The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-10-01
S P E F. C H
SPE ECH
CORNELIUS MCLEAN, ESQ.
DELIVERED AT LAUREL
PRINCE GEoRGE's COUNTY,
ON SATURDAY, THE 22D SEPTEMBER.

The question submitted to your decision fellow
citizens, is which, although seemingly uumportan
to you, must ultimately affect your interests
to say nothing of your honor take it, that State il
deeply interested in the preservation of this Union
than the State Of Maryland and that city is so deeply
interested as the city of Baltimore, with which indus
trial interests affections and pride closely
bound 1t is, therefore, peculiarly proper that should
now examine the whole ground here this spot agrcu
ural as it is and also closely connected with the com
mercial and manufacturing industry and energy of a
! large commercial emporium.
IL has been said here today that these questions
unimportant because slaves will not be carried into
ores and protection cannot be obtained from Congress
But II such sentiments had prevailed at the time our
revolution should still have in bondage; for the
interests involved were seemingly small and while we
were seeking to have the taxes and stamp duty repealed
there was hardly hope that the Parliament of England
would comply with demands. So, too have been
called boilers and secessonsts in this discussion but
VIII not follow the example, and will only test the politi-
cal opinions now seeking popular favorwithout mpugn-
| ing motives.
We have important as well as a difficult task to per-
form. All important tasks difficult because they in
volve labor and thought and dspassonate Judgment
That there is danger of disunon is clear me; and
think that no who will calmly consider the issues
now presented can fail to the danger Everywhere
hear of slave labor being injurious white labor and
degrading labor while the Republican party organized
for the purpose of establishing the dogma is po-
htcal and moral curse which is to be confined to par
ticular localities as exception, local institution
which few benghed people adhere against and
march OF humanity.
This party is using every means to dscord to
agtate the slaves annoy the slave States, and keep
us all on the defensive. 1t has its and its
gogues, all united in one common purpose nowthe OBJ
! tanning the possession Of the Government Who will
control they obtain possession tell Whether
the demagogue or fanatic the knave the fool will be
the victor when power to be apportoned between
| them history teaches us is always uncertain.
In Massachusetts, and other States, has already
made criminal for any citizen to be in any way nsru-
mental in rendering up fugitive slave his MASTER no
matter although he be officer of United States and
but recently judge was displaced for doing This
mas been done In the State where lives Mr. Everett
candidate for'the VicePresdency-at Boston, which pa.
rades its patriotism and its love of the Union and Of The
| Constitution.
While these things being done at the North what
must the South do2 What has it done 1t has appealed
to the Constitution and to the construction put upon
by the Supreme Court of the United States Hence arises
division of the Democratic party. The mass of that
party contends that as the States equal and the
ton, like any other right of property the South may
occupy territory gained by the blood
OF the country upon an equal footing with the North
and carry its slaves there il it thinks proper and
neither Congress nor any power emanatng from Con.
! gress, can interfere with them.
They contend that if Congress cannot do so, as Mr.
Douglas admits agent Of Congress do that
creature never be greater than the CREATOR that
those who go to the territory have right of sovereignty
until the people of the United States give it them
that under the Constitution it be given by
Congress- that Congress has right to admit States
ana Wheh any part OF territory is thus admitted as
member of the confederacy, then for the first time it
that sovereignty which gives them the power to deter
mine the nature of property within its own limits and do
all the sovereign acts not prohibited by the Constitution
| of the United States.
Mr.. Douglas and his friends take the halfway house as
resting place. They they the moderate
that they properly construe the Constuton-that they
represent the Democratic party advocate doctrines
which not sectional.
These halfway houses have been often tried in the
history of nations by men who see enough of the evils of
the past to wish for REFORM but fail to the mode in
which it is to be accomplished who, having power and
position themselves, unwilling to risk it by looking
truth in the face and taking bold position
the other side of grave issues made by the
the times. They always successful while manage
ment and intrigue and combinations will answer but the
storm which the anagonism Of falsehood and fanacsm
against truth and justice always raises carries them
destruction There abundant evidences in history Of
this fate of such men They may be good and they may
be great but when the contest great truth those
who cannot or VIII not understand it and advocate it in
It's iuness ana completeness have TO share the fate of
those who hang to the platudes and alsehoods
convenient contrivances and cvasons of the past.
Mr. Douglas and his friends admit that Congress no
power to interfere with slavery any other property
which citizens of the United States may carry the
ritories but contend that when Congress establishes
territorial government, that government do it
pleases and they that four years ago that
Democratic platform established at Cincinnati That
such not the is proved by the admission that
when the Kansas and Nebraska passed that very
question was to submitted to the courts whose decision
TO be final far the politicians of that day could
make it This is admitted, any fully proved
and vet Mr. Douglas is charging all over the country that
Mr.. breckenridge and all the other Democrats agreed with
him.
What he states then cannot by his own admissions and
the ndubitabe testimony of all the prominent of
that day. be true But if it true,it is mmateria-
The question is before for settlement according
to the best construction put the Constitution
and the full. complete and lucid decision of the United
States Supreme Court, as announced by Chief Justice
claiming native of his State who has all his life
been amongst us and cast the light of his high
moral character and transcendent genius.
