Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-06-01
REPUBLICA MEETING AT
ST. LOUIS.
SPEECH OF HON. +. p. BLAIR, JR

A Republican ratification meeting was held at
St. Louis on the ed inst, at which the Hon. F. P.
Blair Jr., delivered an eloquent speech. Speakin nc
Of the Chicago nominations, he said:
1t is peculiarly appropriate, then, that in deny
ing us our first choice for President of the United
State-the great Misseurian-the Convention gave
us q man born in slave State. He has shown you,
my friends. by his personal history what the free
principles of free state can do for the humblest
of men, for he has rsen--as all those conversant
with the history and incidents of his early life are
aware-without education, commonly so called,
and by his own native talent and energy he has
attained an elevation to which thousands who pos
sess the greatest possible facilities will aspire in
vain. There is no man within the sound of my
voice that does not see and confess that the Re
publican party, in giving their glorious standard
to such a man as Abram Lincoln, demonstrate that
their hearts with the people.
The party which has taken for its standard-bearer
a man who was born in the West, lives in the West
and is in every way identified with the development
and progress of the great Western country, has
shown that the important interests of the Union,
the interests of the people, the interests OF the
freemen, eyerywhere-are facts not TO be overlook
ed They intend to typify, in this nomination,
that they take for President, man born in n
slave State, a of the soil of Kentucky, but
who has taken up his abode in free State-they
intend to typify that they will stretch out their
hands to those in the humblest walks of life, and
raise them up, if fonnd worthy of advancement.
Ny friends, the Republicans of Missouri do not
ask that their great party standard shall be lower
cd in any respect but that it shall be advanced TO
the very highest pinnacle to which the fathers of
this Republic designed it should be raised. 1 de-
sire to show for a few moments that the Republi-
cans of Missouri, although they may be disap-
pointed in the nomination made at Chicago-al-
though they may be disappointed in the selection
of the man-will not lag behind, but will place
themselves as an advance guard, and march on To
victory next November. (Applausc.) We do not
consider, although we may love our first choice
much, although our admiration may 60 out to-
wards that great man, when our principles call
upon US, that we have any less duty to perform,
and we cheerfully and with one accord, follow the
chosen standard-bearer Of the Republican Party.
We have inherited our principles from the found
ers Of the Republic and desire to see inscribed
upon our standard that great sentiment Of great
man, when he sald II trust the time will come
when this nation will be a confederacy of Free
States Abram Lincoln has re-echoed that sentl-
menJ in his great debate in Illinois last year,
when he defeated the Little Giant by the popu.
lar vote of the State, but cheated out Of his
election. Abram Lincoln had five thousand ma
iority over tho Little Giant but was delrauded
out Of his election-defrauded by unjust APP
portionment. which gave to the minority of the
people Of Illinois the power justly belonging to
the majority.
| tell you, my friends, when came down from
Chicago the prairies were on fire fer Lincoln, Zap
plause,) and the people crowded around every
station where the iron horse stopped to take
breath, and gave indication Of their joyfulness at
the nomination of Lincoln and their confidence Of
his success in November next.
In entering upon the canvass Of lsGO we do SO
with buoyant hopes In holding the first ratifca-
ton meeting in favor Of the nomination Of the Re
publican party in a slave State We take the lead
Of host # freemen throughout the Union. We
have infinitely more at stake In this contest than
the people Of any other State. This you will al
nit. We, being in Missouri, have a mission be-
fore US, not only to prevent the extension Of say-
cry in the territories Of the United states, but
have to enfranchise Missouri. (Applause and
cries of 'We'll do it, too-) People may deny
our right to interfere with the domestic lnsutu-
tions Of neighboring States but as citizens Of
the State Of Missouri none can deny our right to
consider among ourselves that which is best to our
own prosperity. prolonged applause.)
l desire briefly to call your attention to the re-
suits Of the institution Of slavery in Missouri
The first and most papable result is that the slave
owners hate the non-slavehoders, (cries Of That
so, and are every day attempting TO disfran-
chise them. Look at your own city Of st. Louis;
what is the number Of Representatives you send
to the State Legislature? The population of the
city and county Of 81. Louis entities her TO twenty
four representatives. while the number under the
constit alton Of Missouri is but twelve. Why Is
this, why is it that il takes tive white men in this
county 70 equal one white man in another county
They who framed that state constitution did it to
suit the slave oligaTchy, and not with a view %
giving to the dense masses Of ireemen voice II
the government Of affairs. In ether slave states,
where the slave oligarchy Is stronger than we
have permitted it to become here, il Is worse.
1t requires seven or eight white men in the city
Of Baltimore TO equal one white man outside Of
it In Virginia, it takes 90 900 in one place TO
equal 10000 the eastern shore Of that state in
the Legislature. 1t is always so wherever you
find an oligarchy, such as that under which Mis-
souri, now groans, but from which she is ultimate
ly destined to free herself. The frecmcn If our
state must look well 10 their rights II the OK
isteuce of 100000 slaves Is sufficient to deprive
100 900 free people Of their constitutional rights,
what. may | ask. will be their next step in the
great drama May We not ask, with great de-
gree Of canior, whittier we are drifting Nay
we not reasonably expect that the example Of
Mexico will be followed, and that the onslaving
Of white men will be resorted to-
There Is another point which / desire o. make.
II is this. That the existence of the institution Of
slavery in Missouri tends TO lessen the value Of
your landed property to very great extent. 1
believe if YOU will compare the assessed value Of
land in any free state with the value oflaud in
any slave state il viii be found that the excess Of
value in the former will more than equal the worth
Of the negroes in the latter. Those gentlemen
who talk about the right Of property being SO
sacred and who parade so much about the i-Lt
of speech hold their slave property sacred that
whilst they may discuss any subject Of philosophy
or history as exemplifod in the heavens above or
earth beneath, there is one grand subject on
which men are not allowed 10 the slave states 70
speak above their breath. Thank God there is no
such state Of things-n0 such system I might say
in Missouri We have at least achieved our
right TO free speech (Applause) There was
time when it attempted to trample under
foot these rights; but, my friends, that time has
passed by. 1t is no more. But it was not because
the slave oligarchy did not want TO deprive us
of this right; it was because they dare not do it.
/ 4 \