The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1860-04-13
Second Reply Of TrumbuII to
DOuglasl

In the United States Senate, FEB. 20
1860.
Mr.. TRUMBULL. Mr.. President, il
only needs a statement Of facts and bring
ing my colleague back TO the issues, to
show that he has not answered at all
points which took. He has undertake
en- to show that slavery existed in Illi-
nois; and how does he do itl He refers
to the census, which shows that some
body claimed slaves in Illinois. Does
that make il a slave Statel / believe that
now slaves are claimed in all our free
States. There is a Lennon case now
pending in the State Of New York, where
the right is claimed 70 hold slaves in that
State. He says that the Territorial Leg
islature of Illinois adopted slave code
That is true, and the State adopted a
slave code, ifyou please. Many of the
first settlers Of Illinois wanted slavery;
and nothing kept slavery out and made
Illinois what she is, but the ordinance Of
1887. The fact that persons claimed to
hold slaves in Illinois does not prove that
any were there. The very first time the
question was brought to the notice ofthe
courts, 1t was decided that slavery could
not exist in Illinois.
My colleague speaks Of my having re-
marked that stated this to his teeth.-
do, sir; and will tell you why used
the expression. IL is very seldom that
we in Illinois have an opportunity to say
anything to bis face. He scarcely ever
remains to hear; the example given to-
night, ofleaying the moment he is through
speaking, without waiting to hear a re-
ply, is not uncommon with him. know
he has traversed the State Of Illinois, and
made declarations like those which he
has made here to-day. / aYalled myself
Of the privilege Of Saying what | did, to-
day, TO his face, because had him here
face to face for once. am well aware
of the way in which he discusses ques-
tons. He makes statements, when there
is nobody present to contradict them,
which the facts Of history will not sus-
tain. He hus gone on % speak here to-
/ day, and asked, in so many words, why
tho Republican party, when they get
power, win not give to the negroes that
equality which they elaim for thoml
thereby assuming that we Republicans
claim equality for the negro. We have
not done any such thing; and now ! will
answer that point, and answer il 80 that
/ / think he will never repeat il again, at
least where he can be replied to, He
has asked here to-day, whether we claim
that negroes are created by the Almighty
with tho same natural rights as thewhite
mani answer him, that do claim it,
Well, then, said he, does not the Deela-
ration of Independence declare that they
are endowed with certain inalionable
rights, among which are life, liberty, aud
the pursuit Of huppinessi and nyou deny
any Of these rights, do you not Yiolate the
law Of Godl That is tho way my col
league put the question, Now let me an
awer him. Iwill apply his own mode OF
reasoning to white men, and see il his
constrnctihn doea not violate the laws Of
God equally with mine.
He claims the Declaration Of IDdo-
Ipendence applies to white men. If II
applies to white men, then white men are
endowed by their Creator with certain
inalisnhble rights, among which are life
liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness
What right has he 10 take the life or lib
erty Of a white manl is he opposed 70
the criminal code Of the State Of Illinois
which subjects the horse thief 10 impris'
onment in the penitentioTy, and takes
away his iaallenable right TO liberty
He says this inalien0ble right is secured
% him, being q white man BY The greai
Creators and yet he y Cor taking i away
J presume. II the Declaration Of Inde
pendence aRpliea 70 white mon, ! asl
him, by'vlrtue pf what authority il s tha
he violates the inw Of God, and sents th,
horse tbiefto the penitentlay, or IN,
murderer 70 the galioWsi An. sir, he doei
L because the exigencies Of society re
quire IT, We deny 10 the negro equu
political and civil rights because the ex
!, ligencies N society require t. And i'm,
can press The argument upon me, that
J have no right % deny "a inalionobll
Irinhl a. IA unurn fInn .naI ~. Ean -.