The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-09-17
Hon. Thomas Corwln's Speech
Al Aoansttlle- SEPT. 8, 1860.

~ ECdHStEtte~ otPt. o. ASOO-
(CoETINCED
The speaker then bestowed upon the
founders of the government a grand and
touching euogy. When they formed the
Constitution, they had just emerged from
the Northumberland furnace of bloody sew
en- years war. They had come out OF that
crucible like gold seven times refined. They
built magnificent temple OF freedom, Tor
themselves and their posterity. Were they
the men TO undermine this edihce, to break
its splendid pillars and destroy its graceful
arches? mol Under their oaths OF Office,
many of them who afterwards as
sisted in making laws under this Constitu-
zion, went on and carried out that instru-
ment in its spirit. They sanction the or
finance of lT87-that ordinance which eve
~ voter ought TO read carefully-and pass
ed those laws of 1898 and 1904 regulating
slavery in the territories, and this last ac-
ton was taken just about the time of the
great struggle on the question OF State
rights.
The same year the Constitution was made
--l797-the Northwestern Territory won
by the common blood and treasure, was
consecrated to freedom forever. (Here he
INDUCED in one of his frequent humorous
episodes. Our people will take good land
tuel Gu kSt IT, AuSJ udQ u pdS-
sion for good land. If they couldn't
get it by buying it, they would take it by
force, He supposed this was all right. The
gospel of guupowder had been glorihed,
and our people were its high priests The
Northwestern Territory had belonged toYir-
.giuia, but because it was acquired by the
common blood and common treasure, she
decided it 10 the confederated government.
Slavery didn't then want to go into the ter
Eitories, and Virginia didn't object to the
Ordinance. But the followers of Messrs.
Douglas and Breckenridge nowadays think
che men of those days were simple hearted
Fellows; good, easy, clever men, but they
didn't know anything The people of this
generation are wiser in their day than the
Echildren of light. In ancient times certain
nations used 10 kill children to prevent
chem from becoming too smart. Children
Fthese tunes are smarter, as soon as they are
FEeaned, than the founders of the Republic.
II il forgotten now that Franklin lived in
olden times Franklin who played with the
lightning as with tame snake; and Bacon
and Newton and, Galileo and Pythagoras and
the long list of other great men.
But, say some of the new lights, the pro-
hibition of slavery IN the territories de-
stroys the equality of the States. Negroes
are properly and can be taken wherever
other property can be taken. The passage
of the Ordinance of 1887 was great ex-
ercise of tyranny and oppression. So say
Douglas and Breckenridge. They contend
that Kansas Nebraska, Washington, Neva-
da and other territories were won by the
common blood and common treasure. That
is true. The fathers would have inhibited
slavery in these territories. They did in
the vast Northwestern Territory. Now if
slavery is not allowed to go into them, the
Union is TO be dissolved Why didn't the
South revolutionize on the passage of the
Ordinance of 81? Why didn't Jefferson,
the7father of tie Democratic party as is
claimed, rise up and resist such an uucon-
Stitutional enactment Why didn't Wash.
iugton rebel? Why didn't those of the
makers of the Constitution who held slaves.
contend for their right TO carry that which
happened to be property iu their own State
anywhere they pleased under the Constitu-
dion, if that instrument recognized slaves as
property All the difference between those
old worthless and Douglas and Breckenridge
lis that the former were stupid asses and
the latter are very smart young men, who
are better Judges of Constitutional law than
the old fogies who made it. Washington,
Jefferson, and Adams, were the Moses, Josh
ua, and Aaron of their time. They had
come out of the house of bondage, their
hands dripping with the blood of deliver
ance, and their locks wet with the waters
lof the Red Sea over which they had passed.
Douglas and Breckenridge were a couple OF
little gentlemen, acting the part Of young
rabbis who pretended 10 know mora than
the great laygiFers. Which shall expouni