The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-02-10
Of a calumny on the grea, majority of their


Of calumny on the great majority of their
fellow-citizens.
Do not impute tito US, sir; do not say
that we endeavor to intiame the minds OF the
people of the South. Tho object ofthe
Northern Democracy, in my Judgment, is
Just what il always has been since this matter
has been matter Of contest, rs understand
it and that is, TO inaine the South against
all the North but themselves, in order that
they may get political power by the and Of
South.
Iampot in the habit of making professions
have no professions to make of friendship
for this part of the country or for that; but
have listened long enough to this attempt
entirely to pervert all that we profess, entire
ly 10 misrepresent all that we 10. am not
disposed to detrct one single iota, or to re-
tract any profession that the Republican
party has made. That we are opposed to
slaye..y in the abstract, as an actual existence,
or that am (lor | cannot answer for any
body but myself) is true. am so. l be-
lieye il to be deleterious institution, opposed
to the rights Of man. That am disposed
to Interfere with slavery in this country, as
il exists in the States Of this Union, is not
true and why? Because, in the first place,
have no right to do it; and in tho next
place, have no assurance that | should be
doing any good il did; and, as said before
having no right to do il directly, l have no
disposition to do il indirectly.
That l am disposed, and determined, to
the utmost of my power, by all tho means
that the Constitution will allow Inc to exer-
else, and by all the power that can exert
within the bounds OF law. as an individual,
to prevent its extension into free territory,
and thus prevent the spread of its power, is
true. In that faith have lived, and in that,
probably shall die So far. have nothing
TO take back. But, sir, when you go further
and say that in that matter we are all war.
ring against your rights, / deny it. The
States of this Union have no rights in the
Territories; and the institutions of the States
of this Union have no rights in the Terrific
rics. The rights Of the Territories are in
the people of the United States. | have n
right to 90 there you have right TO so
there, us you please, and when you please,
to take n possession OF that land, under the
law: but Your States have 10 right there.
. The institution OF your States have no right
there. The Territories are the property OF
the people, and of the whole people but not
of the States, as such, or OF any peculiar
institutions which may exist in any or all OF
them.
Mr.. President, the Republican party is
charged now by gentlemen on the other side
ofthis Senate, and by the Senator from Him
OILS himself with warning upon the South
Gentlemen here havo admitted that we hold
the doctrines that have been the received
doctrines Of the South itsels down to within
very few years. The honorable Seniors
from Virginia have admitted that public
feeling and public opinion had changed in
the South upon that subject. Was is not
originally opposed to the institution OF
slavery in the abstract? Was il not opposed
to the extension OF slavery? Did il not hold
precisely the same doctrines in regard to it,
aud with regard to Congressional power, that
we hold to-day? Gentlemen have admitted
it. How, then, are we warning against the
institutions of the South, by advocating the
same doctrines?