The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-08-30
(CONCLUDED.)

Now, and here, let me guard a little
against being misunderstood. | do not
mean to say we are bound to follow i'm
plicty in whatever our fathers did. To
do SO would be to discard all the lights
Of current experience, to reject all pro-
gress, all improvement. What | do say
is, that if we should do so upon evidence
so conclusive, an argument so clear, that
even their great authority, fairly consid-
cred and weighed, cannot stand and
most surely not in case whereof we our
selves declare that they understood tie
question better than We. Laughter. i
If any man at this day, sincerely believes
that proper division OF local from Eede-
raj authority, or any part Of the Consti-
tuition, forbids the Federal Territories, ne
is right 10 say so, and to enforce his posi-
ton by all truthful evidence and fair ar
gumeut which he eau. But he has no
right to mislead others, who have less ac-
cess to history, and leisure to study 1t,
into the false belief that "our fathers,
who framed the Government under which
we live" were of the sane opinion-thus
substituting talsehood and deception for
truthful evidence and fair Argument
/ Applause If any man at this DAY sin
cerey believes I" our fathers, who framed
the Government under which We live,
used and applied principles, in other
cases, which ought to have led them to
understand that proper division of To-
cal from Federal authority OR some part
Of the Constitution, forbids the Federal
Government to control as to slavery III
the Federal Territories, he is right to say
So But he should at the same time
brave the responsibility Of declaring that,
ia his opinion. he understands their prin-
ciples better than they did themselves,
great laughter, and especially should he
not shirk that responsibility By asserting
that they understood the question just
as well aud even better, than we do now"
# Applause But enough. Let all who
believe that our " fathers who framed the
Government under which we live, under
stood this question just as well, and even
better than we do now," speak as they
spoke, and act as they acted, upon it
This is all Republicans aSk-aIl Repub-
hcans desire-in relation to slavery. As
those fathers marked it, so let it be again
marked, as an evil not to be extended,
but to be tolerated and protected only be-
cause Of, and so far as, It's actual presence
among US makes that toleration and pro-
lection a necessity Loud applause.
Let all the guarantees those fathers gave
it be not grudgingly but fully and fairly,
maintained. For this Republicans con-
teud, aud with this, so far as | know or
believe, they will be content. Ap-
plause.
And now, if they would listen-a> |
suppose they will not would address
few words to the Southern people,
Laughter. | would say to them =
You consider yourselves a reasonable and
Just people, and | consider that IN the
general qualities Of reason and justice you
are not inferior to any other people ;stlll,
when you speak of US Republicans, you
do SO only to denounce US as reptiles, or,
at the best, as no better than outlaws.
You will grant hearing to pirates or
murderers, but nothing like it to Black
Republicans. Laughter. In all your
contentious with one another, each OF
you deems an unconditional condemna-
ton of Black Republcanism " as the.
first thing to be attended to. Laugh
ter. Indeed, such condemnation OF US
seems to be an indispensable prerequisite