slave law would afford them all the protection
slave would require in the territories
When the territorial legislature ranscends its au-
thorIty. that Is question for the Judiciary to de-
eide, and when the judiciary gave judgment in
such case, the whole power of the Federal Govern
ment must be employed to carry out the law thus
believe he was an abOlitionist, nor even those
whom he represented. lie never had sought to
disturb the rights of his Southern brethren. He
had never gone through political campaign,
when the rights of the South were not a lending
issue, and his party at the North constantly
asSailed for their subserviency to the south Mr.
Bigler thought he had spent hour in defence of
the rights of the south, where Mr.. IyersOn had
spent minute, and he could not sit still under
such imputations as the Senator had hurled at the
Democratic party, without telling him that he had
done injustice. The Northern Democracy has
stood like a bulwark between the South and the
Abolitionists. Break down at your peril Mr.
Pugh, of Ohio, glad Mr. IversOn had made
his explanation Enough of this had been heard
to require something more. If the Democracy Of
the Southern States hold the sentin-en of Mr.
Iverson, he wanted and intended TO know it be-
fore the meeting of the Charleston Convention.
In reply to Mr.. Johnson of Tennessee. Mr.. Trum-
bull of fIllnOs said that, abstract truth. all
men were created equal but when we come to form
government and organize society, all persons do
not have equal rights. He believes Omnipotence
had made distinction between the white and
black races, and that they could not live happily
together without one dOmineering over the other.
Therefore he advocated the policy of separating
the races; and he would say that he not pre-
pared under the existing state of affairs to admit
Sovereign State of this Union a community
of nesroes.-nor Indians either. In the House,
Mr.. Haskin of New York. and Mr.. Hickman of
Pa, made forcible ayd pointed speeches, in which
corruptions were distinctly charged against the
Administration Mr. Hickman said if disunion
was contemplated, territorial division could not be
accomplished, because the North would not con-
sent TO it Mr.. Gartrei asked how 1t would be
prevented. Mr. Hickman answered that eighteen
millions of hardy and industrious freemen with
good habits and appliances would be at least
quail to eight millions without such auxiliaries
DEC 13.-In the Senate, Mr. Clay, of Alabama,
arTalgned the North faithless TO Constitutional
obligations. and believed the election of Il Repub-
lican President would result in dissolution of
the Union. The South were fOrewarned and would
be forearmed for the trial. Mr. Gwin of Califor-
MIA followed IN even more violent strain, an
nouEeing that the South had the resources to car
ry out her purpose of dissolution effectually Mr..
Hale of New Hampshire, said he had heard
man in the State could be scared by it he would
resign and go home. Mr. Wilson said the people
of the North could not be intimidated by threats
here elsewhere, In the House, MIR. Sickle es
made long, dry speech. Mr.. Adrian made some
striking developments relative to the course adop-
ted by the Administi alton during the Lecompton
struggle.
Dec I4-Nfr Wade oc Ohio replied to Mr.. CIay
and in ia m nj oil plx-
and direct speeches, confronting every point pre-
sented, and marching mp to each issue separately.
lie repudiated completely with old Brown, and
declared that while Republicans condemned sla-
very in the abstract, they would not disturb it in
the States where it constitutionally exists, but
would resist its extension TO Territories; In the
House, Mr MRae of Miss. in referring to the
Boston Union meeting, held that Everett and
Gushing were not sound, and the south should not
be deceived by such demonstrations After some
little debate, ballot for Speaker was had, and
resulted, for Sherman los, BocOck Sc, Gilmer D.
the rest scattering. 1t was then agreed that
vote should be taken each day. Mr.. Ashman, of
). c. informed the House that his constituents
had canght Northern man circulating Helpers
book among non-slaveh Olders and negroes Mr.
Cobb exclaimed, chang him !" and Mr.. A said
they would do so if he not already hung.
DEC. 10 In the Senate Messrs. Mason, Davis
Coilamer- Fitch and Doolittle named as the
committee to investigate the Harpers Ferry affair
In the House, Mr.. Nallandigham of Ohio said no
man who endorsed Helpers book was fit to be
Speaker, aud made regular pro-slavery speech
Mr. Crawford of Georgia, denied that the South
had violated compromises charged by Mr.
Hickman. He claimed that the first aggression
came from the North, in demanding, upon the ad-
mission of Missouri State, the restriction of
slavery in certain Territories-a privilege always
enjoyed by shareholders. He was proud of those
Northern Democrats who had stood by the Con-
stitution but he would tell them they were pow
erless against the great Republican party He
said the South had no fear of Helpers book-that
ssla ot bn hal b1-i it IIa sIraJ
why Mr.. Beecher did not go to Virginia and
preach his doctrines Mr. Kigroye (Ind.) replied
because the liberty ofspeech denied at the South
Mr. Crawford added I'VE not only deny liberty