The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-05-17

J
to control as to Slavery in the Federal
Territories. he is right to say so, and to
enforce bis position by all truthful evi.
dence and fair argument which be can
But he has no right to mislead others who
have less access to history and less leisure
to study it, into the false belief that "oar
fathers, who framed the Government un-
der which we live," were of the same o.
pinion-thus substituting falsehood and
deception for truthful evidence and fair
argument. If any man at this day sim
cerely believes "opr fathers, who framed
the Government under which we live"
used and applied principles, in other Ca
ses, which ought to haze let them under
stand that proper division OF local from
Federal authority, or some part of the
Constitution. forbids the Federal Govern
ment to control as to Slavery in the Fed.
eral Territories, he is right to say so.-
But be should, at the same time brave
the responsibility of declaring that, in his
opinion, be understands their principles
better than they did themselves; and es.
pecially should he not shirk that respon-
sibility by asserting that they understood
the question just as we'll, and even better
than we do now"
But enough. Let all who believe that
"our fathers, who framed the Govern
ment under which which we live, under
stood this question just as we'll. and even
better than We do now,' speak as they
spoke, and act as they acted upon it
This is all the Republicans ask-sll Re.
publicans desire-in relation to Slavery.
As those fathers marked it, so let it be a..
gain marked, as an evil not to be extend
ed, but to be tolerated and protected only
because of and go far as its actual pres.
ence among US makes that toleration and
protection necessity. Let all the guar
antics those fathers gave it be, not grudg-
iDgly. but fully and fairly, maintained.
For this Republicans contend, and with
this, SO far as l know or believe, they will
be content.
And now, if they would listen-as I
suppose they will not-I would address
few words to the Southern people.
would say to them: You consider
yourselves a reasonable and just people;
and | consider tina. in the general quail
ties of reason and justice you are not in.
ferior to any other peogle. Still when
you speak of US Republicans, yon do so
only to denounce us as reptiles, or at best
as no better than outlaws. You will
grant a hearing to pirates or murderers,
but nothing like it to Black Republicans
La all your contentious with one another,
each Of you deems an unconditional con-
demnation of "Black Republicanism as
the first thing to be attended to- Indeed
such condemnation of Us seems to be an
indispensable pre- requisite--license, so to
spenk-among you to be admitted or per-
nitted 20 speak at ell.
Now, can you, or not, be prevailed up
on to pause and to consider whether this
is quite just to US, or even to yourselves
Bring forward your charges and speci-
ications, aud then be patient long enough
to hear US deny or Justify
You say We are sectional. We deny it.
That makes an issue; and the burden of
proof is upon you. You produce your
proof; and what is it, Why, that our
party has existence in your section-gets
no votes in your section. The fact is
substantially true; bat does it prove the
issue I If it does, then in case We should,
without change of principle, begin to get
votes in your section, We should thereby
cease to be sectional. You cannot escape
this conclusion; and yet, are you willing
to abide by it I If you are, you will prob
ably soon find that we have ceased to be
sectional, for we shall get votes in your
section this very year. You will then
begin to discover, as the truth plainly is,
that your proof does not touch the issue.
The fact that We get no votes in your SEQ.
ton is fact of your making, and not OF
ours. And if there be fault in that fact,
that fault is priu arily yours, and mains
SO until you show that We repel you BY
some wrong principle or practice. II we
do repel you by any wrong principle or
practice, the fault is ours; but this brings
you to where you ought to have started
to discussion of the right or wrong Of
our principle. II our principle, put in
practice, would wrong your section for the
benefit of ours, or for any other object
then our principle, and we with it, are
sectional, and are justly opposed and de.
nouneed as such. Meet US, then, on the
question Of whether our principle, put in
practice, would wrong your section; and
80 meet it as if it were possible that some.
thing may be said on our side. Do you
accept the challenge No' Then you
really believe that the principle which
our fathers who framed the Government un
der which We live thought so clearly right
as to adopt it. and indorse it again, and a.
gain, upon their official oaths, is, in fact, so
clearly wrong as to demand your condem.
nation without moments consideration
Some of you delight to fsuDt in oui
faces the warning against sectional par.
ties given by Washington in bis Farewell
Address Less than eight years before
Washington gave that warning, he bad
as President of the United States, ap'
r IN