New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-26
SLAVERY AND FREEDOM.
THE GREAT QUESTION OF THE DAY.
A SIP Z E G H,
BY FRANCIS P. BLAIR Jr, of Missouri,
Delivered at the Cooper Institute last evening.


"The Attitude of Parties" Upon the platform were
many of the most prominent Republicans of the
State.
The meeting was called to order by the President Of
SAe Union, Mr.. CHAs. 7. RODGERS, and HIRAM BAR
xEY, ESQ.,, was elected Chairman. After few pre-
EmDaIy words, the CHAIRMAN introduced the Hon.
Dr.. BLAIR, who was received with prolonged and
enthusiastic applause Mr. BLAIR said;
L15its ond GeHtleinSR;
To be tumuoped BY the distinguished men Of IN
Republican party 10 address the country through t9
Au.pervsdnR metropolis on the important issues OF an
epoch hcb all believe will influence its desnlty for
ages is high and honorable distinction, OF which
profoundly sensible | this prominence to mis- |
eour ana To The autude she FOLDS IN the very heart OF
tie Republic Her introduction INTO tne TmHn wa Ia
sispel Eed by a paeIfeatlon which was nsl'ed oy |
patriots every where. but especially IN tue So9tn as
euetng forever controversy about adisturong comes
~ institution Of war with the elements OF Freedom,
which imhued at the beginning the State and National
Governments. That cOmpact OF peace 10 WhSo she SCI
her zeal IA the party most terested, was broken WIN
cot having first taken vote OF her people 70 nolcae
her wish CD a question touching 30 nearly her honor,
aswel "a her interests Now the vial inquiry reeurs
AsaiD-what il TO be dope 70 give Tepose 10 tue ds-
eordant element among our institutions, which has ds
troyed the co impact which II rested, carried civil
s,totbe Terri DRY from which, by agree nent, it was
self4xcuded, ano now darngly threatens TO crash
the Union lstf unless permitted TO command IN the
choice of the Chief Magistrate OF the United States.
However elOzng politicians may sOphlstlcate about
the old doctrine OF the power of Congress over the
Territores-tbe new one, which would give 1t to the
frt settlers, take 1t from the representatives OF
the whole people in Congress and that still newer one
which would take il from both and resign 1t 10 the Su-
preme COurt--no man can honestly DENY the ount
staismept have made of the alcontrOilmg events
which have produced the present hostile array OF par
ties the issue which the aggressive party through
out ibis contest low presents as its utmaum. am
seusbe that border States holding slaves have the
reirs in their hands which Will control those Southern
10 tka ~ ms DiGunlOn
element Of their power. / indebted TO the i'm
perta1t position Inch Missouri holds both as border
and frontier State, and The confidence entertained
that she will add Der strength 10 those members OF the
CONF deracy II al approve themselves most devoted to
the Constitution and the Union, for the invitation 10
dseuss here the principles and policy which discrml-
nate the two great parties OF the country.
Missouri has been Republican state, Repuo-
lean in that in which Jefferson employed the
tenn define the party which ele rated him to power
She owes her birth TO Jefferson and the Republican
party-,hat liberal party which acquired the Mssls-
sppi and the far West and the shor's of the Pacific,
and devoted all TO ion. Do The Republicans Of the
present day maintain the same liberal principles which
the career of Jefferson in all its aspects, or do
modern Democrats more thoroughly adhere TO what
were then held az the essentials of Republican, IN ?
