The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-09-08

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First Free-Soa Speech ever DeliUcrca IN
St Joseph, Missouri.
From the Elwood Kansas Free Press, July lG.
At 8 p. NJ, the Court House in Sc.
Joseph, Mo-, was filled with an audience
Of four or five hundred, those in the
foreground being the prominent Pro-
Slavery citizens Of st. Joseph, while
scattered around were the laboring men
of the city-the honest, hearty, Free
State men Of the section.
II. B. Branch introduced the speaker,
who was received with loud applause.
Mr. Blair was thankful for the large
attendance present and must admit he
felt some embarrassment in addressing
them, knowing that so many differed
from him, and so widely I shall ex-
press my views frankly and fearlossly,
yet striving not to wound the feelings
of those who disagree with me.
have been reared in the strictost sect
Of Democracy. ] have not changed,
but still remain q sound Democrat; yet
1 differ essentially from the theory of
politics held by the so-called Democra-
Icy Of the present time They have
apostaGzed and abandoned every Demo.
cratic measure, and are not capable of
uttering Democratic sentiments. They
have forsaken every measure heretofore
held as Democratic; and were I to ad-
duce all the proof of this, should de-
tain you till tomorrow morning. I
shall only select some of these points
upon which to touch.
The President met the last Congress
with q proposition for protective tariff.
Where did he learn such Democracy?
His administration came into power
with a surplus in the Treasury of TWEEN
ty millions, and at the end of nine
months he asked for an issue Of twenty
millions of shinplasters. Where did he
learn 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 a Democratic Admin
istration, and voted by a Democratic
Congress. The expenditure of the Ad-
ministration has been one hundred mil
lions year--more than was expended
when we supported an army in Mexico
Economy used to be a cardinal princi-
Iple with the Democracy, but now ex-
travagance. You know that the Secre
taries of Mr.. Buchanan have hardly
escaped impeachment. Mr. Floyd sells
the military reserves privately for less
than one-fourth their value, and buys
Willetts Point from his friends at a
much higher price than it had already
been offered the Government; while
Toucey lavishos the funds of the people
on political and personal favoritos by
coal and live oak contracts.
The Democratic party originally frqm-
ed the land policy Of our Government,
and for the benefit 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 Lecomp-
ton Constitution, which the people of
Kansas opposed, as since shown, even
in the face of a Democratic Admins
tration attempting to bribe them this
has been the sole measure Of the pres
ent Democracy. You, from your post
ton, know the truth of my statement.
In the late election in Kansas, the
Democratic party have been forced to
ignore the Administration, and declare
themselves the genuine Free-State par
ty. This Democratic administration
has not only apostatized, but striven to
break down the West; it has opposed
the pre-emption and homestead policy
which made the West Democratic here
toforo because the Democracy were
loyal to the rights of the settlers, and
for which they were paid by the conf
dence Of the people, and sustained by
their votes. The South demanded the
opposition to the homestead bill, fear
ing lest the throwing open of the pub
lie lands to the poor white men. of the
North should exclude Slavery and erect
Ia tier of free States across the contin-
.ont, 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 Con-
gress refuse to give anything to Savan-
nah riyer?" The city of Savannah re-
oeived large sums, much of which was
useless expenditure Voice. "Tell the
truth. " L speak the truth, but others
may not. Applause
Down on little river, near the water,
whore there is nothing but niggers and
mosquitoes, money may be expended,
but not dollar for the West, Zap
plause,
Douglas is one Of the Democratic
stars. Voice. "Thats so. ~ He is so
much Of a Democrat they dare not re b
pudiate him. Applause, Douglas says
the people should be taxed to improve
tide water, but nothing for the West.
The Pacific railroad is ia the same fix
as the rivers and lakes. The West will
never have it till the Democratic party
goes out Of power Applause The
Democracy refused to survey the Cen
tral route, but imported oamels to sur
vey the Southen desort and disunion
route, which proved ft only for oamels,
Carrying winter in their bellies for three