The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-02-23

tioo and injustice; and il it is the thug it
is said to be. that will yet threaten the
peculiar institution of the South along the
whole border. they, the Democrats, are
responsible for it BY reason Of their ayow-
ais ard their acts; but the Republicans
are not. | Irepudiate the charge, and ap-
peal to the country for verdict.
The Viee-President's Allegations.
Gentlemen, having said so Deb prelim-
iinary and in explanation, | come to the
declaration OF the Vice President Of the
United States, as formally put forth by
him, sent me under his own hand, but
which speech l am told is very distinctly
different froO that he u sde In this State
House.
You will pardon me for the length of
this argument. if it may be SO called, en-
barrassed as | am by the difficulty OF my
position here. 1t is rather more desulto-
ry than | had intended it should be, but
tho Importance of the questions to be dis
cussed will, | think, plead nay justifoa-
ton
The Vice Presiden; OF the United States
makes against the Republican party ten
formal allegations. He says:
II charge that the present and ulterior
purposes OF the Republican party are:
ITO introduce the doctrine of negro g.
quality into American politics. and to
make it the ground of positive legislation,
hostile to the Southern States;
ITO exclude the slave property of the
South from all territory in the Union, or
which may hereafter be acquired
"To prevent the admission, in any lat
itude, OF another slayehodiDg State;
"To repeal the Fugitive Slave Law,
and practically refuse to obey the COnsti
tuition on that subject;
ITO refuse to prevent or punish, by
State action, the spoilation of Slave prop
erty, but on the contrary. to make it
criminal ofense in their citizens to obey
the laws OF the Union, in SO far SIS they
protect propertg in African slaves;
"To abolish Slavery in the District o!
Columbia;
"To abolish it in the Forts, Arsenals,
Dock Y ards, and other places in the South
where Congress has exclusive jurisdiationi
"To abolish the international and coast
wise trade;
"To limit, bsrass, aDd frown upon the
institution in every mode of political aO-
ton, and By every form of public opinions
"And finally. by the Executive, By
Congress, by the postal service, aud in
all other accessible modes, to agitste
without ceasiDg. until the Southern States
without sympathy or brotherhood in the
UUiou-worn down by the unequal strug
gle-shall be compelled TO surrender ig-
ANONYMOUSLY and emaneiPate their slaves
Now, gentlemen, these are allegations
formally put forth. Il is not for me to
question the motives OF the man who make
them, but take the allegations as ind
them, and | shall attempt to answer them
in detail First of all. | appeal to the
country aud history. Standing here up
on our recorded action, and the integrity
of our previous character, | plead not
guilty of the charges; not guilty on every
count except one, and to that | plead
guilty.
Negro Equality set at Rest.
First, we are not guilty of the purpose
"to introduce the doctrine of negro equal
ity into American politics, and to make
it the ground of positive legislation, hos
tile 70 the Southern States" Mark, the
crime is here, that We have been guilty
Of introducing" Now, it is we'll known
so far as common rumor goes-we can
not always judge of the motives of men
that the Dred Scott case was gotten up by
agreement, in advance of legislation, but
subsequent to the declaration of the power
of the Democratic party, to take posses
sion of Kansas We did not want any
such subject introduced into politics.
Why? Because there was already odium
enough attached to US as being the defen
ders of the rights of the negro against the
white man. We were called already
negro lovers" aud it was not to our in
terest to get up an issue of this kind If we
desired so to do. But an agreed case
vas made, as is reported in Howard's re-
ports. The ease came up to the Supreme
Court of the United States from the US.
District Court of Missouri, and although
| am follower OF the plough, and al
though be has studied law all his lie, |
declare that Bcriah Msgofin does not
know anything about the case; there is
not common young lawyer that is not
better posted up 10 this matter. Cover
nor Magofin does not profess to know
anything about it-that honorable and
high toned gentleman has never made it
his study-apy man can see that who
reads his inaugural address John Q.
Breekinridge does not understand it. or
be is great hypocrite. He is ignorant
of the question at issue, or he is hypo-
crite, and intended detcrminedly to
to deceive the people of the United
States, but of course in consequence
of the respect have for him, | believe
that be is utterly ignorant Of the questions
at issue in the case. | think | can pre-
sent them so that man of the common
est understanding can comprehend the