Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-12-28
The Tim e -.
BELLOWS FALLS. DEC. 21, 1860
SPEECH OF
Mr. w ade, of Ohio.

/ lc.
He had been unable TO ascertain from the
secession leaders what were the real causes
of complaint They did not agree on this
essential point. He then reviewed the is
sues of the late canvass and the deceptions
practiced on the people of the South by the
politicians as 10 the principles and intentions
of the republican party, and introduced the
recent speeches of Douglas, Fitch and
Pugh very effectively to disprove the slam
ders upon the repebulicans. Mr.. Wade
said:-
"The liberty bills have been made, not
with view to degrade the South, but with
an honest view to guard the rights of their
own citizens from unlawful search and seiz
ure. l was exceedingly glad to hear sena-
tors on the other side say that the repeal
Of these bills will not relieve the case from
difficulties; and have heard it everywhere
that the people of the free states are un-
faithful in executing the Fugitive slave law.
1t has been said, under speh circumstances
here, that, although l was sare as 10 my
own state, yet | could not believe word of
what they were saying. | never did and
never could, until our enemies here rise in
their places and, with a magnanimity /
commend, have all said this was not so.
My colleague, (Mr. Pugh,) with a magma
nimity for which ] give him my thanks, has
stood forth to testify that in the state | in
part represent, republican judges, courts
and juries, have fulfilled this repulsive du-
ty with perfect faithfulness, and SO said the
senator from Illinois, (Douglas) and so ]
understood the senator from Indiana Mr..
Fitch,) 10 have said. Therefore, this ca
lamity is removed from us, so far as the
statements of our political enemies can do
it. l know our courts feel themselves
bound to administer the laws just as they
find them. Let me say to gentlemen of the
Senate on the other side. where you Rave
lost one slave by the unfailhfulness of leg
islative tribunals, we have had ten men
murdered by your m1bs against law. /
cannot take up a southern paper but read
of men who travel for business, but you
wait upon them by some committee and tell
them to return. And what is the cause
Why, Sir, you come to Ohio, and they don't
enquire what party you belong to. Many
of these acts have been done under circum-
stances that would disgrace savage. We
haye no security in travelling nearly one
half of this confederacy-especially the
Gulf states. | don't care what mans
character may be, and if he never violated
any law under heaven but if he comes
from the North, and especially if he has
exercised his political rights and voted for
Lincoln instead of somebody else, it is an
offense punishable by indignity, by stripes,
and by death. And you, whose constitu-
ents are guilty of all these thiEgs, can
stand up and accuse US of being unfaithful
to the constitution of the land | make
the assertion here, that do not believe in
the history Of the world there ever was a
nation or people where a law so repugnant
tp the general feeling was eyer excepted
with the same faithfulness as has been this
most repugnant fugitive slave law. You
have lay in South Carolina by which
you take the free citizens of Massacndseits
or any other maritime state, and lock them
up in Jail under a penalty. If the poor
man connot pay the Jail fees, eternal sla-
very stares him in the face. 1t is mon
strous lay, revolving TO the best feelings of
humanity, and in conflict with the constitu-
ton of the United States. | don't say this
by way of recrimination. l know the ex-
element pervading the. country, and | do
not wish to add single coal to the fame.
Nevertheless, wish the whole truth to ap-
pear. Then, what is it? You have the
whole legislation of the country; you own
the cabinet and the Senate, and 1 may add
you own the president of the United Statas,
as much as you own the servants on your
own plantations. But / can't see why
southern men rise PIP and complain of the
action of the government. have already |
shown it is impossible to point out any acts
of which the republican party have been
guilty of which you can complain. There /
fore, understand that senators who justify
the overthrow Of this government, who
would break it up and resolve it into the
original elements, do i on mere suspicion
that the republican party may some how
effect their rights. Now, what doctrines do
we hold detrimental to yous Are we the
settlers forth Of any new doctrine under the
constitution? / tell you, nay. There is
no prineiple Eeld to-day by the great re-
publican party that has pot had the sane .
of your government for more than seventy
years. You have changed yopr opinion |
we stand where We used TO stand. We !
stand on the slavery question in the place {
,ormerly occupied by ihe reyered Statesmen q
IF this nation, every one of them, Wash (
1sion, jefferson, Monroe. Adams, jackson n
lnd Polk inclusive. And that revered 4