The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-08-02
Political Issues and Presidential
Candidates.
Shall Douglas or Lincoln be Supported
SPEECH OF
THE HON. JOHN HICKMAN.

Delivered IN Concert Hall, Philadelphia
on Tuesday Erenang, July "a, 1860.
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN -
The intelligent voter will so shape bis &C
ton as to make it conduce to The success
offs principle, rather than the elevation
of man. He will feel this to be the NOR,
incumbent upon him at such time as th
present, when the te tendcncies of parties ar
more distinctly marked than in any pre-
vious campaign. 1t will be my object
this evening, to endeavor to exhibit, in
distinct light, the dividing line between
the political parties of the day, and to as
certain. if possible, what, 10 all probabili
ty, would be the effect upon the couutrj
of the election Of the respective candi
dates for the Presidency.
If this were a strife merely between in
dividual men, it would possess but trihing
importance, and I should not trouble you
with either remark or suggestion. Bu
ss | regard the contest, the determine
ton will soon be made not alone as tc
our value in the Confederacy. but ss to
the destiny of the nation itself.
The policy of our Government is, in
many respects. underlined. The more Sc.
rious questions affecting US have but re.
Gently become topics of careful consider.
alton. Our fathers were unable to forsee
during the form alton of the Constitution
the greater embsrrassuents TO which The
future of the country was to be subjected
and consequently no provision was made
against them. Subjects which distracted
and divided them in their deliberations,
have lost much of their former conse-
quence, and We seem to be more anxious
to ascertain what they should have said
further than what they actually did say.
Even the controversies in which We our
selves have been engaged within the last
decade have been settled or lost sight of,
and We are now about TO enter in that
conflict which is to define many of the
most important powers of the Government
and to fix the character of the dominant
institutions of the country. The propri-
ETY. of eligibility to cfice, the exact re-
latioDs between Federal and local author.
ity, the constitutionality of banks and in
terral Improvements, the regulation Of
the currency, aud the distribution Of the
proceeds of the public lands, are no Ion
ger agitated; and discussions upon them
are only to be found in our past history,
and in the fossil remains Of extinct par
ties. 1t may in truth be said that old
things have passed away. and all things
have become new.
There was time not very far back in
the past, when Slavery was universally
admitted to be wrong an Sc, unwise in
prsctice, detrimental to both iDdivid uals
and communities, and against the spirit
aud genius of orr free system. Now,
however, it is declared to be divine in its
origin, the highest type of human civili-
xatioD, and indispensable to the mainten-
snce Of democratic republic. Former
ly it was regarded as condition to be
constantly reduced, and finally to be ex.
tiuguished. Now, on the contrary, the
demand is urged that it shall be extend :
ed aud made controlling. Here l find
the cause or source of the great political
issue of the present. Shall Slavery become
a National institution, and governing
power in the country. or shall it remain
as the Constitution left it This is not
m inquiry propounded by us of the North,
but forced upon us by our brethren of the
South. They require an answer at our
hands, and We cannot avoid response il
we would Silence upon our part. under
the circumstances, could not be construed
otherwise then as affirmative of their
claims. | make the distinct avowal that
Slavery seeks the acquisition of all our
new States, for two objects; first, to Sc
cure the value of slaves; and, second. to
direct the powers of the Federal Govern
mept.
"Tbe irrepressible conflict" so fire.
auenHy commented on and denounced By
the South is constantly admitted and ac.
ted on BY them. They are too astute as
observers and sagacious as politicians not
to know there is a necessary and uDend-
ing sntagonism between Liberty and Sla-
sery. If they thought differently, there
would be far more peace and harmony
between the sections. 1t is their full ap-
preeistion Of the struggle for the mastery J
which arms them for the conflict. and in.
duces them to vrestle for the victory
There is no more evident fact than this
that the advocates of Slavery seek its
extension SO as to limit the influence oil
the sentiment of Freedom. We hate ty.
ranuy, and would prevent such consum
nation. They ask that all who toll shall
be held as property-be regarded, in the