Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-04
HARPERS FERRY RESURRECTION.

|
EASTMAN CO., and not personally to either OF the Pre-
prietOrs
HARPEh'S FERRY RESURRECTION
Remarks OF Hon. J. j. FORD, Representa-
tive from the County OF DeKaIb 80 Ih'
| tennessee Legislature, delivered in thC
| HOnse PT Representatives, Nov. IS, 1859
ON the BaYIesS' ReSaIufioRs.
DIR. FORD. Mr.. Speaker: Ny opportunities il
life have not been such to permit Of chsuce fol
me to inform myself upon the question before tht
House as we'll as many gentlemen upon this floor
| but | desire to give my views and let them 60 fol
what they are worth; although have no doubt tins
! House has already become weary and almost tirec
cut listening to the debate on the question under
| consideration.
The question is the resolutions introduced by
| the gentleman from Washington, who has beer
accused Of getting another man 10 draw them up
| daughter. ! DO not know anything about thai
! nor do | care anything about il Il makes NJ diff
| ference to me who drew them up, or whether they
| came from tie Oppo.itiou sids or the Democratic
side; ell that have to say is, | endorse them with
| all my heart.
Permit me to add one word to what was said il
this Hall the other day in relation to MIR. Bibo fol-
he is MT a member Of this House aud mas no chance
| 10 speak for himself here. Although an not IS
ed in parliamentary courtesy, yet do consider such
| a course TO be discourtsous IL was said that Mr..
! BIlbo was the author of these resolutions, but
don't know whether the ntleman who said it meant
it or not Suppose that was the case ask the gen
tlemsu what difference that would maker But it is
| said he joined he know nothing party ! would
like TO know If the gentleman wac made that charge
! is not a know nothing, himself, and ! would ask
| him if he does not claim 10 be member Of tht
| Opposition psrty2 Therefore the gentleman medG
! the assertion for nought,
| Eut before proceed with the subject, l wish tC
| make enc more remark. The Democratic party he's
done a great favor to the Opposition men because i
/ has given them opportunity TO let us know who
they preferred their candidate in the next Presi
den election. Il is thought. IS 1t would seem
from this debate that John Bell would be their
mineC; and how, in the name " Heaven, can south
! ern men support him can't tell Gut, sir in iht
discu, sion Of to-day | have heard the Opposition
say they would support hia, because he nag been
statesman in the days Of Clay, Webster, and Cal
houn and that he was a suitable Candidate. This
argument is rich and conclusive.
| But to the point. Ii any gentleman on this hooI
will show me one single sentiment in these resOu
| lions that any Southern man cAunCt endorse,
pledge myself to V5te with tim But, sir, what is
| the great stand point here? There is ia 1860 q
great Presidential election TO of, and there il
an expectation TO form collision sfiiation be
| tween the Opposition patty North and South, anC
the Opposition party North doat ike these resOlu
tioDs; that is the difficulty. did not think Their
was a man on this door, sir, but who would endors
these resolutions, and WouS say, "that it is the du
ty of our representatives in Congress to recognise
AS enemies the Union, and especially to the slav
States all who in any way favor affiliate with
this sectional Black Republican party" Now, sir
what do find upon examination Of facts:
find letter written from Washington, in June o.
| 1853 and here is the commencement of this Oppo
sition party, and desire to call especial attention
| to it. and read it to the House. II says:
..-.. "WAsHINGTON, June %, 1S46.
