Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-12-26
THE GREAT POLITICAL ISSUE.
SPEECH OF SENATOR WADE. OF OHIO.

THE GREAT POLITICAL ISSUE.
SPEECH OF SENATOR WADE. OF OHIO.
On Monday the 18th inst, an immense au.
dience assembled in the U. S. Senate to hear
of Ohio. The galleries were thronged long
before the hour Of meeting, and even the cloak
rooms, to which admission is usually prohib-
tied, were crowded with the fair sex.
Mr.. WADE said At time like this, when
there seems to be unusual excitement, have
very little faith in the efficacy OF any argument
But must say, when, in this very chamber
where we have all raised our hands to Heaven
and took an oath that we would sustain the
Constitution of the United States, we hear il
said by many Senators that we are upon the
eve of a dissolution of this Union, and that
your Constitution is to be trampled under foot,
silence under such circumstances seems to be
akin to treason itself. We have listened to
complaints on the other side of this chamber
patiently, and with an ardent desire to ascer-
tain what they were. But confess am un-
able to understand what it is of which they
complain. The party which has lately cleo
ted the President, and is prospectively coming
into power, have never held office under this
Government, nor any individual of them.
Therefore, it is manifest that that party have
as yet committed no act of which nybody
can complain. If any one has fears as to what
may hereafter ensuc, they are mere apprehen-
sIons-nothing else; bare snspicion-a fear
rising out of unwarrantable prejudices.
wish TO ascertain in the outset whether we are
right, for tell gentlemen here if they can
convince me that am holding any political
principle that is not warranted by the Consti-
tuition under which We live, or trenches on
their rights, they need not ask me to compro-
f1r / hei
when / am wrong. No man need approach
me with threat that the g Government is to be
destroyed, because hope that have now,
and ever shall have, that sense of Justice that
when any man shows me am wrong, / shall
lie ready to right 1t without threat or compro-
mise. But what is the cause of this great ex-
citement which undoubtedly prevails in a por-
tion of our country for, if the newspapers
are to be credited, there is a reign of terror
IN the cities and large towns of the South that
looks very much like the reign of terror in
ParIsduring the French Revolution. We
Of Northern men being sent back, or scourged
and tarred and feathcred, and no inquiry made
sn regard to the cause. do not suppose the
regular Government. In times of excitement
Ike this, is really responsible for these out
breaks Of passion. If the States where these
outragcs prevail were a foreign government,
and If they were really authorized by the con.
stitnted authorities, everybody knows, if it
we're the strongest government in the world,
we would declare war in one day. But what
has caused this great excitemcnt7 will tell
You what suppose it is. 1 do not so much
blame the people of the South because think
they have been led to believe that we, to-day
the dominant party, who are about to take the
felns OF Government, are their mortal foes,
and stand ready to trample their institutions
under foot. They have been told so by our
enemies at the North, and they would not
hear us at all. Now, 1 wish to inquire candid
iy, honestly, and fairly, whether the Southern
gentlemen who complain SO much have any
reasonable grounds for that complaint mean
when they are really informed as to our posi-
ton. The Northern Democrats have said we
have Personal Liberty Bills in some few of the
Northern States, which would somehow trench
upon your rights to recapture runaway slaves
"a position that in more than two or three |
cases has not the least foundation in fact. But |
II these laws are really repugnant to the Con-
stltutlon, they are utterly void ,and the Courts
would declare them so any moment. There
iorc am glad to hear Senators on the other
SIDE say they do not complain of these bills.
l. our men have given up this bone of conten-
ZION, this matter Of complaint, which North
erh men have set forth as q grievance more
,han any one else. l was exceedingly glad to
near Senators on the other side say that the
repeal Of these bills will not relieve the case
"om the difficulties-and 1 have heard it ev-
er!where that the people of the Free States
are arc uniaithful in executing the Fugitive Slave
MH. My colleague, (Mr. Pugh), with a mag
nanimity for which / give him my thanks, has
A'ood forth to testify that, in the State in
part represent, Republican Judges, Courts and
"urles, have fulfilled this repulsive duty with
pteueet faithfuness, and so said the Senator
FUN Illinois, (Mr. Douglas,) and so /
n, understood the Senator from Indiana
Nhr Fitch) to have said Therefore this
,a,anhy .,ay is removed from US, SO far as the
II'ssements of our political enemies can do it.
ad HHow our Courts feel themselves bound to
~. mister the laws just as they find them.
H. s' me say, to gentlemen of the Senate on
bv 81. U.i'er side, where you have lost one slave
.s t'e unfaithfulness of legislative tribunals,
,,.;- mad ten men murdered by your mobs
nsa sainS law. l cannot take up Southern pa
bu, and read Of men who travel for business,
and 'oa ,oi wait upon them by some Committee
can, ~" .nem to return. And what is the
,bss ! why, Sir, you come from Ohio, and
Ma uont inquire what party you belong to. .
cn,. vi these acts have been done under cir
Waances W. sauces that would disgrace a savage.
hat "a4e "n no security in travelling nearly one
S,,,o' TINS Confederacy-especialy the Gulf
n,v l don't care what mans character
do. h'' oe' and II he never violated any law un.
aud ..a aVen but il he comes from the North,
rkbta specially it he has exercised his political
bodrss snq voted for Lincoln instead of some- =
aitr Use, Use, 1t is an odense punishable by indig- :
''"! sripes,and by death. And YOU whose !