The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-09-23
The Discussion at Cleveland.

Mcssrs. Dcnuison and Eunncy, the Rcpub'
lican and Democratic candidates for Gov
crnor Hon. john A. Footc presided over
the meeting. Tho discussion, which was
conducted throughout with the utmost de-
corum, was an able one, and reflected great
credit upon both tho distinguished dis
putants. Mr.. Dennison opened aud closed
the discussion, in two speeches OF an hour
each. Judge Rannoy madc but one speech,
which occupied two hours and, judging
from tho report VIC find in the Cleveland
papors, it was tho ablost defence that could
possibly be made of the position OF the Dom
ocratic party He showed, at every stage
of hiS argument, tho great disadvantages
under which ho wus laborng, in attempting
to uphold bad cause; yot We doubt that
even that Rrch-sorhist Senator Douglas,
would havo dono better. Mr.. Donnisom
boro his part with ability, and cauno off vic.
tor. Republicans have reason to be proud
of thor candidate for Governor, who has,
more than once, during this campaign,
.
he is engaged. We have not room for the
entire discussion but VIC cannot eorbear to
give few extracts from Mr.. Dennsons 8
concluding speech:
And now | tell you M Douglas friends
| here, that when they come TO go down to
Charleston next Summer, they will find
that they will have 20 agree to any and
every demand of the South, or be driven
without ceremony from the very building
where they were seated. They will have
to do more. They will have to swallow
the doctrine of the rc.Cpehing Of the Alri.
opened. Mar,s are already numerous
| where negroes fresh from Africa are
unblushngly exposed for sale. 1t is SO
stated by Mr.. Douglas and others, and
tell my good Democratic friend back here,
| that he will have to take longer jump
than he did from '48 in the Hoffman letter,
or he will no longer be member OF the
great Democratic party. But my friend
has discovered new principles in the his
tory Of government to justify the doctrine
of Squatter Sovereignty. lie tells us
that the very doctrine now maintained by
the Democratic party OF the North is the
same old doctrine that was advocated by
the men who fought in the American
Revolution. lie tells us that the old mer
of those days who waded through the
Red Sea of that Revelation thought tina
they poured out their blood and treasure
thus like water, TO secure The right ofhav
ing slavery in the territories. They pu
it on record that they fought for the priv
ilege of self government. My friend tells
us that by this they meant the privilege o
having SloUes in this country, and yc
these were the men who so bitterly de
, nounced the King OF Great Britain becsus
he applied his negative to acts o? the Col
onies, prohibiting the importation OF slave
from A frIca. These men, the great apos
ties of human liberty, men who fought
and prayed, and died for freedom, --thes
men nre now represented by my lrienc
here, and by Senator Douglas, as engag
} ing in this war for the great purpose o
establishing slavery firmly and univer
sally in the Colonies of Ihc United States
wherever it might not then have beer
= established. Sir, | stand here TO vindi
I cate these old men of the revolution iron
, 80 foul an assertion. say that the mem
orv of these men should be protecte
against such assaults upon the part {
their children. | protest that these glo
rious old men who SO generously saCr
= feed everything for liberty, could ncve
= have become the advocates, or defender
q or apologisls of slavery. say that ol
j Tom Jefferson, who declared ;hc relatio
S of master and slave TO be one of unlimite
Il dcspotsm on the one hand and OF degrs
q ding submission on the other, would nevC
have raised his voice for any principle {
local self-government the object OF whic
would be 10 give the electors the right |
q hold slaves. 1t is libel upon Jefferson
:, 1t is libel upon Washington, upo
i: Henry upon Jay, and upon all those grei
. and good men who have given us all "
) have that is worth possessing, no sma
n part Of which is now attempted TO /
Q taken from us by this power south Z
4 Mason & Dixon's line. Why, sir, NJ
Il Douglas says in the very same manles
g in which this doctrine is enunciated tn
). the principles now advocated by the r
# publican party, Of interfering TO prohib
i slavery in the territories, is nothing mo-
nor less than the doctrine of the old tori,
'S of the Revolution. To this extreme, m
u fellow. citizens, are men driven when the
h cndeavor to ialsify history and defend
great wrong. To this extreme are me
driven when they turn their back upo
all The Information that has come down
., them embalmed in the memory of all Il
d great men who have embel.iohed the al
Ii mas of our country from the Rcvcluli,
lr to this time. Thus you are now charg,
,y with advocating the very principles ol Il
T., tories of the Revolution, in asking Tn
slavery shah no! be carried into, or allo,
= ed in the terlilories-in demanding III
10 Congress shall interfere for the prohiI
70 lion OF slavery in the territories. YC
SIS are soberIy told that If you had lived
rd the days OF the Revolution, you wou
It, have been one Of those tories who soug
cs to keep the Colonies subject to the Brill
re Government. Why, my friends, was o
Tom. jefferson acting the part Of tor
when he framed the ordinance Of 3
v whereby he provided that 6(ter the ye
70 1900, there should never be slavery
a Al 4 Al.