The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-12-28
Political.
The Issue Making UD.-Speech of Senator
Wade of Ohio.

The Senate was densely packed on Mon
day, and the speech of the republican senator
from Ohio. was listened to with profound in
terest. 1t had been pre-announced and was
understood to be, as in the main it undoubt-
edly is. declaration of the stand to be ia
ken by the republican members of Congress
generally. and more especially 10y the West
ern members. Its tone is kind and fraternal,
but it declares against concession and COM
promise and is decidedly for observing the
constitution as it is. ard maintaining the Un-
ion as ii is. The delegations of several of
tte republican states had previously taken
this ground in their caucuseS, and the party
is likely to be near v unanimous in it. Some
of the Southern Union men expressed great
dissatisfaction with Mr. Wade's speech and
declared that It would precipi,a,e secession
and drive the more moderate states into the
arms Of the disunionists, and some even pre-
dicted civil war in sixty days. But several
of the Southern members agreed with the
great body of those from the North. that
while there were some unpleasant peculari
ties in MIR Wadc's sty le,as awhole his speech
was emincntly conservative. strictly within
the constitution, and exactly such speech as
the times demand Mr. Wigfall of Texas
cOmplimented Mr. Wade at its close on his
sincerity and boidness.hut said nothing could
save the Union unless the republicans would
give up free speech and free printing on the
slavery question.
Mr. Wade represents the real feeling of the
people Of the North. and it is best that this
feeling should be honestly and boldly utter
ed. and any temporary excitement it may
cause will be more than counterbalanccd by
tie advantage of fair understanding be-
tween the North and the South. Nothing
vii! be gained in the end by dtludng the
South with the expectation of new concess-
ions that can never be made. The republi-
can policy will be to make no war unon the
seeding states, to reject all propositions for
accession. to hold them to the discharge of
their constitutional duties, to collect the rev
enueS as usual in Southern ports, ard calmly
await The result. There can be no war unless
the seceders make war upon the general gov
crnment.
Mr. Wade commenced his speech by depre-
eating the present excitement as unreasona-
bic. He had been unable to ascertain from
the ceSsion leaders hat were the real eau
ses of complaint They did not a.ree on
this essential point. lie then reviewed the
issues of TIE la:c canvass and the deoep,ons
practiced W IN the people of the South by
thc politicians as to the principles ard inten
rions Of TIE republican party, ard introduced
,hc r,cent speeches OF Douglas. Fitch ans.
Push very effectively to dsInove the SANDERS
Upon the republicans. 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 seizure.
was exceedingly glad to hear senators Oh the
other side say that the repeal Of these bills
will not ,.leve the case trom It's difficulties ;
and have Ecart! it everywhere that the peo
pie Of the free states al; U!itathtul in execu
ting the fugitive slave law. 1t has been said
under such circumstances c.that, although
| vas sure as to mv own state, We. could
not believe q word of what they were say :ng
| never did and never could, until our enc
mics here rise in their places and, with a
magnarimi,y | commend, have all said that
this was not So My colleague, (Mr Pugh)
with a mag ;ti.imtv for which give hin! NY
thanks. has stood forth to testify that in the
state in part represent, republican ju! yes.
courts and iurics have fulfilled this repulsive
duty with perfect faithtulness,and so sad the
senator from Illinois, (Douglas) and SO un-
GerStood the senator from lndiana( MIR Fitch
to have said. Therefore. this calumny is re
moved from u.s. so far as the statements Of
our political enemies can do it. know our
4 y ,,,
the laws Just as they find them. Let me say
to gentlemen of the Senate on the other side
!, where you have lost one slave by the unfaith-
tu!ness of Legislative tribunals. We have had
ten men murdered by your mobs agains; law.
cannot take up a Southern paper but | read
of men VINO travel for business, but YOU wal,
upon them by some committee and tell them
to return. And what is the cause Whv.
sir. yon come to Ohio.and they don't enquire
what party YOU belong 70. Many of th st
acts have been done under circumstances that
= would disgrace a savage. We have no sec,!-
: rity in travelling ntarl Y one half of this con-
tederacy especially the Gulf States. | don;
, care what mans character may be. ard if
tie never violated any law under heaven. but
he comes from the N"rth.and especially if he
| has exercised his political rights and voted
) tor Lincoln instead of somebody else it is an
/ oiiense punishable by indignity. by stripes
: and b. death. And you whose constituents
ale guilt, of all these things, can stand ~
and accuse US OF being unfathtu to the con
: S,itution Of the land make the assertion
here, hat Go not believe in the history of
the world there ever was a nation or peo-
4 ,,tn Eara l.,v 70 ho r,l
feeling was ever executed with the same faith
t inlness as has been this NEST repugnant fugi-
tive slave law. You have law in South
Carolina by which You take the tree citizens
Of Massachusetts, or any other maratmt
Z state, aud lock them up in Jail under pen
atty. If the POOR man cannot pay the jail
r ices, eternal slavery stares him in the face
\ 1t is monstrous law, revolving to the hes,
i feelings of humanity, and in conflict with tht
r constitution of the United States. DOR,
i say this by way of recrimination. know
L the excitement peryading the country, and
e do not wish to add single coal to the fame
|, Nevertheless, wish the whole truth to ap
t pear. Then, what is it You have the whole
J. legislation Of the country; you own the Cab
d met and the Senate, and may add you owl
d the president Of the United States. as mucl
It as you own the servants on your own planta
;. tons. But cant see why Southern mer
t. rise up and complain of the action OF th
Il government. have already shown it is i'm
r possible to point out any acts of which th'
f republican party have been guilty of which
It YOU can complain. Therefore l understand
IS that senators who justify the overthrow of
d this government who would break it up an,
> resolve it into its original elements, do it cl
d mere suspicion that the republican part
J. may somehow affect their rights. Now,wha