Thir is question which history will settle will not
row invoke that umpire 10 pass upon the resemblance
which existing parties bear 10 the Republican party Of
JefeIsons time. except Is 70 that peculiar feature
which has such pos those in love with to
turn BY its aspect everything for them into its
hkeness Is there anything in the eye of devotee of
the peculiar institution that concerns the Govern
Inebt of the country that is not shaped tnged, and
controlled by III The Constitution will not be allowed
to exist without il. The Union must be broken down
If il stands in the way of its extension, Congress must
saeriGre the time hOnored oOmpac. universally re-
celved BY successive generations as imposing Just
limit upon such extension. The President must give
ali HE influence and the force of AL his civil function
ares, sustained by the military power, 10 cOerce the
reluctant mass of emgrants to admit Slavery among
them, and The Supreme Courts must reverse all It's pre-
cedeDts 10 establish the principle that Slavery, an
Institution is the property of slavehVlders which they
nsy cary with them wherever they have the right to
20 themselves. Nov, this the Republican doc
tripe of the days Of Washington and jefferson Was
il the doctrine Of both the first and lsst Congress of
the ConfedeTacy that undertook 70 exclude Slavery by
the ordinance regulating" the Territoriesi Was it
the doctrine Of the Constitution, which used
the very word regulate, used in the Con-
gress Of the Confederation in exertiug the power to
fer il upon the Congress of the Union! Was II the
doctrine Ofthe Congress cOnvoked by Washing |
ton which confirmed, and with his signature, the |
ordinance of 1887 Was il the doctrine of every |
President Cabinet Congress or Court OF the United
Staies, down Perce's time, all having contributed
M either passing sgniDg or recognizing IN their APP
prOpnaie spheres the organization of every territory
under the ordinance excluding Slavery 7 The whole
history of the RepUbo from its foundation shows that
Slavery was held TO be local institution, TO be
tolerated only in thoss States into which had been
thrust and which were gradually 70 be relieved from
she incubus the growth of the white population
rendered the substitution OF free labor possible.
History does not hand down the naue OF a man who
eontr bued 10 build up oor Republican Government,
who declares himself for the perpetuaOn and propaga
ton of Slavery. The embodied South marked us re-
probation Of the institution in consentng TO the aboli-
ton Of The African Slave Trade. aud oy branding as
piracy. Washington declared the sentiment OF all
bis enlig hsened countrymen when he wrote 70 La
feye and through him TO Europe, that he looked
forward 10 q time when our Union would become "
ooDfedeTscy. of free States" and Jefferson later and
more emphaticslly admoDished the South that this
most be So or the fate OF ST. Domingo awaited It.
Is il not smszng, when all Europe has been excited
70 admiration by the of free institutions,
and TO a more intense adherence OF Slavery by us
nalgn influence over the South, that this lOveliest
region Of continent, which wears THIS shlrt OF
Aessur should he maddened by its views as not 70
perceive what wastes it England found long ago
that yenage wgs the blight OF the island, aud 4bol
itbed n she saw that the serdem in Ireland under
the agents Of absentee lords with tenantry ensaved
under martial law, had reduced that Island 10 famine
and ruiD and she emanc pated the people by removing
the disabilities Of Catholics breaking the letters OF en-
sails and mortgages, and providing for the education
aud protection Of free labor. She perceived that ia
aiea and the West Indies reduced TO bankruptcy
by the absentee agency and slave system Inc owners
OF estates there and the Colonial authorities besieged
Parliament with petitions for relief; they begged for
protection from the competition with the products OF
other eu9ar-ra'siDg regioos, and Parliament, by pro-
hibiiing duties gave them the monopoly OF the English
market. This would not suffice British statesmen, |
after thorough examination, resolved upon the ood
ard wise plan Of paying the planters Tor thelr !
negroes and declaring universal emancipation. The |
resut 10 that notwithstanding tco fact. that tney
wee asO deprived Of the monopoly 81 the BRUSH mar
kei all OF the rugar islands have gradually become
Prospt TOus, save Jamaica, which It's mi stUne mot
gages have kept under, but which Is surely emerging |
from all its difficulties. England has extended the
came liberal policy 70 the East Indies She has, after
putting do IN the late rebellion in Hind0stan, taken
measures 10 e1tfpaie the cause India was reduced
20 vassslage under Inc despousD Of trading ogaTehy
England has stripped them Of the dominion they
abused placed d. under the Crown. and assured the