Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-10-11

and diversities in the free States, over
this hard doctrine difficult to be receiv-
ed by Northern men. he was told, "You
must not pretend to discuss differences Id
the Democratic party: it is one and indi
visable." Laughter. But Judge Doug
las has done this patriotic service: he has
carried from Maryland to Louisiana thro'
slave States, the clements Of division up
on that new dogma; and when it is at
tempted to assail others for expressing
their opinions on the slavery question,
who avow that they hold, as avow that
| hold all the opinions of Henry Clay
applause "a little out of fashion in div
ers particulars in this day, but I am get
ting to be old fashioned-they cannot
turn and say, "You are an abolitiouist
and the united Democratic party is the
only one that is. faithful to the Soutb;"
because in every neighborhood, in every
town, in every parish, in every county.
rise up the friends of Stephen A Douglas.
and say, "The Constitution does not
carry slaves into the Territories, but the
people have righ. to exclude it, if they
choose" Applause. 1t is no longer
treason tossay that, for their own men to
say it; and now, in the Commonwealth
of Virginia, tho Breckenridge men are
on their knees to the Douglas men, and
say. "Oh, don't divide, and give tho
State to Bell" [Laughter.] The Gov
ernor Of the State, holding all the powers
of the State, the man who must call out
the Virginia militia "to arrest the march
Of the United States troops, in case of a
rebellion further South" is tainted with
the heresy of Douglasism. Laughter.
They have ceased to be powerful; they
have ceased to be dangeroug, there is
freedom of opinion; men can speak above
their breath; men can read history, and
repeat it, without the fear of being tar
red and feathered, in any ncighborhoot
in the South ]Applause. If Mr..
Douglas shall never do anything more
than that; if he shall fail to be elevated.
at any future period, to that glittering
height which is the object of his ambition
i desire to say, that future genera
tions will owe him a debt Of gratitude, for
r having, in the course of the internecine
struggles of the Democratic party, and
! perhaps without meaning it, but from
, the necessities cf the case, been instru-
mental in restoring free speech, free o.
pinion, and right to think, as the faith
ers thought, upon the Constitution of
! the United Stats, though he does no hap
pen to think with them. Applause,
Now, what are Mr.. Bells opinions on these
Q subiects7 He avows, like an honest man, his
S opinons, and they substantially concur as
: matter Of abstract opinion witt, those OF Mr
o Breckenridge. That is, he thinks that, without
Q a law Of Congress, under the Constitution
:, thero is right 10 take slaves into the Terrific
:, ries; but he differs from Mr.. Breckinridge in
. this, that he has been nominated by party
, calling itself the Constitutional Union party,
u aud that party proclaims itself, in its address
. from which | have read to you, an enemy Of
r slavery agitation, in favor of things remaining
d as they are, opposed 10 any further legislation,
G for the doctrine that have so often inculcated
= In your hearing of silence upon the negro
y question. Let IL die the death let the Terri
tories remain as they are; let there be no effort
10 to change their condition and there can be no
!, controversy. That is a position which gem
~ ~ teman holding any abstract opinion whatever,
e may very well come up to, and that is, the
n = opinion which the brief and pointed platform
'l Of the Constitutional Union party assigns to
a both its candidates, wholly independent oi
a what their individual opinions may be. They
,r are what Mr.. Boteler, in his address, most ap-
| propriately torms mere distractions, abstract
;. opinions that are not required to be acted on
y at this time and can only be called into living
~ existence ty an attempt to put them in prac-
70 ticc and change the existing condition of the
! Territories; and if | understand the opinion
to of all the gentlemen who, with myself, advo-
r cate the election of Mr. Bell, it is that he ma
in silence that contr oversy and not reopen it.
it leave things as they are and not attempt to
i vary them. If that be not the view with which
xnI Sbnt ho t,a ouc
:, of his friends, then it will be the most ptiable
~ farce, and should be the last man in the world
ie to ask any one here to vote for John Bell as a
III person who was going to quiet the slavery
question. 1t cannot be quieted, as long us there
IT is an effort to change anything, for that raises
the question. When any body proposes that
is Ianything the Territories, no matter what II
!. Imay be, no natter for whom it may operate, oil
Il tnreinst WHOM ID may operate, should be other
!, wise than il 10 that instant he opens the CON
- :, Ftroyersy, and when the controversy is opened
u no ono knows where or how it will be ended.
>" Next. with reference to Mr.. Everett. II,
" holds orsdid hold in form er days, opinions upof
'n exactly the other extreme. You remember tha
td Mr.. Fillmore was mpeached Of Abolitionis Ism
r because, at n former time, whom candidate 70
he Congress, he had declared himself in favor o
lie the abolition of slavery in the District Of Col
umbia; and yot, in spite Of shat, because me,
knew what his policy would be, the people cleo
h. I'm to do him honor whom he passed out from tn
=. discharge of the duties of his high office. Tha
ID il only another illustration of how false guild
le mere abstract constitutional opinions are whe,
G: YOU are selecting President. The question i
, never what he may think as question of Law
but what he will do as an admin istrator of Law
u rApplause.l There cannot be more strikin
I'll example of that than in the case OF Mr. Everett
N ono Of the most distinguished patriotic consel
- yative, and moderate men in the United State
Ill perfectly orthodox in his old Whig policy an
c. nripciples, having filled some of the high sta
g. tions Of tho nation, and now not, perhaps will
:. ont prospect of filling the highest itself. Thl
- gentleman was ent many years ego, think b
r General Harrison, as Minister to England.
as anneared, rs we'll ns remember the circuu
10 stances, that he had previously been a cand
~ date for some Office in Massachusetts, and ther
le he had aues tions thrust at him, to which, in th
to heat of the canvass, he responded, and it seem
, al that he ayowed himself in favor of abolish
a. ing the slave trade between the States Of th
u Immediate abolition Of slavery in the Distric
rn of Columbia, and against the admission Of ~
a. more slave States. Now days, people woul
omen their ewes with horror at tho mere mention
:, of opinions like these and in that day the
lu wanted to injuro that great and distnguishe
nv man because be entertained these opinions, an
x tho action of the Georgia Legislature was II
-. vokod because Mr.. Berrisn had voted for hi
r. eoutirmation Now, Edward Everett is the car
it didate of the Constitutional Union party for th
h. | purpose of stopping agitation on the SLAYER
sb question. tapplauss. and, in my judgment, ths
sh couId have cot no filter candidate in the Unite
States. (areat applause.J
is say that a mans abstract opinions have ~
-. tie or nothing to do with his discharge Of II
tv h;ch nnotions of either President or Vice Pre-
81 ;asrt: and when they are invoked by polite,
all nartisans they are invoked to distract the timi
700 to divide their opponents, to draw off votes,
~. enable themselves to elect some person Of 10
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