The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-09-06
The Measures of the Republican Party.
Remarks made by John D. Defrees, OF
Indiana.

Remarks made Dy John ". UeIrees, Q
Indiana.
Before the Washington City Republican
Association. Augaest 2, 1860.
REPUBLICANS OF WASHINGTON Il
Introducing me to you, Mr.. Clephane wa'
pleased to say that reside in Indiana
which be termed the most doubtful State
among those cai0ed by the Repub ican'
as voting for them at the next Presiden
tial election.
Now, beg TO assure my friend that
although such has been the fact, it exist.
no longer. Indiana, so long under the
control of what is called Democracy, will
lust as certainly be redeemed in Novem
ber as the election takes place. | know
We shall have to work for it, but We ex.
pect to work as men always should DC
who feel themselves 10 the right.
The Republicans are denounced By the
Democracy as the cause of the agitation
of the public mind in relation to Slavery
History will place its responsibility upon
themselves. Let US look at the impartial
record.
Not satisfied with the extent Of country
already occupied By Slavery, they annex
ed Texas for the avowed purpose Of Its
e1tentiou. Yet unsa;isfed, uey made
war upon Mexico to secure a still further
expansion ! California declared for free
dom, and they we're foiled in that attem pt
to accomplish their purposes. Ihey de
sired to plant Slavery in Kansas. The
Missouri restriction prevented it, They
broke down that barrier, erected by the
Patriots of 1890. The people Of Kansas,
In defiance of the efforts OF Democratic
Administration to the contrary, excluded
Slavery. Not content With ali this, they
now claim that "Slavery exists in all our
Territories by reason of the Constitution
of the United States.
How false, then, is the charge that the
Republicans are the agitators of this
question. To prejudice tie people against
the Republicans, they are called Adolf
tionists," and are denounced by the more
cuhiUated and accomplished leaders, as
''nigger thieves"
The people Of the Southern States, in
fuenced by such means, have become con-
Finced that the Republican Party, if they
obtain control of the National Govern
meDt, will abolish slavery in all Slave
States Such is their deep-sested pre-
judice, that they refuse to Inform them
selves as TO tie real objects of that party
Indeed, discussion and Investigation, the
only methods of arriving at truth on any
subject, ere prohibited under penalty Of
Lyuoh law In a land where We boast SO
much of freedom of opinion, its express
ion leads TO banishueut!
This same prejudice exists in tbis Dis
trict. Ii has been eugeudered By those
whose onl y desire is to hold their places
as long as possible.
Now that Republican President is a
bout to be iuaugur ated, it may be well to
see what measures are to become the pol
icy of his Administration. The people
shen will be convinced that they have
been deceived By those whose interest it
has been to mislesd them.
The Republicans simply propose, as
announced at Chicago, as follows:
|. Non.iDterference with slavery in the
Slave Ststes-but opposition to its exten-
sion into Territories now free.
IL To procure q more efficient law for
the suppression of the slave trade.
Ill. The admission of Kansas under
ber present Con ttitution.
" A revenue Law, Discriminating il
favor of home industry, for the support 0
the Government
V. 4 reform ia the abuses. and re
duction 10 the expenditures of the Gcner
al Government
VI. A liberal homestead law for actu
oil settlers on the public lands.
VII. The improvement of rivers anC
harbors wherever of national interest.
VIII. The speedy construction by tbt
aid of the General Government of rail
road to the Pacific.
Let us examine each of these measures
very'brie6y.
|. As TO S5aVery IN the iSLct0e States ant
ats erclusiosa from tie Territories
Within the provisions of the Constitu
fioD, States are sovereign and iDdepend
ent of each other. They have the right
therefore, within this restriction, to enac
such laws as they may deem proper
Hence it is, that the laws recogniziD,
property in slave-labor in one State can
not be interfered with by sister State
or by the United States. That is ques
tlon which cannot be affected by Ma
tionsl Administrator, even we're it dis
posed to do SO, which we deny SO far a
the Republicans are concerned.
We clai@ that the Government of th
United States has not only the right t
acquire territory, but to govern it whel
acquired; otherwise we should be placed i
the absurd predicament of owning prop
erty without having the right to control i