The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-10-24

"
Republican leaders in Iowa when you were
still in Territorial condition; and I never
yet learned from them that they tho't they
were incapable Of self government at that
time. (Applause and laughter.) But the
moment they become State they desire to
put on airs, (great laughter and applause. }
and deprive other people of the very rights
| which they so recently claimed for them
selves. Laughter and applause am in.
formed that you recently had Mr.. Seward,
Of New York, here. He is the embody.
ment Of modern Republican principle and
hence we may properly look into his
speeches for the principles of that party.
Speaking on this very point of the relative
rights Of the American citizens in the States
and in the Territories.
MrSeward has said in his recent speeches
that tbs people Of the States possessed all
the rights of self-government he desired. -
He then went on to tell what those rights
were. He said the people of the States had
not only the right to govern themselves at
home, but through their members Of Con-
gress could make laws for other people not
represented in Congress. Laughter. That,
Mr.. Seward considered great privilege :
That, he calls modern Republicanism. Let
Us inquire whether it is not nearer toryism.
That's it." Laughter and applause When
you go home ask any Of your children, ten
years of age, what was the principle invol-
we'd in the Revolutionary war, ask them up-
on what ground our fathers separated from
he British government, and they will tell
you that the British people claimed not on
ly the right to govern themselves in Parlia
ment, but to govern our American colonies
without giving them representation. Fol-
lowing that old Tory idea Mr.. Seward now
tells you that the policy Of the Republca II
party is, first to govern themselves at home
and then through their members of Con-
gress to govern the people Of the Territories,
without giving them representation. Our
fathers of the Revolution poured out their
hearts blood in resisting that pretension of
the Tories Of '78, and call upon the Dem
ocracy of this day to resist with all the
power, and all the energy they possess, this
same unjust Pretention of the Republican
party.
Our Fathers of the Revolution demanded
the right of local self.government through
| their colonial Legislatures. The British
Government resisted that demand, and rath-
er than surrender the point, they went to
war, and achieved the right of self govern
ment at the point of the bayonet. The
question now is, whether we will maintain
that lnestimable right for which they shed
their blood? Cries of 1--WE will."1 What
good has resulted to this country from this
attempt on the part of the Federal Govern
ment to defraud the people of the Terrific
ries Of the right of self government am
informed that Mr.. Seward in late speech
in this city have endeavored to get a
copy, but without success-said that from
the time the Constitution was adopted up
to 1920, this country was at peace on the
slavery question, but in that year it moved
off on a new track, and ever since we have
been disturbed by this element of discord
If that be correct report of Mr.. Stewards
| speech, desire to invite your attention. to
II nl ...1iiiiL that from Cie time
of the adoption of the Constitution of ths
United States, up to 1920, there was peace
on the slavery question. What was the
policy of this Government during the period
| when Mr.. Seward said there was peace :
The Congress never attempted to control
| the slavery question in the Territories
From the time the Constitution was adopted
up to 1920, Congress acted upon the prin.
| ciple of non-intervention. In 1850 Congress
attempted to assume control Of the quest
of slavery in the Territories, regardless OF
| the wishes of the people, and from that mo-
ment sectional strife begun. assert to you
without the fear Of contradiction, that Con.
gress never yet touched the question of s.a-
very in the Territories without stirring up
strife and discord and angry feeling between
| the North and the South. ['Thats so-rirht.
and applause. All our difficulties TO-DAY,
arise from this attempt on the part of Con.
gress. In the midst Of profound peace and
general health, enjoying the greatest abun-
dance Of all the blessings that kind Provi-
dence can shower upon us, instead of being
contented, happy and grateful, we find one
portion of our people alienated from another
What is the cause of this alienation! 1t is
the interference by Congress with the DO.
mestic affairs Of the people. This cause has
always produced the same result. ..-
In 1850 the Free States of the North api.
tated the question Of slavery, and the vii.
mot proviso brought this country to the
brink Of ruin. Then, as nd kthere was a
Southern disunion party, acting in concer,
with the Abolitionists. Although pretend
ing to be against them, one appealing tt
Southern passion and Southern ambition
and the other appealing to Northern passion
and Northern prejudice, until the two to-
gether nearly wrecked the ship of State.
You all recollect that this strife went tt
such an extent in 1850, that the wisest and
purestmen in the Republic became alarmed
for the safety of the Union. Even the i'm
mortal Clay, who had supposed that he had
performed his duties on earth and had re-
tired to the shades of Ashland to prepare
for better world, in his retirement heard
the harsh and discorlant notes of sectional
strife and disunion, and came forward from
his retreat, resumed his seat in the Senate
to see if he by his long experience, his wis
dom and the rcnown of his great name
could not do something to restore peace to
his distracted country. will not detair
you with the details of that memorabl,
struggle. For five or six long months W,
assembled every morning in the Council
Chamber, with Clay in the chair-Cass or
his right, Webster on his left, and the Unior
Wings and Democrats mingled together t,
devise means by which we could put dowr
Northern Abolitionism and Southern Dis
union. l need not inform you that the com
promise measures Of 80 were the result O
those deliberations Those measures restet
upon the principle of non-interference b,
Congress with the question Of slavery eithe
in the States or Territories.
| According to that principle slavery wa
forever to be banshed from the halls O
Congress, and remanded to the people of tn
Territories as well as in the States to do a
they pleased. The only limitation on tn
people tf the Territories was the same a
that prescribed in the States-to-wit: tn
Constitution Of our common country
, Cheers. The adoption of those measure
restored peace. 1t IS true that the Ere
Soilers, such men as Seward, Chase, Hale
Lincoln and Giddings attempted to resis
that settlement even after It was adonted b