Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-01-18

sciously unable 10 stand on their mere die.
appointment In the recent election, have
attempted TO enlarge their ground More
than thirty years there hss existed cons'd.
erable-,hoash No, heretofore formidable
-,nass VI ciiissns 10 certain States situated
near or around the delta OF che Mississippi.
who believe that the Union 10 lee conduc''s
10 the welfare and greatness OF those States
than . smaller confederacy. embracing only
slave States. would DO. This class hes avail.
ed itsslf Of the discontents resulting from
tho election TO put into operation the ma.
chinery Of dissolution long ago prepared and
waiting only for occasion.
In other States there Is Q soreness because
Of the want Of sympathy In the frcs State.
with the Efforts Of Shareholders for th. 70.
capture OF iugltives from services. In all
the slave States there 10 . restiveness result.
ing from tho rcsist,ncs which has been -
de,srminedly made within the last few years.
in the iree States, " the extension OF slave
~ In the common territories OF tho United
States. The Republican party. which cast
it, votes Tor the successful Presidential can.
didate on the ground OF that policy. has
been allowed, practically, no representa-
ton. no utteraneo by speech or through the
press, In tho slave States while its policy.
principles. aud sentiments. and even lie
temper, have bssn % m,srcprssented as %
excite apprehensions that it denies impor.
tant constitutional obligations, and aims
even at interference with slavery and its
overthrow by State authorities or interven.
ton Of the Federal Government.
Considerable masses even IN the frss
Stats, interested in the success Of these mis-
representations ~ . m-ars Of partirIn STRAIT.
egy, have lent their sympathy 10 the party
claiming TO b. Aggrisved. While tho re-
.ult Of tho election brings the Republican
party necessarily into the foreground in re-
sisting disunion. the prejudices against them
which I have described have deprived them
OF the corporation OF many good and pat
rietic citizens. On n complex issue DO
tween the Republican party and the di'an'
ionisis, although 10 involves the direst ma
tional calami,l.-. the result might he doubt.
full Tor tho Republican party 10 weak in a
large part OF the Uuion. Bot on direc,
issue. with all who cherish the Union on
one side. and oil who desire its dissolution
by force on the other. the verdict would be
prompt and almost unanimous. | desire
thus to simplify the issue. and for that pur.
pose 10 separate from 10 oil collateral qucs-
lions. and relieve it OF oil parIiian passions
and prejadics-.
I consider the idea Of tho withdrawal oil
the Cult States, and their permanent reor.
ganirstion with or without Others in dis
tinct Coniederacy ~ . means OF advantage
10 themselves. ~ certainly unwiss and -
obviously impossible Of execution, when the
purpose 10 understood. that dismiss itwith
tho discussion I have incidentally bestowed
upon u.
Tho case is different. however. In regard
TO the other subjects which have brought
in this connection before the senate.
beyond q doubt, Union 10 vitality impor'
tan, TO the Republican citizens Of the Uni
tel States; but it il just 80 important %
the whole people Republicanisn and I'm
ION are therefore. not uncon,er,ible terms
Rspublicanism 10 subordinate 10 Union. N
everything else IL and ough; TO be-Rspub.
licanism. Democracy. every other political
nams and thing. oil are suboriinats-and
the great question OF Union. 80 lar n
am concerned, IL shall 10 80 IL should b.
90 II tho question were sure to bs tired ~
10 ought to only 10 be determined. by ih'
peaceful ordeal Of the bollot. IL shall be o
oil the more since there 10 on one side pre-
paredpess 70 refer 10 10 the arbitrament o
civil war.
Ihavc such faith in this republican 'ys
ten Of ours. that there 10 no political good
which | desire that | am not con,en, 10 seek
through its peaceful forms OF administra
ton without invoking revolutionary action
II other, shall invoking revolutionary &C.
ton. 10 others shalt Invoke that form ol
action 10 oppose and overthrow Government,
they shall not. 50 far ~ IL depends on mo
have the excuse that I obstinAtsly Left nv.
ssli % DO mi.undsr.tood. la such cas-
can AFFORD 10 meet prejudice with concilia'
ton. eIact,on with concessions which sur
render NJ principle, aud violence with The
RICH, hand Of peace.
Therefore, cir. - FAR as the abstract ques-
ton whether. by tho Constitution Of tbs
United States. . bond.mon. who is made
such by the laws Of q State. isstill = man or
only property. I answer that within State
its laws on tina, subject arc supreme, tina.
when no has escaped from that State into
another. the Constitution regards him rs .
bond.man who may not. by any law or reg.
ulation Of that State. b. discharged IRON
hi, service. but shall be delivered up. on
claim. to the party to whom his service Is
due.
While prudenc. and justice would com
bins in per-uading you 10 modify the acts OF
Congress On that subject, - Ne not TO oblige
private persons TO assist IN their execution
and 20 protect frscmen from being ~ abuse
Of laws, carried into slavery. agree that
all law. Of the States, whether free States
or slave States which relate 10 this class OF
persons. or any Others recently coming from
or resident in other States, and which las
coutr avene the Constitution Of the United
States. or any law Of Congress passed in
conformity thereto. ought 10 be repealed.
Secondly. Experience IN public affair,
has confirmed my opinion. tina, domestic
slavery. existing Ia any State. 10 wisely lei'
by the Constitution Of the United States st.
clu.ively 10 the care. management. and DIS
oset' ~ ~ WV" y" '" y
power. I would not alter the Constitu ton
IN that respect. " miapprehension OF my
position needs % strong n remedy. lam vii.
ling 10 vote for IN amendment OF the Con
sti,u,ion declaring tina, it shall not. by any
future amendment. 10 90 altered rs TO con-
Ter on Congress . power To abolish or inter
fere with slavery in any State.
Thirdly. While ! think that Congrc-
has exclusive and sovereign authority to Z.
i,latc on NIL subjects whatever in the com.
mon Territories Of the United Statcr, and
while certainly shall never, directly, or in
directly, give my vots TO establish or sanc'
ton slavery in such Territories. or any.
where else in the world. yet the question
what constitutional laws shall at any time
be passed IN regard to the Territories. 10.
like every other question, TO bs determined
on practical grounds. voted for enabling
acts in thu caa.s Of Or,.,on Minne>otn and