Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-03-16

uehb ue ehOulu udppch 10 DO triumphant,
he would be deemed criminal, and held
as such in society. know full WE'LL and /
regret It, that this state Of things, although
undoubtedly Just in ITSELF has placed us at
q disadvantage here. feel that this senti-
ment, prevailing at the North, although
righteusly, has frequently placed us, as it
were, at the mercy of those who coustrue
our forbearance as a want of courage. 1t
is not strange that this state of things
should exist among the Northern people,
We have had no reason to distrust the
courage of our people there. Why, Sir,
physical courage, with our Northern people
is II sentiment so general that it is cheap
cDed by its universally. Who ever has
seen the Northern man fail on the field OF
combat Was it not known that braver
men never stepped on the quarterback, nor
entered the perilous breachi Who ever
heard of coward at the North when duty
called? But if understand the Senator,
we on this side, and the untold millions we
represent, have not the courage to maintain
our honor.
Mr.. TOOMBS-I would refer the Sena-
tor TO my speech. made no such alcga-
/ ton; | merely said that people who would
violate the compacts they had made were
not to be dreaded when they threatened to
march down upon US. made no such allie
CATION against the North. The gentleman
seems to consider that they on that side are
the people; l do not.
Mr.. WADE said he had read the speech
and suppose that it was declaration that
those on that side, and the people they rep
resent, lacked that courage which was nee
essary to maintain their own honor when
impeached.
Mr.. TOOMBS-I said those persons who
were not faithful to their contracts, and
who passed Personal Liberty bills, were not
to he dreaded.
Mr. WADE-I am very glad to hear the
Senator'S explanation, because l say it is no
particular honor to gentlemen on that side
to have general courage. We inherited it
from our common ancestors, who dragged
kings from their thrones when they under
took TO tresspass on the rights of the peo-
pie; and trust in God that we, their de-
scendants shall ever be as ready to vindicate
not only our honor, but our rights, as were
our acestors at any period. But if that is
all the Senator meant, | would not much
disagree with him. The men who could
be faithless would be very apt to be towards.
But | don't wish to be misunderstood in re-
gard to this barbarous mode of settling diff
ficulties: in thinly settled and partially civ
iized countries, where there arc no re-
straints of law, and where semi-barbarism
reigus don't know but this code might be
necessary. If men cannot be restrained by
a more elevated principle than fear, it may
be necessary to teach respect for the rights
Of others even by fear of the combat. But
: the Senator accused US of being periurcd
+ and faithless to the Constitution, and ready
to trample it under foot. And now, Sir,
just see how inconsistent gentleman may
be. | have no idea that he meant
to express the full import of his language
because he came here taking the same oath
as did and yet he told us he was eager
T for the signal from the Old Dominion to
declare war. He was ready, prompt and
eager to second her motion, for he said "one
blast upon her bugle horn would raise a
million men," For what? Why, to throw
down the pillars of the Republic in one
universal ruin He would do so, Sir, if a
| Republican was elected President at the
next election. Did he stand on high
ground? Did he stand on an elevated po,
silion, when he charged us with treason and
f a violation of oaths, and threatened, IN a
certain emergency, that he himself would
, stand forth to pull down the pillars of the
Republic? If to do that is not treason,
don't know what is. If that is not a VIC
lation of the oath he has taken, do not
understand the import of it. To be sure
these things are said in the heat of debate
but they 60 out to the country, and must
be noticed here. The Senator went back tc
the ancient history of Greece to illustrate
his argument. He did not come forward
without preparation. Hoaccused us because
| we did not happen to be nimble-footed
enough, as he supposed in the execution ofhi,
Fugitive law, but he did not instance q
single case, if remember rightly, but il
was general charge. There has not been
a single case of resistance to that law in my
State. When the cases came before the
Courts, they received the most rigid scrut
f ny, and the law has been vigorously applied
There have been cases of the most doubtful
character. Men have even been kidnapped
, and carried off A case occurred not long
since. And that was not only one. l meet
the general charge with ageneral denial
| When has there not been faithful execu,
ton of this most rigorous, odious, and be.
/ lieve in many provisions, unconstitutional
; law. Mr.. Webster thought it had no war,
rant except in judicial decisions. But he
was not going to argue this point. Mr.
Wade referred TO the clause giving power
to commissioners as decidedly unconstitu-
tional. 1t gives them $40 to decide one
way, and So the other. We are told that
this would not buy magistrates, but the
magistrates who generally decide these ca
ses would be influenced by "fi'penny bit" "
Mr.. Wade went on to speak of other pro-
visions of this law, and said the North new
or denied any constitutional law, and never
will resist such law. The law is unpopu.
lar for it goes against the hearts and con
sciences of the great masses Of the North
and nothing short of the Almighty Power
changing their hearts can make them eager
to execute this law. In the South, whore
the feeling is different, when slaves are