If Mr.. Douglas is not mistaken, has forgotten the
facts of history in which he took prominent part
still we have to settle what is before us-what in
he has been most prominent in raising Then was then
and s now.' When issues presented they must
be settled according to present views We may
well learn from the past, and the future be
or bright and peaceful: but the is what every
has to deal with in the management of the affairs of
nation, and effects and consequences only tests by
moderate
and prove or disprove all dOgmas.
The doctrine Of Squatter Sovereignty is this that a
territorial legislature may abolish slavery territory
whenever it peaseS. Now it is admitted, if the
history of our government proves that Congress must
govern all territories until their admission into the
Union. 1t may by themselves, passing the
laws for the protection of the rights of emgrants
from other States to prevent state of barbarism
and guard the rights of property or may appoint agents
or deputies give to the people the right to do by
territorial legislatures but whatever mode may be adopt
ed those who act the agents of Congress Now
an agent have more power than the prncpa2 If So
where does he get it?
And what would be the practical effect Of this doctrine
Emigrants would be by the Emigran Aid Society Of
Massachusetts, by the directors of the various Exeter
Hall Societies of London-in fact from every part of
to pass laws for the purpose of driving away from
the territory every Southern citizen who had carried his
slave property there.
Now suppose the Black Republicans to have the com
mand of both branches of Congress, who would
such course of legislation? What would be the differ
ence between the Black Republican doctrine that you
shall carry slave of State into Territory and
that ofMr Douglas that the moment that property
there Fictitious majority sent there for the purpose,
may destroy its value and keep the in continual
dread and fear9 1t was said by SIR Humphrey Marshall,
in Congress, in relation to this very subject that if he
to be hanged it mattered little to him whether he
| was hanged with rope or hanged with grape vine;
and that an apt illustration of the difference between
Mr. Douglas and the Black Republicans in regard to the
rights of the slave States in Territories and although
the Supreme Court has decided that such on the
part of Territory would be unconstitutional, Mr.. Doug
las has shown that the thing might be accomplished
| by 'unfriendy legislation"
Then he Congress interfere and thus the
Territory made free. This the doctrine which he
promulgated in Illinois But the Democratic party say
that it is the duty of Congress which it is admitted
do such things itself to stop its agents and prevent their
doing them; and this Mr. Douglas calls Intervention. So
that in any way Mr. Douglas would leave the whole Ter.
rory of the United States mercy the Abolition
lists. He that interest will decide. But how Do
fanatics understand the true interests of humanity? Will
men who look upon slavery a sn reproach and re-
gard every holder Of a slave monster of iniquty-
will men who look upon slavery as political curseEbe
directed by sound notions of interest? Will owner OF
that property take it to Territory subject such
chances and vicsstudes, where he has to wage eternal
in which he must be defeated by numbers there
for the purpose and from whose decision he has proec
ton?
Mr. Douglas says Congress protect him from the
acts of its own agents but he may appeal to the Supreme
Court of the United States. This is an insult to the
understanding OF the people If the Dred Scott
disregarded by Mr.. Douglas and his Northern friends
how expect fanatic multitude, and
supplied by missionary societies from all parts of the
world to respect And where would be the slave the
meanwhile, where the poor man, involved in national
law suit, to have again determined what the Supreme
Court has already determined what YOU and l. and
all of determine by votes according to
the best lights have for constituting the Constitutions
Recoect that the ground which it is contended by
the Democratic party and admitted by Mr. Douglas that
Congress cannot abolish slavery is, that that kind
property being recognized by the Constitution and the
territory belonging theSates whose agent Congress
that body confscate that property any
other But when you once allow to the eope Of terr;o
ry sovereign power which it is admitted Congress has
not where will you stop? What is to prevent any terri
tory from being filled with foreigners who may be i'm.
ported for the purpose of setting up government unlike
ours2 There is mode Of compelling people to seek
admission into the Union. and if they have sovereign
power in respect beyond the Constitution why NAV
! they not have it in every other?
Why may such people not establish a state Of religion
orpreyent the free exercise Of conscience in religious
ers or abridge the freedom of speech of the press
the right to petition for redress grieyances-neher OF
which Congress do? And if Congress has power
prevent the exclusion of slaves it exclude
1t prevent other laws equally unconstitutional? Once ad
nit the right of sovereignty in the people territory
before admission into the Union you open Pandoras
box, and leave not Hope behind. The Democrats
look at slaves as property and deny to Congress the right
to cOnscate it, and require Congress to protect it when
in danger from its agents and prevent its agents
passing acts which Congress has not the consttu-
tonal power to pass. This is logical but Mr.
position is illogical because it is have said way
| house.
But these questions said by Mr.. Douglas and the
friends bf Messrs Bell and Everett to he distractions
which the people not interested, and especially the
! people of Maryland
Bell and Everett in favor the Constitution and
the Union and the enforcement of the laws; but how p?
That is the very question We all in favor of those
three things and the people of Massachusetts, say they
and they the personal liberty BILL and in the
Northwest they lynch Marshal Of the United States
enforcing the fugitive slave law. All these people in
favor of the Constitution and the Union and enforcing
the laws they choose to understand them. We want
to know how you understand them, that may under
standngly vote for you against you.
he IIni he hv he