The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-11
CARRYING THE WAR INTO AFRICA
SPEECH OF +. P. BLAIR, JUN, AT
ST JOSEPH

CARR 1 1NG The w AK INTO AFRICA
SPEECH OF f. P. BLAIR, JUN, AT
ST. JOSEPH.
Every true lover of Freedom will read with
zest the following telling speech of Mr. Blair at
st. Joseph, in Missouri, said to be the first
Free-Soil speech ever made in that city. ST.
Joe, as it is called, is on the Missouri river
about seventy-fve miles above Leavenworth, in
Kansas. 1t is near the residence of Atchison,
and was three and four years ago one of the
headquarters of Border Rufian violence. 1t
now sends forth weekly Free-Soil newspaper,
and the fact that Mr. Blair has been invited to
deliver speech in the courthouse shows that
a great change has taken place in public senti-
ment. 1t must have been peculiarly irritating
to the Pro Slavery portion of the audience to
listen to Mr.. Blair's sanguine predictions of the
triumph of Freedom in the State.
SPEECH OF F. p. BLAIR, JUN OF MISSOURI
First Free, Soil Speech eUer Delivered IN ST. 10
seph, Missouri.
From the Elwood (Kansasl Free Press, July I6
At P. NJ, the courthouse in st. Joseph,
Mo-, was filled with an audience of four or FIVE
hundred, those in the foreground being the
while scattered around were the laborng men
of the city-the honest, hearty, Free-State men
of the section.
H. B. Branch introduced the speaker, who
was received with loud applause.
Mr.. Blair was thankful for the large attend
ance present. and must admit he felt some en-
barrassment in addressing them, knowing that
so many differed from him. and so widely. /
shall express my views frankly and fearlessly,
yet striving not to wound the feelings of those
who disagree with me.
| have been reared in the strictest sect of
Democracy. l have not changed, but still re-
main sound Democrat; yet differ essentially
from the theory of politics held by the socalled
Democracy of the present time. They have
apostatized and abandoned every Democratic
measure, and are not capable of uttering Demo
cratic sentiments. They have forsaken every
measure heretofore held as Democratic ; and
were to adduce all the proof of this, | should
detain you till tomorrow morning. | shall
only select some of these points upon which to
touch.
The President met the last Congress with a
proposition for a protective tariff. Where did
he learn such Democracy? His administra-
ton 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
such Democracy? This was soon gone, and
he asked 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 Administers
ton, and voted by a Democratic Congress-
The expenditure of the Administration has
been one hundred millions year-more than
was expended when We supported an army in
Mexico. Economy used to be a cardinal prin-
ciple with the Democracy, but now extrava.
gance. You k.Ow that the Secretaries of Mr..
Buchanan have hardly escaped impeachment
MIR. Floyd sells the military reserves privately
for less than One-fourth their value. and buys
Willetts Point from his friends at n much
higher price than il had already been offered
the Government; while Toucey lavishes the
funds of the people on political and personal
favorites by coal and live oak contracts.
The Democratic party originally framed the
land policy of our Government and for the ben
eft of the people; but the last Democratic
Congress would do nothing about it. Your two
Senators defeated the Homestead BILL This
party has abandoned 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 AID.
ministration attempting to bride them this has
been the sole measure of the present Democ-
racy. You from your position, know the truth
of my statement. In the late election in Kan.
sas, the Democratic party have been forced to
ignore the Administration, and declare them
selves the genuine Free-State party. This
Democratic Administration has not only apos-
tatized, but striven to break down the West; it
has opposed the pre-emption and homestead
policy which made the West Democratic here
tofore, because the Democracy were loyal to
the rights of the settlers, and for which they
we're paid by the confidence of the people, and
sustained by their votes The South demanded
the opposition to the homestead bill, fearing
lest the throwing open of the public lands to
the poor white men of the North should ex
clude Slavery and erect tier of free States
across the continent. Slavery demands this
and that Western Democrats should vote against
the Improvement of rivers and lakes in the
West. 1t 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 Voice. Didn't
Congress refuse to give anything to Savannah
river?"l The city of Savannah received large
sums, much of which was useless expenditure.
Voice. :" Tell the TRUTH speak the truth,
but others may not. IApplause.]
Down on little river, near the water, where
there is nothing but niggers and mosquitoes,
money may be expended, but not dollar for
the West IAnnlo,ea