The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-04-03

: not necessarily pro-slavery l hold, si
that on this question. at the present tim'
there can be no middle or neutral grounC
1t is really the only vital question in Amer
can politics 1t is the great and excitiD
subject Of discourse in all places, upon a
. occasions, among all classes. The pres,
the pulpit, and the forum, have each caugb
up the mighty theme, and are everywher
speaking to earnest and appreciative audi
ences Of the nature and tendencies of th
institution. And. sir, at such time, cal
an intelligent, thoughtful man. anywher
In this Republic, say, Il am neither fo
slavery nor against it ?" Much less cal
any man rise here, after all that has trans
plred in this Hail, and declare that lie il
neither pro-slavery nor antislavery-tha
1t Is to him matter of indifference wheth
er the institution is confined to its present
limits and doomed to speedy extinction, ol
spread over all the land and perpetuated
through all coming time.
MIR. Chairman, neutrality in this war.
fare is not possible Erc-T ----' L..
o.. .Lc Une side or the other. Every man,
to greater o. less degree, sympa,hizes
with the Republican or Democratic party.
If with the former, it is because of his anti.
slavery tendencies if with the latter, be-
cause of bis pro-slavery tendencies. Hence
| conclude that Northern Democrats on
this floor a-e pro-slavery in sentiment; for
| will not charge them with acting in oppo-
sltion to their convictions.
But, sir, have other reasons for elias.
sing them with their Southern associates
here as pro-slavery men. Their acts have
shown them to be such. How long, how
bitterly. how factiously, they opposed the
organization Of this House under anti-slave-
ry auspices. How earnestly they labored
to secure the election of pro-slavery man
to the speakership, They resisted the
election Of Mr.. SHERMAN. because of his
anti-slavery views; yet, cheerfully, persist
emily, voted for ultra pro-slavery Southern
Democrats. They set the seal of their con-
dcmnation upon all anti-slaveryism, by
opposing its advocates while they most
emphatically approved the pro.slaveryism
of their Southern brethren, by giving to its
champions a jealous and cordial support.
Sir, if the tree is to be judged by its fruits !;
if the real sentiments of men are to be
learned from their acts, the conclusion is
irresistible, that these Administration Dem
ocrats from the free States are pro-slayery
men.
But, MIR. Chairman, l 90 farther still,
and cite their own language to prove against
them the charge of pro,slaveryism. 1t will
be admitted, l presume. that if there be
any tendency to anti-slavery views among
the Democratic members Of this House, it
will be found with those adhering to the
popular-sovereignty doctrines of Mr.. DoUG-
LAS. Well, sir, what do these men say
On the 18th of December last, member
from Wisconsin Mr.. LARRABEEl said:
"If l lived in Southern Territory, among
Southern men, where slavery existed, would
own slaves myself. L would not think that was
therefore guilty OF any moral wrong"
Sir, in this brief extract, the whole ques-
ton is yielded, slavery is justified, and its
approved.
On the 9th of the same month, Mr.. Lo-
GAN, Of Illinois. said:
Every Jagitire hat..has Jeen arrested IN H.
linois, or in any Of the Western StGtes-and l
call Illinois Western State, for am ashamed
longer to call it Northern State-has been made
By Democrats. In Illinois, the Democrats hare
all that mork to do. You call 1t the dirty ,cork
of the Democratic party to catch fugitive slares
for the Southern people. We are .ciiiiug TO per-
form that dirty 0ork.'
Nj. Chairman, these are truthful words.
Every fugitive slave arrested in the Wes-
tern States is arrested by Democrats. And
l thank God it is so; for l could not find
it in my heart to hold political fellowship
with men who lend themselves as willing
to hunt down the painting fu,
gitive. And, sir, it is also true that We re-
gard this siave.catching as dirty acork"
VERY dirty ,cork." Outside the Dem
ocratic party, nobody can be found in the
Northwest SO low, so dead to all the better
feelings of the human heart, as to engage
in this most despicable business And does
it not afford conclusive proof" confrma-
tion strong as holy writ of the truth of
my charge that the Democratic is pro.
slavery party?
But listen to still another witness-and
be no other than the acknowledged leader
of the Northern wing of the Democratic
party. On the 23d of January, he Mr..
DouGLAsl said in his place in the Senate
81 say this if the people of Kansas want a
slave State, it is their business, and not mine
if they want free State, they have right to it
and hence, do not care, so far as regards my
action, phether they make 1t a free State or not
it is none of my business. But the Senator Mr.
FEssENDEN says he does care he has pref.
erence between freedom and slavery. How long
would he care, if he was a sugar planter in Lou
isana, residing on his estate, instead of living in
Maine? Sir, hold the doctrine that a wise
will adapt his laws to the wants, con-
ditions, and interests, of the people to be gov
erned by them. Slavery may be very essential
in one climate and totally useless in another. II
,cers a citizen of Louisiana, 1 rould rote for
retaining and maintaining sldrsry, because be-
lieve the good Of that people rouid require 1t.
As citizen Of Illinois, l am utterly opposed to
il, because our interests would be promoted by
Observe, Mr.. Douglas " does not care
achether Kansas IS a free State or not ;"
and only opposes slavery in Illinois 4" be-
cause the interests Of the State would not
be promoted by it " 1t is solely ques-
tion of Interest" Justice, conscience.
have nothing to do in the settlement of
this great problem. The law Of God and
the right. of man are contemptuously ig.
nored. Aud this. too, comes from a man