Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-02-08
SPEECH OF
HON. BENZ. STANTON
OF OHIO,
IL THE House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
January Is, 1861.

nlttee upon the question before US but the
extraordinary speech of the gentleman from
Texas has induced me to say n word in reply
As to his concluding remarks, confess niy
utter astonishment at them. The branch oI
the religious society TO which be refers perme-
ates the whole northern section of the Repuo.
lie: and 1 think that the idea that that socie
| ty could organize itself in any State with a
view of stirring up insuu ection is a libel on
the society at large, which know the gentle
man would not Intentionally commit. Ger
tainly If be means to charge that the Metho-
dist Church North is an inceudary organza-
tien desiring to stir up insurrection and civil
war, he is making a most extraordinary charge
against one of the most respectable and most
numerous religious sicieties in the United
States
Mr.. REAGAN. The gentleman has misun-
d9rstood me. l did not mean to be under
stood as saying that there was "A scheme inau-
gurated by that Church as body. l only
meau 10 say that members of that Church in
Texas are Aboiitionists, and that we have lad
the fruits of their teachings in incendiarism
last summer.
Mr.. STANTON. have not any doubt in the
world that large proportion of the members
of that religious society do believe that A fri
can slavery is uuwise. unchristian and immor-
al. l think that is very probable. And
wherever they may be found they probably
carry that opinion with them. But it does
not follow that, entertaining these opinions,
they will therefore organize themselves into
religions or social organizations for the pur-
pose OF stirring up insurrection and civil war.
Mr.. Chairman, the speech of the gentleman
from Texas is rather all extraordinary one, in
this: that while he seeks for some measure of
conciiation from this side of the House to
avoid civil war and disunion, he announces at
the same time, to that political organization
which has just elected President, that this
Union can only be preserved by its absolute
destruction and abandonment Now sir. as a
political organization, care nothing for any
party. All parties are secondary and subor-
dinatG considerations. But the principles on
which this Government was founded. by what
ever party they may be advocated, can never
be surrendered und,r any threat Of civi, war,
or under any apprehension Of consequences
That might as well be understood first as last.
If the Republican party cannot be vindicatcd
as historical, as being in accordance with the
history Of the Government for the last sixty
years, then. sir, am prepared to abandon it.
| stand here pledged to maintain in debate, by
the authority of the fathers and by the prin-
cip!cs Of the Constitution, that the Repubii-
can party cliiims and maintains nc principle,
| and proposes to carry into practice no policy,
that has not been sanctioned by the fathers OF
the Republic, and practiced by every ad minis
tratiou from George Washington to General
| Harrison. Occupying that ground, and main
tanning those principles, gentlemen cannot
drive US from them by any apprehension OF
consequences, from whatever quarter they
may come.
! Nj. Chairman, I was utterly astounded
/ that gentleman 50 we'll informed as the gen
| lleman from 1cxas-a gentleman Of so much
candOr, sh ,uU assume it here as Il conceded
proposition that the Republican, party was Or
ganized on the idea Of the utter and ultimate
extingu;shment Of slavery in the States. II
| that gentleman will do me the favor to circu-
late one copy of my speech in his district for
every two copies of his speech which l will
circulate in mine, be would confer a special
! favor, and would, in my Judgment, very much
enlighten his constituents, and disabuse then
minds as to the purposes and objects Of the
Republican party.
/ MIR REAGAN. do not accept the gentle
mans statement as a statement by the author
ity of the Republican party.
Mr.. STANTON. do not ask the gentleman
to take anything on my credit.
| Mr.. REAGAN. | beg the gentleman to un
derstand that l do not decline to accept it be
cause of want of responsibility on his part
but be cause he is not an authorized exponent
of the principles Of the Republican party
There is not a gentleman for whom have
more respect as a man.
Mr.. STANTON. Then all I ask of him is tC
take my argument and authorities for what
they are worth. Now, Mr.. Chairman, in re
gard to these allegations Of the gentleman
from Texas, he will permit me to say that
know Of no Republican who looks to the Re
publican organization as an organization de
signed either directly or indirectly, now, or il
the future, presently or remotely, to interfere
in the remotest degree with slavery in the
States
Mr. REAGAN. l ask the gentleman, did moi
Mr.. Lincoln PROFOUND the very proposition
have stated, that the people Of the North
were to rest only when they were satisfied
that slavery was in process of extinction
and did not Mr.. Seward declare that the re
suit of the success of the Republican candi
date was the overthrow of slavery?
Mr.. STANTON. I am perfectly aware that
there is now as there always has been from
the organization of our Government, class
of statesmen or philosophers who have held
there is, in the very nature of things an an
tagonism between free labor and slave labor
civilization which cannot be reconciled anC
that, therefore, confederacy of States partly
free and partly slave could not be permanent
ly maintained.
Thomas Jefferson and George Mason may
be cited as disciples Of this school in the early
history of the country; and Mr.. Seward anC
perhaps Mr.. Lincoln, at the present day.
Whether they are right or wrong is a ques
ton which l do not propose to discuss; bu
merely to say that they are merely speculative
opinions, which may be right or wrong, bu
can have no operation upon any question ari
sing in the administration Of the Government
: That they can exert no Influence upon th,
7 policy of the Government in relation to slave
: ry either in the States or Territories.
r If these opinions are sound, no denial o
them can make them unsound and if the.
: are wrong. no assertion or denial Of them cal
= make them right. And the assertion or de
f NAL of them will not reverse the laws of tn
/ universe, established by the Almighty for th
government Of mankind ; and these laws Wi
work out the problem with the same inGallibI
certainty, whether they are admitted or den
= ed.
These expressions Of opinion. tlIrpcfor'
. upon abstract questions Of social or poiticg
economy, have nothing to do with any pract