The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-03-28
W0oDsFIELD MONROE COUNTY OHIO MARCH 28 1860.

l
vote or hold office anywhere, where ! had
the right under the Constitution, to pre-
vent, it. I am in favor of each State
and each Territory of this Union taking
care of its own negroes, free Or slave.
If they want slavery let them have it; if
they desire 70 prohibit slavery, let them
do it; it is their business, not mine. We
ip Illinois, tried slavery while we were a
Territory, and found it was not profitable;
and hence we turned philanthropists and
abolished it, just as our British friends
across the ocean did. They established
slavery in all their colonies, and when
they found they could not make any more
money out of it, abolished it. hold
that the question of slavery is one of
political economy, governed by the laws
of climate, soil. productions, and self-in-
terest, and not by mere statutory provi-
sion. 1 repudiato the doctrine, that be-
cause free institutions may be best in one
climate, they are necessarily, the best eve
rywhere; or that because slavery may be
indispensable in one locality, therefore it
is desirable everywhere. | hold that a
wise statesman will always adapt his leg
isIation to the wants, interests, condition,
and necessities Of the people (hear differ.
ent institutions from another.) / repeat,
then, what 1 have often had occasion TO
say, that I do not think uniformity is
either possible or desirable. lean see no
two States precisely alike in their do
mestic institutions in this Union. Our
system rests on the supposition that each
climate, or her circumstances, requiring
laws and institutions different from every
. other State in the Uuien. Hence l an
, swer the question of the Senator from
, Wisconsin,, that l am willing that Ter
t ritory settled by white men shall have ne.
groes, free or slave, just as the white mer
, shall determine, but not as the negroes
shall prescribe.
The Senator from New York has coin
q ed new definition of the States of thu
, Union-labor State and capital States
The capital States, believe are the slave
r holding States; the labor States are tn
v non -s.aveholding States. 1t has takel
n that Senator a good many years to coli
t that phrase and bring into use. l hav
e heard him discuss these favorite theorie
r of his for the last ten years, l think, an
) I never heard of of'capital States or labo
!, States before. 1t strikes me that some
n thing has recently occurred up in Ne
It England that makes it polite to get up
d question between capital and labor, an
he take the side of the numbers against tn
% few We have seen some accounts in tn
s. newspapers of combinations and Strike
y, among the journeymen shoemakers in I'll
is towns there-labor against capital. I'll
n Senator has new word ready coined
n suit their case, and makes them belle,
i'd that he is On the side of the most hume
he Gus class of voters.
ee What produced that strike among Il
il journeymen shoemakers? Why are Il
oy mechanics of New England, the lahore
e. aud employees, now reduced to The sta
n, yation point? Simply because, by yo'
of treason, by your sectional agitation, "
ut have created strife between the Nor
be and the South, have driven away yo
be Southern customers, and driven your er
he ployees to starvation. This is the ir
e. fruit of your Republican dogmas. 1t
n. another step, following John Brown,
IL the 'irrepressible conflict" Therefor
,r- we now get this rev coinage of "lab
e. States"-he is on the side of the sho
al. makers laughter and capital States
on he is against those that furnish the hide
he [Laughter.j think those shoemake
it, will understand this business. They knt
lat why it is that they Go not get so ma
IS? orders as they did few months ag
le- 1t is not confined to the shoemakers;
,ty reached every mechanics shop and eve
ci> factory. All the large laboring esta
led lishments of the North fee! the pressr
en- produced by the doctrine Of the ''ir
nat pressible conflict" This new coinage
No words will not save them from the j
ec> responsibility that follows the doetri,
yes they have been ineulcating. If they b
er. abandoned the doctrine of the 'irrepr
cry sible conflict" and proclaimed the Il
nc. doctrine of the Constitution, that es
ter State is entirely free to do just as it plea
cts have slavery as long as it chooses, 9
of abolish it when it wishes, there would
ear no conflict, the northern and south
the States would be brethren; there would
or fraternity between us, and your shoer
Ugh kers would not strike for higher prices
try Mr.. CLARK. Will the Senator 3
hes don me for interrupting him momen?
the Mr.. DOUGLAS will not give way
his speech; viii for suggestion.
lity Mr. CLARK. l desire simply to M
one single suggestion in regard to W
e. the Senator from Illinois said in refare
! at to the condition Of the laboring classes
IN the factories. come from a city wh
hite there are three thousand operatives,
and there never was q time when they W
ad more contented and better paid in the
one tories than now, and when their basin
was better than at this present time.
lon- Mr.. DOUGLAS. l was not speaking
the all Of the condition of the laboring l
in the factories l was speaking Of