The national Republican., 1861-02-05


think there is) there may be in this, in the long
run, its sudden execution is impossible If
they we're all landed there in day, they would
perish in the next ten days; and there are not
surplus shipping and surplus money enough IN
the world to carry them there in many times
ten days. What then? Free them all, and
keep them among us as underlings? Is it quite
certain that this betters their conditions
think | would not hold one in slavery at any
rate; yet the point is not clear enough 10 de-
nounce people upon. What nextY Free them,
and make them politically and socially our
| EQUALS? Nv own feelings will not admit Of
This: and if mine would, we well know that
those of the great mass of white people will not.
Whether this feeling accords with justice ard
souud Judgment, is not the sole question. il,
indeed, it is any part Of it. A universal feel
ing, whether well or i'll founded, cannot be
safely disregarded. We cannot, then, make
them equals. 1t does seem to me that sys
tens of gradual emancipation might be adopt
ed; but for that tardness in this respect,
will not undertake to judge our brethren Of the
South.
~ hen they remind us of their constitutional
rights, ! acknowledge them, not grudgingly,
but fully and fairly; and ! would give them
any legislation for the reclaiming of their fugi
tives which should not, in its stringency be
that our ordinary criminal laws are to hang all
innocent one."-Speech at Otto,ca, H., dug.
Il, 1858.
Has anything ever threatened the existence
Of this Union save and except this very institu-
ton of slavery? What is it that we hold most
dear amongst us? Our own liberty and pros.
perty. What has ever threatened our liberty
and prosperity, save and except this institution
of slavery II this is true, how do you propose
to improve the condition Of things by enlarging
slavery-by spreading it out, and making it
bigger?
"You may have a wen or cancer on your
person, and not he able to cut it out, lest you
bleed to death but surely it is no way to cure
it to engraft it, and spread it over your whole
body. That is no proper way of treating what
YOU regard as a wrong. g."-Specch at Alton, oct.
Is, 1858.
~ suppose most of us II know it of myself)
believe that the people Of the Southern States
are entitled to Congressional fugitive slave
law. AS the right is constitutional, l agree
that the legislation shall be granted TO it, and
that not that we like the institution Of slavery
We profess to have no taste for running and
catching negroes; at least, profess no taste
for that Job at all. Why, then, do yield sup
port to a fugitive slave law? Because do no
understand that the Constitution, which guar
antics that right, can be supported without
it."-Speech at Atton, Oct. 10, Sj5.
"The real issue in this controversy-the one
pressing upon every minds the sentiment OF
the part Of one class that looks upon the insti
tuition of slavery as a wrong, and Of another
class that does not look upon it wrong
The sentiment that contemplates the institution
of slavery in this country as Il wrong, is ,h'
sentiment of the Republican party. They lool
as bpinp "a moral social. and pOlltiCa
wrong; and while they contemplate it as such
they nevertheless have due regard for its actua
existence among us, and the difficulties Of get
ting rid of it in any satisfactory way, and to al
the constitutional obligations thrown about it
Yet having a due regard for these, they desir'
a policy in regard to it that looks to its not ere
a,ng any more danger. They insist that i
should, as far as may be, be treated as a wrong
and one Of the methods OF treating it as
wrong is to make provision that it shall gro,
10 larger. Ii there be man among us VIII
= does not think that the institution of slavery
wrong in any of the aspects of which | hav
l spoken, he is misplaced, and ought not to b
$ with us. And if there be a man amongst |
d who is so impatient of it as a wrong as to di
regard its actual presence among MS, and Il
S difficulty of getting rid Of it suddenly in sa
n isfactory way, and to disregard the constit
1t tional obligations thrown about it, that man
o misplaced if he is on our platform. ."-Speech
E. Alton, Oct. 10, 1858.
70 70 A FEW WORDS TO THE SOUTH.
= awe the Republicans and others, formin
# the opposition of the country, intend to stan
by our guns to be patient and firm, and in tt
long run to beat you. When we do beat yo
q you perhaps want to know what we will d
IS with you. | will tell you, so far as am a
n thorized to speak for the opposition, what "
: mean to do with you. We mean to treat yo
as nearly as we possibly can, as Washingto
a. jefferson, and Madison, treated you. We mea
is to leave you alone, and in no way interle
ID with your institution; to abide by every cor
ID promise of the Constitution and, in wor
r. coming back to the original proposition,
e treat you as far as degenerated men (ifwe ha
,e degenerated) may, according to the exampl
Is of those noble iathers-W Washington Jetierso
,e and Madison. We mean to remember that yC
r. are as good as we are that there is no d
II ference between us, other than the differen'
IS of circumstances. We mean to recognise al
e bear in mind, always, that you have as GOO
IS hearts in your bosoms as other people, or
e we claim to have and to treat you accor
n ingly.-Speech at Cincinnati, Sept. II, 1859
i DOUGLAS AND JOHNSON PLATFOR
u Resolped, That we, the Democracy of /
= az Union, in Convention assembled, hereby
'e clare our atiirmance of the resolutions una
Il Il mously adopted and declared as platform
:, =: princi Plies by the Democratic Convention
~ Cincinnati, in the year 1885, believing Il
'e Democratic principles are unchangeable
y their nature, when applied to the same subj
~ matter; and we recommend as the only turtl
= resolutions the following:
VI Resoiped, That it is the duty Of the Unit
IL. az, ri pla nd nj tn
~ to all its citizens, whether at home or abro;
le ond wbatbe native or foreipn