Clear Sir: 1t has been deemed advisable by
number of gentlemen, lately here from all parts O
| the Union, opposed to the present Administration
to open g correspondence with prominent individu
ais in various States, whose general sentiment &C
cords with theirs. in order TO interchange opinion
as to the reorganization Of parties, and ss2ertliT
what public sentiment is in their respective ocali
ties in reference to the course ID be pursued IN TIL
contest for the Presidency in 1860, aud to draw gu
and ciy3 their expressions to that sentiment thr
the channels of the press 1t may be asked, UpOl
| what platform is such a party to stand? If an.
platform s necessary il is believed that the CriteB
den amendment is broad enough Tor the whole part.
| to stand upon"
| Sir, this is why these resolutions are opposet
here: because there is expected to be COLLISION
| this Opposition Party kere with Black Republican
| in the North this Opposition party ghO oppose
| the Lecompton Constitutions. That Is the first the
| ory that gave it existence Right there was tn
| commencement OF this party; and now there objeo
is to bring about collision or utilization. But "
are told that the Democratic party North is unsOund
and we are told that there is party North that i
| sound, and that stood by the South. Upon tn
adoption Of this Lecompton Constitution how di
! the vete stand? Thirty-four out of thirty seVe
Democrats voted for the admission Of Kansas as
slave State in the House of Representatives an
how many Black Republicans voted against it
Ninety-tBo, and six out Of fourteen Southern Oppo
| sition we're opposed to it, The whole wing OF tn
Black Republican party, and six out of fourtee
Southern men helped to defeat that measure NoV
the reason Why there is much objection to the
solutions is that there is expected to be marrisg
of the two parties, North ard South.
Look here again. We are told We must not agi
tate this question We are told that the Democrat
party in 1850 done wrong when they adopted tn
compromise of 1850. In the name of God just liste
TO few of the sentiments uttered by Northern Abo
litionists:
(Mr. Ford here read some extracts from Abolition
papers, showing their intention to continue agitatiO
| so long as there is a slave to be found.
These are some of the sentiments sent forth b
Northern men, and yet We are told MT to sgitst
the slavery question, that we would make the N ort
worse, and when you sgitste the slavery question
you array the North against US When we are SUI
Rounded by an enemy who will steal our property
| and butcher our wives and children, we told "
|
gentlemen to give me their attention, while remin
them of a few sentiments uttered in Congress b
| gentlemen who were Representatives Of the Mort
during the tendency Of this Kansas question:
$50 help me God, another slave State shall neve
enter this Union by my Vote.''-FaSBsWoTth, Of IH
nois.
Il shall never consent that Ohio shall associat
with another slave State -GiGdiags Of Ohio.
al viii not vote for the admission of Kansas
L IL. Il
| tion."-CODdE. Of Indiana.
Il will not vote for the admission of a slave Stat
certainly not."-BMghaE5, Of Ohio.
These are some of the sentiments that are uttere
by the Opposition North, and we are told we r7ui
not pass any resolutions upon this subject, and
We do we Insult them. These men are open eht
mics of the rights of the South aa6 yet we are toI
that the Democratic party have for many years sg
tated the slavery question, and will yet destroy h
Union. i stand upon this floor good Unto
man as lives en- Gods earth, but insist the yer
moment that the Black Republican party gets mi
the ssceGdency would not give one cent for til
constitution. The moment they deny to US the rigE
to take property iuto the territories insist IN,
from that very moment the constitution is trample
under foot according to the bred Scott decision
only ask equal rights with other men. l only as
that the State in which live shall have equal righ
to all the properly that belongs to the General Co
erpment ! take the position that there never WI
8 compromise in 1920 nor in 1850, that was const
tutionsl, because contend that the constitution r,
cog lizes slaves as property, and dare gentGme
upon this floor TO deny it 1t recognizes slaves
property as well as horses or any other kind
property, and the very morIeDt We are denied Il
right to take our properly to Territory, that IN,
ment the constitution is trsmpled under foot AM
sic, when We trample the constitution under o.
feet the Union is dissolved and destroyed and d
worthy of being called Union. hope this periI
in our history may never come; but, sir, have b,
} little hope of the Union if you destroy the Dem
cratic party, which friend Pickett aud others desi
80 much.
} But, Sir the cause Of this opposition to the Ba
less Resolutions is that John Bel is expected al
desired to be the minee of the Opposition par
for the Presidency and great efor, is being mat
TO bring about partnership Of the 40 parties in
1 | der 70 secure his election. Now will read f.
axtraeta from NJ Rurlnoame,s znaaeh 40 ,r,,a "A;