Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1860-08-24
SPEECH
HON. ISAAC HiELEHURST.
Delivered at Reading, Aug. 6, 1860.

Delivered at Reading, Aug. 6, 1860.
Mr.. Il. said he felt highly f1ttered BY the
invitation extended to him by the committee, to
meet the independent electors of Berks county,
at this their first muster for the coming poIti-
cal struggle. He vas a member Of the Peo-
ple's party of Pennsylvania. As member of
that organization he had been interested 10 the
success of distinguished Senator of this State
before the Chicago Convention. de did not
conceal his wishes. He was active IN giving
them broad aud general circulation. He did
so, for the simple reason that Senator Came
ron in all bis public acts, had been faithful to
the Union aud the Constitution, and had ex-
hibited aud maintained that rare virtue of ab-
solute fidelity 10 the interests of his native
State During bis whole political life, that
Senator had been consistent in his desire to
develop the resources of Pennsylvania, by a
fair and inst protection TO American manual
labor The united acton of this State in his
favor, while it failed to accomplish what her
people desired, established the fact that the
Commonwealth of his birth was not ungrateful
whom her delegated power was cast 10 his be-
half. But, said Mr. H., individual preference
gave way when the great question is presented
preserved and maintained, aud when the very
case has arisen that the government is no
longer safe in the bands to which it had been
entrusted. 1t is With the people, and with the
people alone, that tho right exists to correct
existing abuses-no delegated power can do it,.
The appeal then is directly to the people e. not
TO party nor to partisans, not to professional
politicians, nor to those who have interest in
Office and place greater than their stake in the
country, but 20 the people and the whole poo
pie: aud to those who, IN regard 10 political
affairs, have wish for good government,
and who have power 20 accomplish their own
wishes.
When, therefore, the Peoples party ratify
tonight the action of their representatives
recently assembled in the metropolis of the
west, they do so in the hope that wise and
generous counses will prevail, aud that in The
change Of rulers now required, car beloved re-
public may be administered In the honest spirit
Of its early founders
Mr. Ii. said he appeared before the meeting
to advocate no new doctrines, to declare no
new principles. la 1874 he had spoken ia
that county for tie father of the American
system, and be was now ready again to do bat
tie against that enemy who had traduced and
defrauded hun; and, said Dir. a., most hearth
ly do l cooperate with my fellow countrymen
IN the enGeayor to elevate that distinguished
American citizen who, at tue same tune, and
under the same circumstances, on every prairie
in Illinois, raised his voice to vindicate the
character and policy of Henry Clay. Honor
TO Abraham Lincoln for his devotion to Henry
Clay, and for his unwayering fidelity TO the
policy of 'EProtection to our Domestic Indus
tryn'
While, said Mr.. d., | am ready to aeknow>
ledge that the great local advantages of the
position Of this city, such as the magnificent
river before US, and the fertility of the sur
rounding country, may be considered as The
original spring OF Its prosperity STILL all will
acknowledge that this current of prosperity
has been put to motion by the desire TO de-
velo2 The domestic industry of The county,
To my mind nc man can stand III the midst of
such scene as is now presented in this valley
without feeling keenly tee great Importance Of
this policy which We advocate, and which our
opponents despise. 1t has built your railway
to the coal-pits-it has united you with The
Hudson. Over your canals float treasures in
Vulnerable. Foundries, iorges, and steam
engines have sprung up along the line of your
bill sides of the mountains around us, while all
that is wanting to make our people happy, is
to strengthen the spring that moves the in
dustry of the country. The question of the
degree of protection is not of as much impor-
taDce as the preservation of the principle, and
that is practical question. Labor, more than
any thing else, enters into production, and la
Dor must vindicate its sovereignty. l speak
i r 1 III
Look at your epresenat;yes-have your eye
upon the Capital. Be not deceived by party
means-look to your votes.
But we are for excluding slavery from the
Territories.
IL this, also, said Mr.. H., Mr.. Lincoln pre-
sents DO new doctrine, and urges no new prin-
cple. The case has been thus stated in its bisto-
rical and constitutional aspect, by The late Wing
statesman. The argument still lives
The Constitution of the United States was
adopted in 1888, and went into operation in
1889. At the time of its adoption the state
of the country was thus slavery existed in
the southern States There was q very large
extent of uu-occupied territory (which was
understood was destined to be formed into
States and it was then determined that no
slavery should exist in this territory. The
motives which prompted the north to recognize
the existence of slavery in the southern States,
aud to give representative to those States,
founded iu part upon their slaves, rested on the
supposition that no new slave States were to
BE- acquired on the southern frontier, and slave
y was to be excluded from the northwestern
territory.
Not oEiy does this clearly appear from the
debates and history of the times, but as ba-
SIS OF consideration the south insisted that
where slavery existed it should not be inter-
fered with.