The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-03-21
and the General Welfare.


iject OF those Conventions has no connection
whatever wirh the African slave trade, but
10 promote and encourage Southern commerce
Let me state the additional fact that the in
PRODUCTION of this subject into that Souiher
Commercial Convention has DESTROYED an,
broken up the whole system of convention
that had lasted for years
MIR. Edgerton. read from the pamphlet
IS. The valne of the association is th
labOrer hinself and not, Us in free labor, ,h
private contract or labor obligation In tn,
free system the labor obligation is property
but in the slave system, the laborer himself i
property. The man himself is negotiable
chattel; his soul is ignored; he is a brute; h
can be shenred like sheep, branded like
mule. yoked like an OK, hobbed like a horse
marked like hog, aud MANNED like eur; ht
can be butchered like a beef skinned like
buck, or scalded like a sheat; he can he hurl
ed into a 6shpond 10 fatten and favor lam
preys, or s. cared with tar aud set on fire tc
light ungodly dances r-
'6 The continuance of the association i:
| systematic. This is slavery's eminent advan
tage over free labor. The hireling's associa-
tion is variable. whose functions are climates
soils, idiosyncracies race, education. morality
and religion. The free laborer thus works
when he pleases, IS long as he pleases, for
whom he pleases. and for what he pleases =
But the slave works not as he pleases, but as
his master pleases. The slaves are thus eco
nomicay so continuous, adaptable and regu.
lar, that strikes and idleness are virtually elm
mated. Indeed, slavery is nothing more than
labor oheying unchecked, unregulated. and ir
responsible capital
will not attempt to add anything to this
picture of what slavery really is, as defined by
Southern men; but may be permitted to ask
- Is slavery good-good for the master
and good for the slave! blessing which sho d
be fostered by the General Governmentr-
Again il slavery be right, then the labor oil
the slave is duty which he owes to his mas
ter; and to follow the sentinel north to Cana
d and freedom, would be larceny. And be-
Sides if one man may justly be made slave,
so. then, may all others; if man has 40 rights
as man, then everything is left to the blind
sway of chance; the strong enslave the weak,
and might becomes the measure of right
This CHASTITY atheism can never meet the ap
proval of our people. 1t dethrones God, and
enthrones instead the devil of discord and
strife. | am thankful that no party at the
North can maintain such doctrines and live.
That sectional Democratic party is fast dying
out; in fact it has now no existence at the
North, except sert of commercial existence.
A few cotton merchants. a few cotton diviHes,
and a few cotton politicians, constitute its
strength. Be not deceived gentlemen of the
South. They are SlOiss guard; they serve
for pay, and do not represent the opinions of
the people. '=z e.
Mr.. Chairman, the old cry of disunion has
been raised here; not by Republicans, not by
AZ: G Al, l,,E
Democrats. Day after day this Hall has rung
to the shrek of disunion. We have heard the
same cry before; it has become familiar to our
ears, and it has always been the precursor of
some new aggression upon freedom and the
rights of the North. There was time when
that cry could excite alarm; there was a time
when it could extort concessions; but that
time has passed. 1t is now impotent for evil
If you of the South are resolved upon disun
ion, why delay2 Proceed at once to your
purpose The gentleman from Georgia, Mr..
Crawford stated the issue some days since,
when he said: "a fal'i 9a
Sir, this question has resolved itself at last
into question of slavery and disunion, or no
slavery and Union. My position is taken; that
of my constituents is taken; the position of
the North is taken. and there is no installing
that position
4 Yes sir the position of the North is taken,
unmistakably taken, against slavery aud dis
union, and in favor of Union and freedom In
a subsequent part Of his speech, he states the
contingency which, in his opinion, would justi
fy disunion
Nov, in regard to the election of Black
Republican President, have this to say, and
speak the sentiments of every Democrat on
this floor from the State of Georgia we will
never submit to the inauguration of Black
Republican President Applause from the
Democratic benches, and Kisses from the Re,
publicaps) i repeat it, sir; and have au,
thority to say so; that no Democratic Repre-
sentative from Georgia on this floor will ever
submit to the inauguration of Black Repub-
icau President. Renewed applause and hiss
es ] 81. sz -r.-=. g-z -ai @
There is no ambiguity in this; and I com
mend the genteman's frankness, if not his zeal.
Here is the Democracy of an entire State, it
seems, in favor of disunion.
The honorable gentleman from Mississippi,
[Mr. Davis is equally explicit. He said:
Gentlemen of the Republican party, warn
you. Present your sectional candidate for
1860; elect him as the representative of your
system OF labor; take possession of the Gov
ernment as the instrument of your power IN
this conflict of irrepressible conflict" and we
of the South will tear this Constitution inl
pieces, and look to our guns for justice and
right against aggression and wrong. Decide
then the destinies of this great country. We
are prepared for the decision
Another gentleman from the same State,
TMr SingIeton,] said:
You ask me when will the time come 81
when will the South be united? 1t will be
oJo DaDphlioon- Holo |
Seward or Chase-President of the United
States Whenever you undertake to place
such man to preside over the destinies OF
the South, you may expect to see US undivided
and indivisibIe friends, and to see all parties
of the South arrayed to resist his Inauguration.
We can never quietly stand by and permit
the control of the Army and Navy to go into
the hands of Black Republican Presidents
A gentleman from South Carolina, (Mr.
Bonham, in speech delivered here few days
since, said
AS to Gisunion, upon the election of Black
can speak for no one but myself
and those l have here the honor to represents;
and I say, without hesitation, that, upon the
election of Mr.. Seward or any other man who
and proclaims the doctrines held by
him and his party-cal him by what name
you please-I am in favor of an immediate
dissolution of the Union. And, sir, think |
speak the sentiments of my own constituents
and the State of South Carolina, when say
so.'
cannot continue these extracts, but will
close by citing one other, from the very able
speech of the honorable gentleman from Ala.
bama, (Mr. Curry:l
However distastefulit may be to my friend
from New York, (Mr. Clark however much
i may revolt the public sentiment or conscience