Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-06-08
DELAWARE, OHIO, JUNE 8, 1860.
SPEECH
n ON. BE n ia min Stanton,
OF OHIO

Mr. CHAIRNAN / have no prepared speecl
for this occasion, and it is the first time hav
attempted to address the House or Commit
tee for four years, except upon some question
Immediately pending for action. Four year
ago l discussed the question of the power O
Congress over slavery in the Territories ant
with the argument l made on that subject
am still satisfied. have not seen any salts
factory answer to it, and do not propose te
reargue the question.
Let me say one word or two, preliminary
in regard to the tone and temper of the dis
cussiohs which have prevailed in this Hall du
ring the present session. 1t seems to me that
they have indicated a great lack of stateman-
ship and dignity, and of that parliamentary
courtesy Indispensable to the careful consider
alton Of grave national questions.
Gent!ea,en seem to fo'get that we are a
people covering tweni y-ive parallels of lati-
tude and forty degrees of longitude, elbrac-
ing every variety Of soil and climate. and every
variety of production, of character, and of social
Institutions. 1t seems to be imagined that
we must all think alike, reason alike, come to
the saflle conclusions ; or that our differences
/ of opinion shall be causes of bitterness and
discord and strife. l apprehend if l had
been born and educated at Norfolk, / should
probably have entertained opinions sery sinl-
lar to those entertained 10y my friend from Vir-
ginia, Mr.. MILLsoN and if he had been
| born and educated upon the banks of the
Ohio he would probably have entertained
opinions very similar to mine. II had been
born and educated in Turkey, would proba-
| bly, have been Massulman but, sir, as was
born and educated in Christian country,
entertain the tenets Of the Christian faith
| What allowances are or have been made for
the difference Of soil and climate, education
and habits 1t setms to me that there ought
10 be little charity extcLded for different
! opinions, different feelings, ard different pre-
judices. Entering upon this discussion with
that feeling. if l should say anything that
CRATES hastily upon any gentlcmans prejudiccs
! ii will be unntentionaI, and not designed,
Mr.. Chairman, before proceeding to the
discussion of the main question l desire TO
consider, wish to address remark or two
| TO the speech of the gentleman from Indiana,
| Mr.. ENGLISH. Yesterday that gentleman
spent solid hour in attempting to show that
/ the Republican party was in favor of social
and political equality between the negro and
| white man-yts, sir. solid hour. Iu the
State of Ohio, and in all of the Northwest, if
| the gentleman will poll the Republican party,
he viii not 6ud one III every thousand who is in
| favor OF extending equal SOCIAL and political
| privileges to the negIces. In the ConsIltu-
| tional Convention of his own State, and in
| the Constitutional Convention of my State,
the question Of extending equal political priv
| iegcs to the blacks was presented, discussed,
and decided, and in neither of them did it find
advocates worthy Of the name, and as re-
jccted by almost unanimous vote. 1t is true
that the Democracy Of the Northwest are
very hard pressed. The gentleman from In
diana will not undertake to argHe i'll favor OF
| the principles Of the Democratic party, and
say that the Constitution carries slavery into
all of the Territories. lie will argue in iaror
OF no such thing, here or anywhere else, when
he can possibly avoid.
What, then. is TO be done? Capital must
he got up for the campaign in Indiana and
the Northwest, and the only capital upon
which they can 60 to the people, and hope for
success, is by app aing 10 The popular prejudice
against negroes. That is the whole story, all
there is of il. or about it. There is no man,
to ny knowledge, in the Republican party, i'll
either State, who is in favor of the extension
of equal political and social privileges
to negroes. The gentleman seems, how
ever, to insist upon it, that because the Con
stiuticn OF the State of Indiana has not only
dsirancliiscd negroes, but excludes these from
the State, and deprived them Of The means OF
subsistence, that every man who stops short
Of that limit is in favor OF negro equality
Now, while 1 do not approve Of the doctrine
of negro equality, | am not one who believes
that negroes are beasts, or men who ought to
be considered as outlaws in every country.
believe a negro is entitled to live upon the
soil where he was born. believe he has
right to the proceeds Of his labor, to his earn
! ings, and to his liberty. That is my opinion;
but do not choose to make him my equal So
cially and politically because l do 50 believe.
And l cannot very well comprehend the feel
| ings which prompt men to wage war upon
a poor, down n-trodden, helpless portion Of the
community.
| There seems to be some terrible apprehen-
sion, that if mere political rights, or any
| rights whatever, are extended to negroes they
may come into competition with the whtes.-
| Is the gentleman from Indiana Mr.. ENGLISH
distressed with the apprehension that some
negro may be candidate for Congress in the
New Albany district, and run in opposition TO
him? ak the gentleman why this incessant
warfare is waged upon negroes; why they
are treated as outlaws. unless it is that some
portion of the population is Jealous that ne
groes may wage successful competition with
them may unsurp their places, and occupy
positions which they like to enjoy themselves ?
| Now, as | do not believe there is the least
danger of any black or mulatto superscding
me in my position here, or of obtaining
any office in the district l represent as l
have no apprehension whatever of anything of
that kind, entertain no jealously Of them
and no hatred towards them. All this talk
is an appeal to that low, vulgar, popular pre-
| judice which wages against the negroes,
because the lowest man in society is himself
anxious to find some one lower than himself,
upon whom he can look down and domineer
over and treat as an inferior That is the pre-
judice appealed to, and it constitutes the stock
in trade of the Democrats of the Northwest
But let that pass. Mr.. Chairman, | rose
mainly for the purpose of replying TO an ar
gument delivered early in the session by the
gentleman from Alabama, Mr.. CURRY,] who
! l am sorry to see, is not present. He present
ed the question before the people in states
manlike manner and the argument. therefore,
demands careful and courteous reply. The
gentleman from Alabama sets out with the
allegation that the great question which un-
derlies the party politics of the present day is
the question of the right of man to hold prop
erty in man, he affirming that proposition. l
understood him to state it as general propo-
sition, in philosophy and in morals, not con-
, nncfpn with f.viStinn inStit l,ut ne a