Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-11-09


the condition, it has since explained the transac-
tion Of leaving all of New Mexico and Utah open to
slavery to which was also added the concession OF
perpetual slavery in the District of Columbia, and
the passage of unconstitutional cruel and hui
initiating law for the rccapturc Of fugitive slaves,
with the further stipulation that the subject OF sla-
very should never again be agtaed in either Cham
her of Congress. When, in 1854, the shareholders
were contcntedy rcposing on these great advan-
tagcs then so recently won, the democratic party
unnecessarily, otficously, and with super-scrvicea
bic lberality, awakened them from their slumber to
offer and force on their acceptance the abrOgaton OF
the law which declared that neither slavery nor in
voluntary scrvitude should ever exist within that
part of the ancient territory Of Louisiana which lay
outside of the State of Missouri and north of the
parallel of 30 degrees 80 minutes of north latitude
law which, with the exception of one other, was
the only statute Of freedom then remaining in the
federal code In 1885, when the people of Kansas
had organized q new State with the region thus
abandoned to slavery, and applied to be admitted M
free State into the Union, the democratic party
cOntemptuo,Sly rejected their petition and drove
Them with meaces and intimidation, from the halls
of Congress, and armed the President with military
power to enforce their submission TO slave code
established over them by fraud and us;Tpation. At
every subsequent stage of the long contest which
has since ragged in Kansas the democratic party has
lent its sympathies its aid, and all the powers of
the government which it controlled, to enforce sla-
very upon that unwilling and injured people. And
now. even to this day, while it Knocks us with the
assurance that Kansas is free, the democratic party
keeps the State excluded from her just and proper
place in the Union under the hope that she may yet
he dragooned into the acceptance of slavery. Tic
democratic party, finally, has procured from a su-
preme Judiciary fixed in its interest decree that
slavery exists by force of the constitution in every
territory of the United States paramount to all c-
gislatvc authority either within the territory o: re-
siding in Congress. Such is tho democratic party.
1t has no policy, State or federal, for finance, or
trade, manufactures, commerce, or education,
internal improvements, or for the protection, or
the security of civil or religious liberty. 1t is
positively and uncompromisingly in the interest Of
slavery compromising and vacillatng in
regard to everything else 1t boasts its love of equal
~ and wastes its strength and its life in forti
flying the only arstocracy known in the land. 1t
processes fraternity AMI so often slavery requires,
allies itself with prescription. 1t magnifies itself
FIR conlucsts in foreign lands, but it sends the ma
tional eagle forth always with chains and not the
olive branch. in his talons.
TIE DOUBTS OF EEprBLICANs ANSWERED
I think, fellow citizens, that ! have shown you
that it is high time for the friends OF freedom to rush
to the rescue of the constitution and that their very
first duty is TO dismiss the democratic party from
lllC administrator III INC government WY Stldu
t not be doncy All agree that it ought to be done.
What, then, shall prevent its being done. Nothing
but timidity or division of the opponents of the
democratic party Some of these opponents start
one objection and some another Let notice these
objections briefly. One class say that they cannot
trust the republican party; that it has not avOwed
its hostility to slavery boldly enough Its affection
for freedom earnestly enough. ask, in reply, is
there any other party which be more safely
trusted? Every one knows that it is the republican
party, none, that shall dispace the democratic
party. But answer, further, that the character
and fidelity of any party arc determined necessarily
not 10y its pledges, programmes and platforms, but
by the public eXigcncrS and the temper of the poo
pie when they call 1t into activity Subscrvicncy to
slavery is law writer, not only the forehead Of
the democratic party, but also III its very soul. So
resistance to slavery and devotion to frcetlom-thc
popular elements now actively working for the re-
publican party among the peoplc-must and will he
the resources for its cvcr-rcnewing strength and
constant nvi goration. Others cannot support the
republican party because it has not sufficiently
posed its platform and determined what it will do
Il d what it will not do when triumphant. 1t may
prove too progressive for some and too conservative
for OthcrS-aS IT any party ever fOrcsaw SO clearly
the course of future events TO plan a universal
scheme for future action adapted to all possible
emergencies. Who would ever have joined even
the wing party of the revolution if it had been Ohlig
ell to answer. in l775, whether it would declare for
independence in l71G, and for this noble federal
constitution of in 1857, and not year earlier
or later? The people of the United States will be
wise next year and the year afterwards, and even
ten years hence, we arc now. They will obligc
the republican party to act the public welfare and
the interests of justice and humanity shall require
through all the stages Of its career whether of trial
or triumph. Others will not venture an effort be-
a. Al Al. Il Al
change. Will such ol.jectorS tell me how long a
constitution can bear strain directly along the
tbrcs of which it composed? This is a constitu-
tor of freedom 1t is being converted into u con-
stution of slavery 1t is republican constitution.
1t is being made an aristocra;ic one Others may
wish TO wait until collateral questions
ing temperance or the exercise of the elective fran
chise arc properly settled. Let me ask such per
son whether time enough has not been wasted on
these points already, without gaining any other than
this single advantage, namely, the discovery that
only one thing can be eiiect'ally done at one time
and that tho thing which must and vii! he done
at one time is just that thing which is most urgent
and will longer admit of posponcment or delay
Finally VIC arc told by faint hearted men that they
dcspond; the democratic party, they say, is uncon
qucrabc and the dominion Of slavery is consequent
ly inevitable. I reply to them that the complct.
and universal dominion of slavery would be intoler
possible effort at escape should have been made
There would in that be left to the consoline
reflection of fidelity to duty. But I reply further
that know-fcw think know better than THE
resources and the energies of the democratic party
which is identical with the slave power. do ample
prestige to its traditional popularity. know furth
er-few, I think, know better than tho dsadvant
ages and difficulties of organizing a new poltica
force like the republican party, and the obstacles il
| must encounter in laboring without prestige ant
! without patronage But, Notwithstanding all this
| I know that the democratic party must so down
and the republican party must rise into its place.
The democratic party derived its strength original,
from its adoption of the principles of equal and ex
act justice to all men. So long it practsed th'
principle faithfully it was invulnerable 1t became
/ vulnerable when it renowned it; and since thai
time it has maintained ITSELF not by virtue Of it
own strength, even of its traditional merits, bu
because there as yet had appeared in the politica
| hot had In o,,l