Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-01-27
Debate I'm Springfield /!

chair Without even question arising IN re
gard to his Helper views, The preliminary
business was disposed OF, and the resolution
read for discussion, as follows;
"ReSohed, That the dissolution of the
Union is preferable to the existence o
Slavery"
DiSpatants-AtT. jesse Stedman, Dca
Lewis. Neg. L. c.. Gale, b. w. Lowell
Remarks of the first on the Affirmative:
JESSIE SrEpMAN.-Ile would make N
apology for want of ability or preparation
nor express any regrets that the subject hac
not fallen into ADLER hands; will peek the
flint and blaze away with the old gun n;
well as can, and if | don't hit the mark i
won't be because don't try. This Niger
question, aud he could call it nothing else
had been discussed long enough, it had met
with nothing but sneerS and scorn from
every source, from the doctor of divinity
down to the lowest Bar-room loafer, there
was but one mind. 1t had knocked at the
door of the church, and the response is no
admittance it has knocked at the Hall OF
Justice, and it responds that the Black man
has no rights or privileges which belong 10
the white man. And, sir. when it meets
with feelings of scorn and contempt on
every side, it cannot be of much conse-
qnence, and now what has il done 1t has
bound free speech and free press. 1t
took us long time to get it into Congress,
and it will take us a long time to get it out
it got us into two wars, first the Florida,
and then the Mexic IN. Referred to the
amount of blood shed and the expense to
the country, and contended that the sole
cause was the slavery question. And what
other face does it wear? four millions OF
human beings are held in bondage and con-
stitute more than one half of the property
in sixteen States. Viewed in this light is
it not time to stop and look it square in the
face, four millions of human beings in bond
age, denied the rights and freedom of men,
denied the rights of justice, bound in chains
body and soul. Referred to the danger
arising from expressing an opinion openly
and freely in one half Of the Union, ard all
in consequence of slavery. 1t had caused
more mobs in the country than all other
subjects combined in striving to put down
liberty. The spirit of the Revolution teach
es US that all men were born free and equal
and now if Washington or Jefferson should
rise from the dead and utter those same
sentiments, they could not get even the Of
flee of door-keeper. There was no danger
of dissolution, did not fear il if there was
for ii could not make freedom less. Re
ferred to South Carolina getting into hy.
sie,;e. 6t s.nd threatening Jes..fs cot of the
traces, and to illustrate her condition told a
story about the old lady who had turns OF
and always thought she was
going to die. One day when her husband
was busy at work in the field, messenger
came in great haste saying that his wife
was dying; he leisurely drove up his team
and went into the house, and sure enough
she was in a bad way, she knew she should
die, talked about his getting some one to
take care of the children, meaning a wife
wanted TO know if he had ever thought Of
it, and he reluctantly said that he had--whc
was i; and in fact she began to recover
fast as she talked the matter over Will
a good deal of persuasion he at last inform
ed her that ii was Hannah Lovejoy. Oh
she couldn't and wouldn't die and hav,
Hannah the mother Of her children, anC
that was the end oil it, she never tried t,
die after that. And 20 it would be will
these disunion States. Carolina tried t,
jump out and another little black wencl
IT ed to jump in, poor contemplate iad
all loaded with debt, in filth and rags, anC
after we admitted her paid up her debt
and got her new suit, how does the it'll
black -- reward us. Yes, sir, how
does Texas reward US for all this. | regar,
this cry of dissolution with as much con
tempt as l do the niger question, and wei
we may. Slavery has done nothing bu
retard the growth of our country, caus
mobs and blood-shed. There is nothing il
Congress bat the Niger question. nothing
in the country but the Niger question, an
well there may be when four millions ar
denied the rights of men.
l.. &. GALE followed upon the negative
and preiaced his remarks by telling a stor
which expressed the effect of all this abo
lition and disunion talk. a man who wa
withall steady and sober, was enticed to ioi
a club of young men who INDUCED freel
IN champagne suppers and went in for
merry time; returning home rather lat
from one of these gatherings ii occurred (
him that he was not exactly sober, but cor
cluded that as the folks were abed and III
house in darkness he could find his way i
without revealing his condition. Passin
softly IN he opened the door. and behol,
there sat his wife and daughters busily sew
! inc and waiiinu for him ua NO.. oo.,..t.