Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-08-08
HON. JOHN H1cKuAN,s SPEECH.

political issue of the present. Shall slavery
become national institution and governing
power in the country, or shall it remain as the
Constitution left it This is not an inquiry
propounded by us, of the North, but forced
upon us by our brethern of the South. They
require an answer at our hands, and we can
not avoid response if we would Silence up-
our part, under the circumstances, could not
be construed otherwise than as affirmative OF
their claims. make the distinct avowal that
slavery seeks the acquisition of all our new
States, for two objects; first to secure the
value of slaves; and, second, to direct the
powers of the Federal Government
s'The 'irrepressible conflict so frequently
commented on and denounced by the South,
| is constantly admitted and acted on by them
! They are too astute as observers, and saga
cious as politicians not to know there is a me-
cessary and unending antagonism between lib
erty and slavery. If they thought different
| there would be far more peace and harmony
between the sections 1t is their full appreci-
alton of the Struggle for the mastery which
arms them for the conflict, and induces them
to wrestle for the victory. There is no more
evident fact than this, that the advocates of
| slavery seek its extension so as to limit the
| influence of the sentiment of freedom. We
hate tyranny, and would prevent such a con-
summation.
ssThe extension of negro slavery into the
| territories of the United States has become
settled policy of the Democratic party. This
reality cannot be disguised, and ought not to
be denied. 1t is easily accounted for. Unity
Of interest and unity of desire will always pro-
duce perfect concentration of strength. The
fortunes of the South have become complete
ly identified with their peculiar domestic rela-
tions. BY their harmony they have been ena-
! bed to govern the democratic party, and, thus
| far,to govern the country thro' the agency of
that party The vital force of that organization
being in the South, and slavery propagandsm
regarded there as a necessity, it cannot be con-
| sidered strange that the influence of the party
should be so directed as to fortify doctrines
most congenial to the supposed welfare of
| those who direct its machinery. To many it
has seemed unaccountabe that executive ac-
tion and legislative and judicial proceedings
should be so shaped, from year to year, as
to strengthen the few at the expense of the
great mass of our people. Let it be no lon
ger regarded a marvel or mystery; the
responsibility Of ii rests with those North
ern men in whom we have reposed our con-
fdence and clothed with the garments of au-
thority.
"Slavery educates its statesmen in high
school, under able professors. 1t teaches that
the northern men are cowardly, and that their
ambition is linked with avarice; and unfortu-
nately for US it has arguments to fortify its
faith. In half century it may not be credited
that less than dozen men, trained under these
sident as to induce him to re-cast message,
violate the phghted faith upon which he was
elected, disgrace his native State, and degrade
the high office to which he had then bnt recent
ly been elected.
s'Millions of acres of fertile lands, every now
and then, are filched from industrial clas-
ses, who require them for the support and ed
ucation of their families, to be turned into
barren wastes, by those who have already bias
ted more than one-haf of our soil as with an
avalanche of fire. Factories and workshops
are tottering in ruins, and families and neigh
borhoods left starving and in rags. because
fostered industry is not required in that re-
gIon where la5oring men have no rights which
the owner OF men is bound to respect. And
ships rot at our wharves. and store houses be-
come but a rendezvous for idlers and vagrants
for the reason that uncompensated chattel
sinews yield fruits more cheap!y than compen-
sated skill, and require no shield against
the pauper products of Europe. If change
OF Tariff laws were required by the South
instead of the North, they could not fail OF
its accomplishment
OF southern Office holders and politicians he
says: ''They all, yes ALL have been brought
TO believe that the doctrines of the Declara-
tion of Independence are but stereotyped lies
that the founders of the nation had but sor-
ry conception of inalienable rights that the
Constitution which they framed was intended
as an instrument of cruelty and crime and
that the fairest feature of tree republican as
sociation is a Union of States peopled with
the lowest grade of saveS.'' The remedy for
this state of things he says ssmay be found in
organized opposition and united action against
the democrats of every stripe.''
OF Mr.. Breckenride he says tile so reads
the teachings of the sages of the past, and
their primary law, as to make it fruitless to
attempt an exclusion of his peculiar and IA
vorlte institution from the organized terrific
ries; and so as 10 make it indispensable that
congresses, courts and presidents should ex-
ercise all their ingenuity, and all their powers
to fortify and sustain it there. Legislative ac-
tion is to be invoked, judicial DEGREES had, ex-
ecutiye flats pronounced, navies equipped ,and
armies marShalled, to exclude forever every
settler therefrom who will not bow down before
the black god of his idolatrous Worship
Mr. Douglas and his course he characterzes
with still more severity. and at greater length
He reviews his earlier career in the Kansas
struggle-his approaching reelection, and his
desire then to be reckoned an anti-Lecomp-
tonite and rebel, and concludes by saving:
tsThese references have been made for sim
gle purpose-to satisfy, if doubts exist, that
in the great struggle between the South and
the North, to secure the long lost equality of
the latter, Mr.. Douglas is against us. Should
more recent evidences be demanded then let
an examination be made of the Congressional
Globe, containing the ballots for speaker and
| clerk during the last session of the House of
Representatives. Ascertain what the action
of the Illinois western and northwestern de-
mocracy was during the protracted contest for
an organization. Every svote that Mr. Doug
las could influence was invariably cast for
such candidate as the South presented, in
Gliding those of the most extreme and revo-
lutionary character"
OF Forney and Douglas, he says: ssCol. For
ney, who never hesitated to advance the for
funas of Mr.. DoupIas whom he could proper-