Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-08-10
SPEECH
HON. JOHN HICKMAN,
AT A REPUBLICAN MASS MEETING IN THE
cry OF PHILADELPHIA.


The Intelligent voter will SO shape his actions
as to make It coaduce 60 the success of princi
pie rather than The elevation Of man. He
will feel this to be more incumbent upon him
at such time as the present, when the tenden-
eies of parties are more distln:ily marked than
in any previous campaign. 1t will be my OBJ
ject, thls evening, to enieavor to exhibit, iu a
distinct light, the dividing line between the
political pirties of The day, and to ascertain,
if possible, what, IN all probability, would be
the effec; upon the country Of the election of
the respective candidates for the Presidency.
If this were strife merely between indiVid-
ual men, it would possess but trihiag import
ance, and should not trouble you with either
remark or suggestion. But l regard the
contest, the determination will soon be made
not alone as to our value in the Confederacy,
bat as to the destiny Of the nation ITSELF
The policy of our Government is, 10 many
respects, underlined The more serlnus ques-
tions affecting Us have but recently become
topics Of careful consideration. Oar fathers
were unable TO fJrsee, during the tormaiIoa of
the Constitution, the greater embarrassment to
which the future OF the country was to be sub
jected, and consequently no provision made
against them. Subjects which distracted and
divided them, il. their deliberations, have los,
much of their former consequences, and We seem
10 be more auxious TO ascertain waat they
should have said further, than what they ac-
tually did say. Even the controversies 10
which We ourselves have been engaged within
the last decade, have been settled or lost sight
Of, aud We are now about TO enter into that
conflict which IS to define many of the most
important powers of the Government, and to
fix the character of the dominant institutions
Of the country. The proprlety OF eligibility TO
office, the exact relations between Federal aud
local authority, the constitutiouality of banks
and internal Improvements, the regulation of
the currency, and the distribution of the pro-
ceeds OF the public lands, are no longer agi-
tated; aud discussions upon them are only TO
be fouud in our past history, and in the fossil
remains of extinct parties. 1t may iu truth be
said that old things have passed away and all
lhings have become new.
There was time, not very far back in the
past, when slavery was universally admitted to
be wrong an Sc, unwIse IN practice, detrimen-
tai to both individuals and communities, and
against the spirit and genius Of our free sys-
TEN Now, however, it is declared to De d.
vine, IN its origin, the highest type Of human
civilization, and Indispensable to the msiptain-
ance of Democratic republic. Formerly it
e was regarded as condition to be constantly re-
duced and fually to be extingnished. Now,
on the contrary, the demand is urged that it
shail be extended, and made controlling. Here
ind the cause or source o. the great peliti-
cal issue of the present. Shall slavery become
a national institution and governing power
IN the country, shall It remain as the Con-
StItutoD lett 1t 3? This is not an inquiry pro.
pounded by us of the North, but forced upon
US By our brethren Of the South They require
an answer at our hands and we caunot avoid
response If we would. Silence upon our part,
nEder the circumstances, eonld not be cous:ru-
ed otherwise than MS affirmative of their claims
1 make the distinct avoWal tha. slavery seeks
the acquisition of all our new States; for two
objects: first, 10 secure the value of slaves,
and, second, TO direct the powers of the Fed
eTal Government
The lrrepresslble conflict so frequently
commented on and denounced by the South, is
constantly admitted and acted on by them. -
Ihey are too astute as observers and sagaoious
as politicians not to know there is a necessary
aud unenfing antagoDism between liberty and
slavery. If they thought differeGtly there would
DC more peace and harmony between The Sec
tons. 1t is there full appreciation of the strug-
gle for the mastery which arms them for the con-
hiet, ,and induces them to wrestle for the victory
There is no more evident fact than this: the ad-
vocates of slavery seek its exteLson as to lim-
il the influence of the sentiment of freedom We
hate tyranny, and would prevent such con.
animation. They ask thai all who shall be
held as property-be regarded, n the chasie
language OF an eloquent Senator, as s.mud-
sills." Wo believe fhat God created all men
free, and imposed labor upon them for their
advantage. Which hypothesis shall be proven
true? We shall see hereafter. But know
ing that the principles of justice are uniform
and eternal, l presume to believe that those
principles viii prevail, and human rights be
maintained. | am not ignorant OF the fact that
those who suppose they might rightfully make
merchandise of mathers and their children
seem to think they can shape the designs of
Providence and rewrite the history of humanity,
everything our fathers thought, and for the
maintenance of which they perilled life aud
honor. must be par6oned fcF disagreeing
%ish them, aud protesting against such con-
clusions
The extension of negro slavery into the Terri
tories of the United States has become settled
policy Of the Democratic party. This reality
cannot be disguised, and ought net TO be de-
med. 1t is accounted for. Iaity Of interest
aud unity Of desire Eill always produce per-
ieet concentration of strength. The fortunes
ol the South have become completely identified
%nh their peculiar domestic relations. By
'aeir harmony taey have been enabled 70 gov
ern The Democratic party, aud, thus far, to
govern the country through the agency Of that