Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-05-17


ward a copy of the foregoing to each of our Sena-
tors and Representatives in Congress-
Mr.. HALE. The committee will perceive
that that resolution requests the Senators and
Representatives Of Pennsylvania to vote
against the acquisition of any territory un
less slavery shall be excluded from it. 1t
was voted for by every Democratic member
of the Legislature, and by all the Senators
but three-Mr. BIGLER, the present Demo
cratic Senator from Pennsylvania, being in
the Senate, and voting for it. If resolutions
like that were now adopted by any party in
Pennsylvania they would be denounced by
the Democratic leaders as reasonable, incen-
diary, and dangerous to the peace and welfare
OF the Union. A simple resolution, which
was offered at this session, instructing the Ju-
dietary Committee to inquire into the expedi-
ency of prohibiting slavery where we have
the constitutional right to do so, was cOnsld
cred dangerous attack upon the rights of
the South. They tell Us now, that if we as
sert that freedom is the proper condition of
the Territories, and that slavery does not ex-
ist and must not 20 there, and if we should
dare to elect President holding these views,
that lie shall never take his seat, and that the
Union shall be dissolved in consequence. Can
it be that this course on the part of the South
has caused this great change in the politicians
of the North2 Have we been frightened
from our propriety and our rights by impo.
tent and insolent threats? 1t seems to me
that no other reason for the change can be as,
cribed. If this be SO if men will be deter
red from holding their opinions by such rea-
sons then, think Slavery Of the baser sort
may fairly be said to exist north Of Mason
and Dixons line.
How would our southern brethren feel if
we put like proposition to them We be
lieve slavery to be wrong We think that it
is an evil. You, gentlemen, believe that sla
very Is right and ought to go into the Terri
tories. You favor the eXtenuation Of slavery.
Suppose we should say that if you elect a
man TO the Office Of President, who held the
same views you do, and elected him in a
peaceful and constitutional manner, we would
never allow him to be sworn into office, but
would, in that event. dissolve this Union aud
destroy the Government: would ii not be fair
ly said that such threat deserved only your
scOrn and contempt? Surely it would. 50
we treat it when it comes from you. No
such threat will, think, prevent the men of
the North from exercising the sacred right of
suffrage in the way they think proper. We
intend, at the next election, to elect Repub-
lican President-if we can get votes enough;
and when he is elected he will take his seat.
Of that you may be sure.
Mr.. Chairman, the Republican party is q
Union party. 1t is in favor ofpreserving this
Union in its integrity, and with all the rights
of all the sections. We do not desire the
preservation of the Union, as our southern
friends sometimes allege, for mercenary pur-
poses. We discaim that entirely. We have
higher and nobler reasons for sustaining it.
We would preserve it because it is rich lega-
cy from our forefathers, won by their toll and
blood. We have received it unimpaired, and
unimpaired we intend to leave it to our child
rem. We believe it to be the best form of
government on earth, and that its destruction
would be the greatest political calamity that
could befall US, and one that must be ayerted
by almost any conceivable sacrifice.
My own state has suffered more from the
acts of the south, within the last fifteen years,
than all the southern states together have
suffered from the acts of the north from the
beginning of the Government. We have seen
our interests struck down by the free trade
democrats of the south, in the repeal of the
tariff of 1872 our property deprecated in
value our manufactures closed our buSi-
ness in a great matter ruined ; and yet we
have not threatened to dissolve the Union on
that account. We did not claim the right to
redress our grievances in that way. | have
no hesitation whatever in saying that we have
lost more property by the repeal of the tariff
Of 1912 than you have by all the runaway
slaves, from the foundation Of our government
down to the present time.
Mr.. Chairman, what have we done with
respect to slavery that should bring upon us
all this fearful storm What principles do
we now hold that should so excite their hos
tility. | live in a state bordering some three
or four hundred miles upon slave territory
Il, 4. l.. -
to the mass of our people, is executed there
without serious difficulty. To be sure, were
oure southern men to come after their slaves;
we do not propose to run down their negroes
and take them back They should not ask
that; but when they come to us and ask for
their rights, their request is always respected,
although it is opposed to the feelings of all
our people. We were brought up to look
upon slavery as great moral, social and po-
ltical evil; as a wrong in itself; and yet it is
in the bond, we abide by it. We entered in
to this Union of States, knowing that they held
slaves and we feel ourselves bound to sus-
tain that institution so far as the law and the
Constitution require US to do so, but no fur
ther.
Does the South respect our rights as much
as we do theirs Why, sir free man can
not 60 into q slave State and speak what
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson
taught, without being considered an abolition.
ist, an incendary, dangerous man taken
and punished in the most shameful manner
and sent out Of the country; and he may
think himself we'll off if he escapes with his
life. They break open the mails, and des-
troy what they please of the contents; and,
more than that, we are told that we must not
exercise the right of suffrage in the manner
WE think nroner When we are ready to give
up all these rights we shall be fit for slavery,
| but not before.
! l propose to devote some remarks now to
| the discussion of that other principle OF the
Republican party-protection to American in,
dustry. Upon that subject 1 cannot expect
to say anything very new and interesting !;
| anuthinn which has not been said by others