Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-08-30
Hon. Daniel 8. Dickinson.

once sectional in his views on the
slavery question, and that bis friends
ought nos, therefore, 10 be SO intoler-
ant toward others, who only held on
to their heresy little longer. 1t
is rather too soon yet to charge the
ex-senator with frsesoilism. Most
reading mcn have too vivid a recol.
lection Of events which have but just
passed away. Daniel s. Dickinson n
treesoiler' a sectional agitator! This
trick cant win. 1t is too soon to
pervert history by garbled extracts
of political speeches. The remem-
brance Of the events and tho mon Of
1S4S, is still too fresh 10 succeed ip
bringing down the noble old Ssna.
tor from New York to the level Of
his opponents on this subject, and
We, therefore, have not deemed it
worth while heretofore to look up
the documents in order to correct
this Justification Of history.
The extract from Dickinson's
speech was first brought forward BY
that talented political wag, John
Van Buren, who took care to read
only as much as suited the occasion.
He knew be was perverting history,
and that the very speech from which
this extract was taken, was particu.
Iarly hateful at the time it was de-
livered. to the whole fIeesoil faction.
All intelligent men South under
stood how the contest stood North.
The people of,be free States are op-
posd to slavery. 1t is written i'll
their State Constitutions and in all
their legal codes; and it bas been a
common mode Of assailing those who
have stood up for the constitutional
rights ef the South in that region, to
represent them as advocating slavery
or slavery extension. This would, Of
course, present them in direct antsg-
onism to the sentiment Of the lrse
States, and break down their 10.
ifluence. Hence it has been com
mon With the national democrats o.
the North, when defending the con
stitutional rights of the South before
their own people, to repel in str ong
terms the charge that they were th'
advocates Of slavery extension.
We of the South all understand
J that. We don't ask the people o
1.-THE free States to adopt the opinions
Of the South on the subject Of slave
~. 1t would be absurd to MAKE
: such demand. All We ask Of then
3 is to observe the obligations Of tb'
. Constitution and the equality Of tn
: rights Of the States, and cease thei
!. fratricidal warfare upon the Soutl
t Oh account Of slavery. All We aske'
. in 1S4s WAS, that they would no
!. legislate on the subject Of slavery t.
4 establish or prohibit it in the Terrific
: ries, and that they would legislat
as the Constitution required as t
fugitive slaves.
Now, how stood Dickinson on til
whole subject as soon as the issu
WAS made? He stood up bravery t
his national duty throughout. Tha
very speech, made at Rome, iron
which this extract was taker
was intended TO show the author
position against the Wilmot prousc
He repudisted it, and advocate
leaving the question to the people q
the territories when they came 1
form State Constitutions. He advo
Gated the ground Of the South, en-
denounced all assaults upon til
Southern States. II is said that fig
\ ures will not lie; SO neither will fact
:, lie; but men can lie awfully vii,
: facts and figures, and this extrac
b from the Rome speech of Dickinso
9 is base libel as it is employed.
Q grossly misrepresents him.
A similar effort vas made by th
9 wings to garbls speech made b.
Q franklin Pierce. He made an I'D
t dress to sustain the compromise an
= fugitive slave law; and An abolition
: reporter took out a few sentences
b put them in his own words, and the.
}, we're sent south during the canvas
Q for President. to prove the autho
I an abolitionist. The effort is no,
:. to make out by this extract that Dick
Q inson vas precisely what the YER.
!; purpose and tenor Of the speecl
shows be was no..
All attempts to disparage the OK
r Senator are disereditable ashley ar
idle. We all remember Daniel S
Il n;oL;.,oon Tho fnlka in Nav Vart