Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-03-23

That is tho first thing that can be done
slavery can be limited to its present bounds
What else?
..Ir CAN BE AMELIoRATRD. IT CAN BE A.
son1suEp, AND YOU AND / CAN AND MUST D6
IT."
There you find are two propositions: first,
slavery was to be limited to the States in
which it was then situated. It did not then
exist in any Territory. Slavery was conf
ned to the States The first proposition was
that slavery must he restricted and confined
to those States. The second was that he, as
. New Yorker, and they, the people of Ohio
must and would abolish ii; that is to say a.
bolish it in the States They could abolish
it no where else. Every appeal they make
to northern prejudice and passion, is against
the institution of slavery everywhere, and
they would not be able to retain their ADOLF
ton allies, the rank and file, unless they
held out the hope that it was the mission Of
the Republican party, if successful, to abol-
ish slavery in the States as well as in the
Territories of the Union.
And again in the same speech, the Sena-
tor from New York advised the people to
disregard constitutional obligations in these
words:
''But we must begin deeper and lower
than the composition and combination Of fac
tons or parties, where the strength and Sc
curity of slavery lie. You answer that it lies
ii the Constitution Of the United States and
the constitutions and laws Of slaveholding
States. Not at all. It is in the erroneous
sentiment of the American people. Consti-
tutions and laws can NO more rise above the
virtue of the people than the limpid stream
can climb above it's native spring. Incul-
cate the love of freedom ard the equal rights
Of man nnder the loaternaz roof; see to 1t that
they are taught IN the schools and churches;
reform your oaon eide; entemd cordial acel-
come to the fugative acho lays has ,oeary limbs
at your door aud defend him as you could
your paternaaz gods; corrett your o,cn error.
tha51slavery is a constitutional guarantee
,c1aith mag not be released, and ought not to
be relimqnished."
know they tell us that all this is to be
done according to the Constitution they
! would not violate the Constitution except so
far as the Constitution violates the law of
God-that is all-and they are to be the
Judges of how far the Constitution does vio-
late the law Of God. They say that every
clause of the Constitution that recognizes
property in slaves, is in violation of the Dr.
vine law, and hence should not lie obeyed,
and with that Interpretation Of the Con-
stitution, they turn to the South and say,
1--WE will give you all your rights under the
| ~ .1o,,, -
| Then the Senator devoted about third of
his speech to very beautiful homily on the
gluries of our Union All that he has said
all that any other man has ever said, all that
the most eloquent tongue can ever utter, in
behalf of the blessings and the advantages of
this glorious Union, I fully endorse. But
still, sir. | am prepared to say, that TIE u
MON is glorious only when the Constitution
| is preserved inviolate. He eulogized the
Union. I, too, am for the Union; indorse
the culogies; but still, what is the Union
worth, unless the Constitution is preserved
and maintained inyiolate in all its provi-
sions?
Sir, have no faith in the Union loving
sentiments of those who will not carry out
the Constitution in good faith, as our fathers
made 1t. Professions of fidelity to the Union
will be taken for naught: Unless they are ac-
companied by obedience to the Constitution
upon which the Union rests. | have right
to insist that the Constitution shall be malh-
tanned inviolate in all its parts, not only that
which suits the temper of the North, but
every clause of that Constitution, whether
you like it or dislike it. Your oath to sup
port the Constitution binds you to every Inns
word, and syllable of the instrument You
have no right to say that any given clause is
in violation of the Divine law, and that,
therefore, you will not observe it. The man
who disobeys any one clause, on the pretext
that it violates tie Divine law or on any
other pretext, violates his oath Of Office
But, sir, what a commentary is this pre-
text that the Constitution is a violation Of the
Divine law. upon those revolutionary faith
ers whose eulogies we have heard here to-
day. Did the trainers of that instrument
make Il Constitution in violation of the law
of God? 1fso, how do your consciences al
low you to take the cath Ct Office? IF the
Senator from View York still holds to his de-
claration that the clause in the Constitution
relative to fugitive slaves is a violation of
the Divine law, how dare he, as an honest
man, take an oath to support the instrument?
| Did he understand that he Yves defying the
| authority Of Heaven when he took the cath
! to support that instrument?
Thus, we see, the radical difference be-
tween the Republican party and the Demo-
cratic party, is thisj we stand by the Consti-
tuition as our fathers made it, and by the de-
cision of the constituted authorities as they
are pronounced in obedience to the Constitu-
ton. They repudiate the instrument, sub
stitute their own will for that of the consti-
tuted authorities, annul such provisions as
their fanaticism, or prejudice, or policy, may
declare to be in violation of Gods law, and
then say, ..We will protect all your rights
under the Constitution as expodnded by our
selves; but not as expoundedl by the tribu-
nal created for that purpose"
Mr.. President, I shall not occupy further
time in the discussion Of this question to-
night. did not intend to utter . word;
and I should not have uttered word upon
the subject. if the Senator from New York
had not made broad arraignment Of the
! Democratic party, and especially Of that por::
ton Of the action Of the party for which I
was most Immediately responsible. Every