Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1860-02-14
not boldly proclaim the same creed that

not poluly proclaim the same creed that
they did before this invasion?"
Now, if any man can discover
slower deep ofmeanness and mendacitv
than is reached by the above, we will
thank him to point it out But, not
satisfied with this wretchedly false and
libellous allegation, Mr.. Douglas spices
it with the following despicable insin-
uation:
"Who, uutil the Harper's Ferry out
rage, ever conceived that American
States could be so forgetful of their du-
ties to themselves, their country, and
the Constitution, as to plan an invasion
of other State, with view of stirring up
servile insurrcction, murder, treason, and
every other crime that, ,disgraces human
ity?" -.--. -..-.....-.---
Can it be possible that this degener-
ate demagogue, this shameless calumnia-
tor, represents Northern State in the
United States Senate? He has the
brazen impudenee to- stand there.
on the Senate floor, recreant son of one
free State, and the recreant Representa-
tive Of another, and to charge the free
States with planning an invasion of
the South. We would employ no Ian
guage, in eharactcrising NIr. Douglas,
which is not amply warranted by the
facts; but We are accustomed to call
things by their right names, and we say
that, IN asserting that any free State had
planned an invasion of Virginia, Mr..
Douglas deliberately lied No man
knows better than he, that not only has
no State taken any action looking in the
remotest degree to sympathy with John
Browns enterprise, but that not even
any considerable number of individuals,
In any State. ever planned, +" or assisted
In planning, that mad scheme which he
devised alone, and undertook to execute
almost alone. 1t may seem to Mr..
Douglas very excellent method of
currying favor with the South, to libel
the people of the North, but he would
do we'll to remember, that even audacity
has its limits, that falsehood never pays,
and that no people can be expected to
continue long suffering, when open in
suit is added to injury.
This bold scheme eofsuppressine mems
natural rights, and depriving them of
their constitution liberties, is we'll
masked at the start, under the glazing
plea Of patriotism and public order
But before Mr.. Douglas finished his
speech, he revealed the true character
and aims ofthis proposed measure The
mask fell from the visage Of the plausi-
BILE orator, and showed the hideous
features of the political bigot and in
quisitor grinning behind it. Read the
following: ."i.s '.-s
''By Indictment and conviction, in
the courts of our several States, of these
conspirators, we will make such exam
Piles of the lea 1ers as will strike terror
into the hearts of the others, and there
will be an end of this excitement. You
must check it by crushing out the con-
spiracy, the combination, and then there
can be safety. |
II would open the prison doors, and
tell these conspirators against the peace
of the republic and the domestic tran
guilty of other States, to select their
cells, i'll which to drag out a miserable
life, for the punishment of their crimes
against the peace of society" .s
ana lClS tnlS loose SaScOnauc OF threats
against imaginary foes, this intolerant
outcry for chains and prisons to punish
constructive criminals, and ''put an end
to this excitement that passes among
innocent people for wisdom and for states
manship! When such a man as this can
climb to such height of Influence in the
nation, to what utter bascness have our pol |
itics descended! Under such law as he |
proposes, nothing would be easier than to
convert all public discussion into s'con-
spiracies and combinations" against the |
peace of Slave States. It is openly
avowed by Mr.. Douglas that the dis
cussion Of slavery must close; that this
excitement must be stopped, and how?
By trying and imprisoning the men who
talk and agitate. The great champion
of the "great principle Of popular sover-
eighty" seeks to suppress the inaliena
rights of the people, and calls ON Con-
gress to intervene, in the States, to put
down popular agitation. Stephen A.
Douglas clamors for Congressional
Slave Code, to protect and guarantee
slave property by the strong arm of Fede-
raj power.
''Oh! shame, where is thy blush:'' |