Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-08-16

IS ENPOUNDED EY
HON. ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
In Speech delirered before the Cooper Il
stifate, February, ls60.
(coNcLUDED,)

(CoScLUDED.
Mich is said by Southern people
about the affection of slaves for their
masters and mistresses and a part of it.
at least is true. 4 plot for an uprising
could scarcely be devised and commu-
nicated to twenty individuals before
some one of them, to save the life Of a
favorite master or mistress. would di-
vulge it. This is the rule; and the
slave revolution in Hayti was not an
exception to it. but case occurring
under peculiar circumstances. The
gun powder plot of British history,
though not connected with slaves was
more in point In this case only
about twenty were admitted to the Sc
cret, and yet one of them, in his anx-
iety to save friend, betrayed the plot
to that friend, and by consequence,
averted the calamity.
Occasional poisonings from the
kitchen. and open or stealthy assas-
sinations in the field, and local revolts
extending to score or so. will con-
tinue to occur as the natural results of
slavery, but no general insu.rection of
slaves, as think. can happen in this
country for long time. Whoever
much fears, or much hopes. for such
an event, will be alike disappointed.
In the language of Mr.. Jefferson,
many years ago, 1T is still in our
power to direct the process of eman-
cipation and deportation, peacably.
and in such slow degrees, as that evil
will wear off insensibly; and their pla-
ccs be, pari possu, filled up by free
white laborers. If, on the contrary,
it is left to force itself on, human ma
ture must shud9er at the prospect
held up Mr.. Jefferson did not mean
to say, nor do |, that the power oil
emancipation is in the Federal Gov
ernment. He spoke OF Virginia; and,
as to the power of emancipation,
speak of the slaveholding States only
The Federal Government, however,
as we insist, has the power of restrain.
ing the extension of the institution
the power to insure that slave insur-
rection shall never occur on any Amer.
lean soil which Is now free from sla-
very. John Browns effort was pccul.
lar. 1t was not a slave insurrection
1t was an attempt by white men to ge,
up revolt among slaves, in which
the slaves refused to participate. In
fact. it was SO absurd that the slaves
with all their ignorance, saw plainly
enough that it could not succeed
That affair, in it's philosophy, cores.
ponds with the many attempts related
in history. at the assassination Of
kings and emperors. An enthusiast
broods over the oppression of people
ill he fancies himself commissioners
by Heaven to liberate them. He ven.
lures the attempt, which ends in it'll,
else than his own execution. Orsini'.
attempt on Louis Napoleon. and Johr
Browns attempt at IIarper's Ferry
were, in their philosophy. precisely
the same. The eagerness to east blam,
on Old England in the one case. ant
on New England in the other, does no
disprove the sameness of the two
things. And how much would j
avail you, if you could, by the use 0
John Brown, Helpers book, and tn
like, break up the Republican oagani
zation? Human action can be modi
fled to some extent, but human natur
can not be changed.
There is Judgment and fcelin,
against slavery in this nation, whicI
cost at least million and q half O
votes. You can not DESTROY that iudg
ment and feeling-that sentiment-b
breaking up the political organization
which rallies around it. You ca
, scarcely scatter and disperse an arm
which has been formed into order i
the face of your heaviest fire, but
you could. how much would you gal
{ by forcing the sentiment which create
it out o! the peaceful channel of tn
ballot box, into some other channel
What would that other channel prob
ably be? Would the number of Joh
Browns be lessencd or enlarged? Bu
you break up the Union rather tha
submit to denial OF your constitu
c tional rights. That has a somcwha
reckless sound; but it would be pal
! ated. If not fully justified, were W
proposing, by the mere force of mum
bers, to deprive you of some right
plainly written down in the Constitl
ton But we are proposing no sue
thing. When you make thess dccls
rations, you have specific and we
4 understood allrsion to an assumed cor
: stitutional right of yours. to TAX
slaves into the federal territories, an
hold them there as property.
But no such right is speciicall
written In the Constitution That il
: strument is literally silent about an
e such thing. We. on the contrar,
:. deny that such right has any exis
1 ence in the Constitution. even by in
! pllcation. Your purpose. then. plaiI
5 ly stated, is. that you will destroy th
Government. unless you will be a
lowed to construe ard enforce the Cor
stltntlon as you please. on all poin
. in dispute between you and Us. Yo
r will ruin or rule in all events. Thi
plainly stated. is your language to u
Perhaps you will say that the Supren
Court has decided the disputed col
o stitutional question in your favor
i Not quite SO. But, waving the Law
o yer's distinction between dictum 81
n decision. the Court have decided Il
0 question for you in sort Of way
5 The Court have substantially said.
v is your constitutional right To tai
!. slaves into tha Ia laral ,ar,;,o,;os !. >