The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-03-14
Hon. Sidney Edgsrton.

We are happy 10 observe, Is already, though
a new member, winrirg position of infiu-
euce, prominence and disiinc ion in our Ma
tiouaI councils. Always at his post. alwaysl
attentive. faithful and discriminating. his action
has been such. hitherto as TO meet the warm
est appreciation of bis Republican associates
in congress, and such as to reflect honor upon
him and his constituents M SHe
On the 29th ult.. he delivered very able
speech in the House. which attracted much
attention, and received no.t cordial comment
datiou. A sure evidence that his home truths
told. like center shot, is revealed in the fact,
that Ashmore of South Carolina aud Branch.
Of North Carolina, and several otner Fire
eaters were thrown into an ecstatic pbrenzy
of explanations. By his we'll poised and decis-
i've utteranees.
sCyd the racy Washington correspond
end of the Ohio State Journal, writing under
date of March |, says:
Regan, of Texas, read very cody a speech
from manuscript. and Edgerton, of Ohio, fol-
loved him in capital speech, one that does
honor TO him and the district he represents.
The same correspondent writing under date
of March 8, says: @
Mr. Edgerton's speech the other day, to
which / alluded in my last letter, was stir
ring one. and excites attention in many quart
ers. 1t abounded in manly sentences and even
saucy mot impertinent) paragraphs. Here
| is one of them. Said he
| Let me say to the Representatives of the
South, The North has ever been true to the
Constitution. No people so great and pow
erful ever before submmitted 10 such wrongs
as the free States have endurredf rom the slave
States of the Union. For years, in most OF
the slayeholdiug States. the most sacred pro-
| visions of the Constitution have been wantop
ly and persistently violated. Where is the
liberty of speech and of the press in the slave
holding States Can Northern man go
through your slave States and print aud speak
his opinions? Not if he believes in the Dec,
laration of Independence. He may crawl
ihro 4gh, by sitting his convictions and belying
his manhood; but lie cannot walk through
erect, with the love of liberty in his heart and
Its ntteraDce on his lips. Can The preachers
of the gospel discuss the moral bearings oi
slavery and teach deIiverance to the captive
Not at all Only few DAYS since. . disiin-
guisbed gentleman snnouDced here, that il
Beecher came Sonth, they would hang him.
And the gentleman from South Carolina Mr.
Ashmore1 Informed the House. that in his
IState they had arrested man for selling Help
Ier's book among free blacks and non-slave-
, holders; that he was now in Jail; and with
lenphass, he declared. they would hang him.
Doubtless MIR. Edgerton had in remeH-
brance his attempt TO speak with John Brown
on his way TO Washington and the cowardly
J style in which be was marched out of the vii
) lsge of Cbarestewn 1t could not be expect
led by Southern members that he would be
very lenient 10 their relic of barbarism.'-
The speech wound up as follows:
E Look over the free States ; see their won
{ derfui achievements in arts, in agriculture. il
commerce. and in literature; see their free
{ churches and free schools. They are prouC
monuments to freedom; grand and perpetua
anthems to free labor and free men. If 20,
/ think slavery good, you must keep it, if yor
, will; but spare Us the shame of its support
Ask us not to countenace what the late men,
Der from Harper's Feary district aud presen
Minister 10 France (Charles J. Faulkuer) ST
jnstly describes as the bitterest drop from th'
chalce of the destroying angel If you choos'
to linger in decrepitude aud decay-to hug tht
cankeriDg curse of slavery to your blossoms
tuO IL we at least VIII De Tree we WASH Ou
hands from its pollution.
: Sir, our position is definitely taken and
: would have no one deceived. The giant North
at last stands erect. Don't back down, a.
!, you have done before said the gentleman
from Georgia, TMr Crawford We deserve
the burning taunt for our past subseryiency.-
quiet his apprehensions; there will be no back
ing down. IS
We cannot falter; did we So
The stones beneath would murmur out,
II And all the winds that round us blow
| I'd! Would whisper of our shame about.
4 Mol let the tempest rock the land,
Our faith shall i've our truth shall stand.
i True tho vaudo is hemmed around
i oss With papal fire and Roman steel, 7.sf
4 sties Firm as the Christian heroine bound
~ Upon Domitian's iorturing Wheel
We bate no breath, we curb 40 thought,
!. Come what may come, we falter not. a5s
4 SAM Cox, the Democratic Represent ative
4 in Congress, from the Columbus District
writing to the Ohio Statesman, speaks o: Mr.
Edgerton's speech thus: gee
Mr.. Edgerton, of Ohio, from Summit, mad,
a speech the other day in the House. 1t wa
very we'll done. Its staple was made up o
Iquotstions from fre-eaters. The point wa
to make the Democracy responsible for al
their stuff If Edgerton would study Demo-
e cratic platforms and legislation he would d.
b better. Still, mean to praise his tone ant
style, as above the average.
II In Justice to Mr. Edgertnn and his Portag
f County constituency, we shall place his speecl
before onr readers, in our next.
The sample of the speech, in the abovebrie
, extracts, will establish relish for the whole
Extracts from Columbus Letters.
e .-~~~ E..-liI -.5.z.Lt.