The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-09-14

HIS SPEECH ON THE ROBERTSON RES.
OLUTIONS.
WAS IT AN ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH SLAVERY
IN MINNESOTA?

IN MINNESOTA?
We present below an extract from aspeech
delivered at Mantorville, by Hon. Amos
CoGGswELL, to large and enthusiastic
Democratic meeting. The portion Of his
speech we copy Qrom the Dodge County
DemoeraD is devoted to a consideration OF
the resolutions introduced into the House of
Representatives last winter, by Col. Rob-
ERTsON:
now pass to my vote on the Robertson
resolutions, and to the charge made against
me, that that vote was for the establish
ment of slavery in Minnesota. And here,
again, say that this is grave charge,
and if true should consign me to the grave
of political infamy; but if untrue should
brand my accusers as falsitiers and base ca
lumniators.
By reference to that resolution, it will be
noticed that it contains distinct declarations
or sentiments. The first is:
"That ,c the representatives Of the people, pledge to
oar countryes Of the South soho may desire to visit
Minnesota an observance at all times Of every right Of
honorable hospitality"
Surely that sentiment is a beautiful one,
breathing the breath of fraternal love, and
lighting up the fires of concord, which
burned upon the affairs of our fathers in the
days of the Revolution. can observance
at all times, of every right of honorable hos
pitalty." Surely there is no establishment
of slavery in Minnesota contained in that
sentiment-there is no violation of any
creed save the creed of the Tory of the Rev.
olution, the creed of the Hartford Conven-
ton traitor of the war of 1912, or the creed
of the Abolitionist, standing upon his pet
doctrine that the confederation of American
States is compact with hell and an agree
ment with death.
Yet, Notwithstanding this, fifty-one Re-
publican members of the House of Repre-
sentatives said by their votes, when they
might have said otherwise, by calling for
division of the question, that although you
of the South are our brethren, and equally
interested with US in the perpetuity of all
that is great and glorious-t although in
the same common pool and upon the same
common battlefield, the blood of your ia
theirs mingled with the blood of our fathers,
yet we will deny to you what would not be
denied by Hottentot or a Moor-we will
deny to you "the rights of honorable hospi-
tality."
Thank God was not of that fifty-one
The next sentiment contained in the res
olution is equally as beautiful. 1t is this:
Of May and the 18th af October Of each gear, bor
ders sou be open to receive them and their families as
guests and seourners."
As soon as the sentiment was read by the
clerk, the thought flashed across my brain,
that the golden opportunity had now arrived
to disprove the charges so frequently made
against the Republican party, with being
the party of petty revenges and f-atercidal
jealousies, the party that regarded the slave.
holder as the embodiment of all unholiness,
and horrid and CHASTITY object of social
depravity. That golden opportunity had
come, when they could have demonstrated
by their votes that they were the great con.
sentative party of the Union, standing
where Washington stood when he urged, in
holy words, the people of one section to
cultivate friendship and friendly feelings
with the people of all other sections stand.
ing where jackson stood, when he said,
"the foundations of this Union must be laid
in the affections of the people, and in the
fraternal attachments which the citizens of
the several States bear to one another, as
members of one political family, mutually
contributing to promote the happiness Of
each other"
But instead of improving that moment to
vindicate their claims of being a great and
glorious party, bearing in their bosom feel
ings OF love tor all sections of the country,
they improved it only for the purpose of
concusively showing that they we're the
marrow Quilted party" standing upon the
Pharisaical idea, 81 am better and holier
than thou art"
Thank God, l am not of that fifty-one,
who said by their votes, that when sickness,
disease, and death shall be thinning the ranks
OF those whose fathers went hand in hand
wife my fathers, enduring common dangers
and common suffering in behalf of Liberty
and Freedom, we will deny them a place of
refuge, and place of rest among US. = l
belong to no such heartless, bigoted sectional
party.
The next sentiment contained in that res
olution is akin to the former ones, and
equally as patriotic and generous. 1t is
this: "And to protect them in the right
OF possession to their family servants, bond
and Free"
When the Declaration of Independence
was proclaimed to the world, slavery was
tolerated in all the thirteen colonies. In
some, there were few; in others, there
were many. Notwithstanding this, the
best of feeling prevailed, and no one was to
be found rising up and reproaching their
fellow colonists with being shareholders.
There was no Charles Sumner there, to
appear in the councils of the nation, and to
array the North against the South, by cry
ing out slavery is the sum of all vilanies."
There was no Owen Lovejoy then to arise
in the Continental Congress, and denounce
the inhabitants of the Carolinas and Vir-
ginia as the greatest criminals upon earth.
No; no such agitators were petted and
caressed then, but all such received the
stamp of public odium and public execra.
ton. ...l ......-
Then all was amity. concord, generous
hospitality. Pennsylvania, then having the
largest voice in the councils of the nation.
and guided by such men as Robert Morris.
Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Rush, and
George Cymer, nobly came forward and
set an example for her sister States. Know.