The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-02-08


that the Federal Government should exer.
else no power, directly or indirectly, TO con-
troll, form, or otherwise Influence the domes-
tic institutions of the States or Territories.
Mr.. Fessendep. That is only squatter
bovereieniy--the Senator's favorite doctrine.
No one ever pretended that the Governmen Mt
could interfere with the institutions OF the
-Ststes.. He controverted the idea that di.
versity OF institutions was essential to the
general prosperity of country, and asserted
to the fullest extent that the Government
could not interfere with the institutions of
the States. Any charge that the RepubI,
cans favored this charge is unfounded. He
asked II the Senator from Illinois had said
that the Republicans not only wanted TO re-
press the extension Of slavery, but also to
make war on slavery as it existed in the
States.
Mr.. Douglas. did.
MFR. Fessenden. deny it. It could not
be found in the party creed. The Republi
can party had been formed to prevent the
introduction of slavery into free Territories.
He denied the right OF Southern men to take
slavery into a Territory, unless the law there
recognized slavery. He hated and loathed
slavery, but did not hate Shareholders. The
OOJtCt VI Nlit NOIlutEH ItInUtEslS w Us W III
flame the South against all but themselves,
SO as 10 get into political power. He was
opposed to slavery in the abstract, but did
not wish to interfere with it where it existed.
When it was CHARGED that the Republicans
were warning on the South, it should be re-
collected that they held the doctrines Of the
fathers of the Republic. The Senator from
Virginia had admitted that the views OF
Southern men on slavery ere not now what
they were.
Mr.. Mason said the Scuth, after a full
consideration and experience, had arrived at
the conclusion that slavery ennobled both
races. The early fathers were not Aboli
tionists. They did not think it practicable or
expedient to abolish slavery. They thought
that by cutting eff the slave trade, slavery
would die out of itself The ordinance OF
1887 was aimed at the slave trade. They
thought that by reducing the urea where
slavery could be used the slave tr0de would
be stopped.
Mr.. Fessenden said the Senator had ad-
mitted ell he desired. The early men OF
this nation thought that by restricting H. the
institution of slavery would die out. They
vented il to die. That is the position of the
Republican party. The Senator from Hi
nois was Indifferent whether slavery was eX
tended or not. Born in free State, he pre-
ferred free institutions. That was the WhoIe
offence Of the Republican party. We have
been further told that if we elect man Of
cur vews, regularly, end in a constitutional
form, to the Presidency, the UDicn will be
dissolved. While the Senator from Illinois
is deVising means to repress the invasion Of
Dot b,,o l. ;rbt h. l..
ed "a provision fer tie threatened Coatlngen.
cy.
Mr.. Douglas said lie had introduced his
resolution because Ihe occasion called for 1t.
1t is not necessary TO put in clause for the
contingency referred to, as it was an event
net within the probabilities.
Mr. Fe:senden said the Senator had great
confidence in his own powers it was quite
likely he bad higher opinion Of them than
any one else. II was singular that they
were orst5ntly threatened with what would
be done in case of cert in event which is
rot likely to occur. The inference he drew
was, that the gentlemen on the other side
were quite 0pprehersivA on the subjoct.-
This talk of n dissolution was disease
which apperred every four years. The peo
pie of tho free Gtutvs don't csre hbout it
For kimself, If the election of President in
the constitutional mode was to cou>e dis.
solution OF the Union, the sooner the ques,
tion is settled the better.
Mr.. Doug as said some men could not con-
ceive Of action flowing from patriotic mo-
tives. He he'd brought in bis resolution be.
cause he thought the time hcd arrived for
practical legislation. He hcd referred 10
the causes which had produced the outrage
and pointed cut that they still existed. IT.
the Senators on the other side would vote
for such till's he proposed, he would think
avery greet chfnge lad occurred. When
they agreed to make Conspir, cies to run eff
fugitive slaves felony, he would thirk they
he'd indeed charged. In the towns ard
cities Of the Norh, where the Republicans
had majority, the fugitive slave law coud
not be executed. Could it be executed in
the town where the Senator from New York
lived ? Did they recoIIect the Jerry rescue!
Mr. Fessenden said he would 90 rs far as
ery one to prevent conspiracy in one State
TO iBvede another. He could not sly what
he would do in regard to running of fugi-
tives. He would meet that question when
1t arose.
Mr.. Douglas. Why not punish the run
ming eff OF slaves as well IS the running off
of horses ! The impunity with which the
crime OF running offslaves can be perpetrated
keeps up the irritation. When it was made
peDtentiGry offence to cons pre against
property in arolher State then we would
get at the root Of the evil. The Republi.
cans were no doubt rendy to vote for a law
fair in its terms but not calculated to be
efficient in its operation. 1t was only ne
cessary to refer to the Philadelphia platform
to show the hostility OIL Republican party,
where slavery and polygsmv are classed TO,
gether ss twin relics of barbarism, and the
polygamst and stakeholder are placed in the
came category. He saw that the Republi
cans were lowering their neg. II be could
attribute it TO q good motive, he would be
glad Of it. Those living ferthest from the
negro, and knowing the least about him,
were the most solicitous for tho poor slave.
In the Southern portiors of the free States
which border on the slave States you find
o good feeling existing amorg the inhabt
ants towards the domestic institutions Of their
neigEbcrs, because they know what the con-
dition of the slave is, and in proportion as
you go North the feeling against slavery in.
.creases.
Mr.. Douglas then again REQUIRED to Mr.
Stewards speech to show that his interpreta-
ton Of it was correct, and that he (Mr. Sew.
ard) maintained the doctrine that the Union
could not exist half free and half slave. The
object of the Republicans was to hem in
slavery in order to smother it out or starve
81 A. Ann thn -, A