Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-04-10
Speech OF SENATOR WADE,
m THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
MARCH 7th, 1860.
On the Democratic Resolutions Relative to Slavery
IN the Territories.

~
MARCH 7th, 1860.
On the Democratic Reoslutions Relative to Slavery
in the Territories.
Mr. Wade thought these resolutions
worthy of notice, as they seemed to en-
body the views of the Democratic party,
and they were entirely opposite to the
principles for which he should contend.
The public mind is greatly agitated in
the consideration of the principles con-
tained in these resolutions and other
similar ones. It is little remarkable
that the loudest complaints came from
those who have had the power ans
administration Of the government for
many years, and have moulded its policy.
and been in possession of its vast reye-
nues. The party to which | belong.
have been for many years, without any
power to control, in any way, the policy
of the government. 1t is singular fact
that those who have the army, the navy
and the Treasury under their control,
now stand complaining; and they come
forward to tell US that mal-administration
is such, or their principles are such, that
it will be. better to tear down the pillars
of the Government and involve us all in
one common ruin. The question mi ght
well arise How happens it that you.
who have been in possession of the power
of the government for at least seven
years, should have so conducted it that
you are now apprehensive of ruin? l
can deduce no other conclusion than that
those who have been in possession of
this power have shown themselves inca
pable of administering the government
ON such principles as it should be ad-
ministered upon. ..fH-4
/ do not believe any Senator here
from the Southern States can look me in
the face and say that he has not, and his
section has not had their full share of
political power from the organization of
the Government until now. No, sir. 1t
is perfectly obvious that your power in
this Government has been altogether in
disproportion to your numbers. 1 do
not blame anybody, because I know tits
the nature of US all to make use Of all
the powers we have to the advantage of
our own principles, our own interests,
and our own views. Undoubtedly, sir,
[ would do the same thing. And you,
sir, complain Of the administration of
this Government and say that it is to-
tai failure to such degree that you are
meditating its utter and entire destruc-
tion. Who is to blame for all this ex-
cept those who had the power and have
controlled all the policies of the Govern
ment to suit themselves? This is most
manifest from the confession Of those
who complain. It is but the shadow of
the great principle which | contend for,
thrown across the political horizon, that
disturbs the equanimity of our Southern
brethren. The Senator from Georgia
(Mr. Toombs) told US that they were in
possession, and he was proud of it-and
well he might be-of $4,000 square
miles of the most beautiful country God
ever bestowed upon man; and heinformed
us, sir, that it was capable of sustaining
population greater than that of Europe
and [ believe he spoke within bounds
when he said so. a4 g g
He told US that there were but twelve
millions of people inhabiting that coun-
try And we all know, that the slave
holding States in point of area are one
third greater than the free States, while
they contain now not more than hall
of the population. He showed theil
prosperity; and that, too, is so. Is not
then, anomalous, these winnings and
complaints about the aggression and op,
preston of the North, who are entirely
out of power, and when we know thai
the property claimed by these gentlemen
was never SO prosperous as to-day?-
Slaves are higher than they have lever
been before, and their employment il
more profitable to the owner than it, ,evel
has been. In one moment it is the glory
and boast of Southern gentlemen, and, in
the very next breath, all is ruin and de
spondency. How is it, sir? If the
North have conducted themselves 81
shamelessly toward Southern Institutions
if their underground railroads have 81
sapped the foundations of your peculiar
institution, how is it that your property
has risen in the market, and now stand
higher, by your boasting and showing
than at any other former period? Thes'
things cannot be. One thing 1 woul,
notice. The Senator from Georgia (Mr
Toombs) rose in his place and with
kind of despair upon his countenance
said that we on this side of the Chambe
were the enemies Of the country. $50
He felt them to be the enemies of hi
country, and power would be unsafel,
lodged in our hands Why unsafe, sir
if we have not endangered the Govern
. ment so far? He complained that W
were faithless in the execution OF his fu
gitive bill, and yet he told us that sucl
. was the loyalty of the servants of tn
people of Georgia, that, since the days o
Revolutionary war to the present day
not one hundred for any cause whatever
had escaped. Sir, had not that Senate
small reason to complain of anybody
Scarcely negro a year had escaped fror
the great State of Georgia, yet she come
; here and is ready in her rags to max
war on the Union, to tear its pillar
down, and involve us all in one commo
ruin. And why, sir? Because the.
have lost one poor niger a year. I'll
does not tell us whether they have los
them by Abolitionists or not But whe
the gentleman comes here to maintai
that kind of argument, it is perfectly ev
ident that there is something else tina
the consciousness of any real losses b
: this unfaithfulness of those whom the
abuse. ID --1 s@' Fl" A't.t f*H1s +
Well, sir, as the Senator from Georgi
: seemed to be the Attorney General t
7 bring in a bill of indictment against thi
side of the Senate, I propose for brie
period, to review some Of the arguments
some of the declarations, and some of tn
: vituperation contained in that speech
e for I acknowledge him to be among tn
q IL