The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-09-20
SPEECH or HON. JOHN J. CRITTENDEN.

dence, Hin ton county, kentucky, on the 18th
inst, on the occasion of Union barbecue
We extract n few of the most important points
of his speech
Now l wish to saw a word upon Territorial
slavery. All this fiery aniulOsity and fpry
contest be tween the ifferent branches Of the
Dem cratic party grows OUT Of this question !:
Whether, If we had Territory where there
was slavery, and where there was an epposi-
tion TO that slavery, whether the Congress
should interfere by its laws aud settle the
question by protecting that properly, or
VIE her it should be left to the wishes OF the
people of the Territory TO do as they will with
the institution That is the questio
Look at the condition of our country and see
if these gentlemen are not quarreling about a
mere abstraction-a thing of air-beating the
air. and yet turning the country almost upside
down about it. The question to slavery in
Kansas every body thinks is settled. As to Ne
braska, with its frosty, cold regions, nobody
wants to go there that can get living else
where. That is conceded. Across the Rocky
Noun tains, does anybody want TO carry
slaves That is conceded free These are our
Territories. Where is therefa Territory 10
which n man would carry his Slaves if he were
in nvited TO do it Iu the great basin lust this
side of the Rocky MouutaIns-a vast plain
without a tree--uninhabi;able almost 10 a
great extent! 4! Does any one want to go there
with his slaves No. There is not in nv
judgment, one single spot of any considerable
extent in any Territory OF the United States
where any man would desire to carry his
slaves, ana YET tnH WnOle contest is as TO what
is TO be done when the people carry their
slaves where they don't want to carry them
For this NJ. Douglas is pursued and pursu-
ing. Mr douglas says, 81 want to carry out
what was proposed-as l understood it, at the
! repeal of the Missouri Compromise-thatis is. to
put the question out OF Congress and leave il
10 the Territory, and then let the people q uar-
rel 1t out 1t is better that a par tal evil should
take place there than that a general quarrel
should exist in the Union Are we the peonle
OF the United States of America to be put at
The tail OF these little people, ana to suffer the
agifaIon that Their petty con tests shall bring
mp That seems like reyersiou
The whole question between the branches
or the Democratic party, is to slavery in
the Territories. Has there any such mischief
been zone yes there any case req qniring in
terposltlon MO- Why; the United States
Senate, upon the direct question, said no
there Is no present evil that requires remedy,
but it may come. Another flood may come,
laughter or If not, then there nav come an
other destruction of the earth by fire Is it
worth our while to provide against it!
NOW, TO speak seriously, they say there is
nothing to require interpOsitioD. The Senate
says there is not, and voted the idea down
only three voting in its favor; all tne rest of
| the Senate saying there is no occasion yet tor
laws. but we must reserve the right-the case
may arise IN respect to some Territory. What
Territory mere Is 1t Not soul can tell;
and yet, upon this contingency that we may
have Territory into which some man may
possibly want 10 carry slaves, there arises Il
great dtspHlt, AS reno Z as llat-and we are
quafrellug ABOUT 1t To-day thing that may
happen IN twenty years thing WHICH don't
believe can happen in the present state OF the
Union.
That Is the great subject upon which The
Democratic party is broken up, and We are
now here trying to save the country by inaug-
uratlng party upon The Constitution and the
Union.
l have occupied your tine longer than in
| tended TO. told you l came here to denounce
no party. / wished TO speak with decorun
u oHeHd none OF my audience. Tney have
doneme the honor OF listening TO me, ard it
was my duty to speak them in kindness
and with care. appeal to you not as party
men-l appeal to yuu as ny countrymen.-
There ls, as you know, party in the South
powerful and dangerous party-that, since
the days OF Gen. Jackson, have been seeking
10 carry into practical effect the doctrine Of
disunIon. In what form did it appear In
General JackSOn'S time they attempted 10
nuiliiy an act or COngress-an act which you
had all Joined 10 pass, ana which one State
claimed 10 be 10 its injury. How did General
Jackson treat it! Was that his sort of Union!
No! He said he would hang the traitors AS
high as Haman There was tisuuion attempt.
ed. We have since seen resolutions Of Iagis-
latures, and messages OF Governors, ali pre-
cIaIming and recommending 1t is Il ueces sity
We have seen States engaging 10 combine tor
This purpose; and now VIII any man SAY
there is no danger OF that sort which we ought
to Vatcn l think ii is q danger against
which we ought to guard. We ought 10 look
to II. We ought 10 puJ power into the hands
Cf party that Llign, De tempted TO use il for
such q purpose. Gen. WASHINGTON said the
people of the United States ought to frown
upon the first dawning OF everything like
disuuion. That Is the substance of Wnat he
sad.
1t frowned out pretty boldly in the time Of
General Jackson. He was man OF villa
patlIot VIII say-aad he put Al down. IL has
been gathering strength ever since. Ii has
been, as say, meeting in Conventions; il has
been made the subject OF messages By Gov
eTnors, and OF cooperation between States
You don't want any such result. You would
oppose any such result. l hope so am sure
you would. Kentucky was not brought up to
such treason. l was mau Of five aud twenty
or thirty years OF age before l ever heard dis
that nobody uttered body thought ot-that
nobody yentured 10 talk OF. Gen. Washing
ton, the Moses of our land, he thought OF IT,
and be said, troWn on the first dawnlng OF it
crush out that sentiment. You Will know
Row to apply all this. You Will know how to
act upon II better than can teach you.
Mr. 4. then, in II few words pain ted a bright
picture of universal liberty as the result of
our caring for this Union and urged his hear
ers 10 come up to The support OF the Bell and
Everett ticket. After thanking his hearers for
their attention, he withdrew, while cheers
greeted him all sides.