Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-01-25
NO. 43.

prived them OF the corporation of many good
J and patri0tic citizens On a complex issue
) between the Republican party and The disun-
ionists, although it involves the direst Nation
al calamities, the result might be doubtful
for the Republican party is weak in large
part of the Union. But on a direct issue
with all who cherish the Union on one side
aud all who desire its dissolution by force on
the other, TIE Verdict would be prompt and
almost unanimous. I desire thus to Simplify
the issue, and for that purpose to separate
from it ull collateral questions, and relieve it
Of all partisan passions and pr4jndiccs.
l consider the idea of withdrawal Of the
Gulf States' glrl their permanent reorganiza-
tiop with or WithGut others IN u distinct Con-
fedcracy as a means Of advantage to them
selves so certainly unwise and so obviously
impossible of execuiitrt, wheu the purpose is
understood, that dismiss it with the discus
sion | have already incidentally bestowed up
on it.
The case is different, however, N regard to
the other subjects Which have brought III
this connection before the Senute.
| Beyound doubt, Union is vitality impor-
tant to the Republican citizens Of the United
States but it is just as important 10 the
whole people. Republicanisn and Union are,
therefore, not convertible terms.
Repub icanisir IS subordinate TO Union. as
eFefything else is and ought to be Republi-
cansm, Democracy, and every other political
name and thing all are subordinaie-and
they ought to disappear in the presence of the
great question Of Uuion. So far as L am con
cerned. it shall be so it should be if the
question were sure to lie tried rs it ought to
be determined, by the peaceful ordeal of the
ballot 1t shall be 50 all the more since there
is on one side preparedness TO refer to the ar
bitrament of civil war. l have such faith in
this Republican system Of ours, that there is
no political good which l desire, tlhtt am not
content to seek through its peaceful forms of
administration, without invoking revolution
airy action. If others shall invoke that form
Of action to oppose nnd overthrow Govern
uTeTt, they shall not, 50 far as it depends on
me. have the excuse that obstinately left my
self 10 be misunderstood. In such a case
can afford to meet prejudice with coneifation,
exaclion with concession which surfenders no
principal, and violence with the right hand of
peace Therefore, sir, so far as the abstract
qaesiior whether by the Constitution Of the
United States, the BOndsrnan, Who is made
such by the laws Of Il State, is still man or
only property, I answer that within that State,
its laws Oh that subject ste supreme that
| when he has escaped from that State into an
other, the Constitution regards him as a bonds
man who may not, by any law or regulation of
that State, be discharged from his service, but
shall be delivered up, on claim, to the party
/ to whom his services is due. While Prudence
aud justice would combine in Persulding you
10 modify the acts Of Congress on that sub
ject, SO as not to obge private persons to as
sist in their execution and to protect freemen
| from being, by abuse Of the law, carried into
slavery, agree that all laws of the States,
whether free States or slave States, which re
late to this class of persons, or any others re-
Gently coming from or resident in other States,
ami which laws coutravcne the Constitution
Of the United States, or any law of Congress
passed in conformity thereto, ought to be re-
pcaltd.
Secondly. EHPorience in public affairs has
confirmed my opinion, that domestic slavery,
I existing in any State, is wisely left by the Cor
stitution of the United States exclusively to
the care; management aud disposition of trrt
State and if it were IN my power would not
alter the Constitution in that respect. Il mis-
apprehension of my position needs so strong
rarpdy | am willing TO vote for an umend-
mcnt of the Constitution, declaring that it
shall not by any future amendment be so al
tered as to confer on Congress power to abol
ish or interfere with slavery in any State.
Thirdly, While tHiris that Congress has
exclusive aud sovereign auih)rity to legislate
on all subjects whatever in the comilr0n terri
tory of the United States and while GER
tainly shall never directly Or indirectly, give
my vote to establish or sanction slavery in snch
Territories, or anywhere else in the world, yet
the quesio what epnstitutioal ii laws shall at
any time be passed IN regard to the Territories
is like every @ther question, TO be d4termi9ed
on practical grounds. 1 voted for enabling
acts in the c,ls.s Of Uregol. MIN rosetta, Kan
sas, wtlrait btAg able to secure M then such
pfovisiols as [ woIld have preferred; ahd yet
l voted wisely. 50 now, / am we'll sal isfcd
that, under the existing circumstances, hap
py and satisfactory solution Of thu difficulties
IN the remaining Territories wOIld b. obtain
ed by similar laws. providing for their orgAni-
zation, if such organization were otherwise
pr4ciicatie. IF, therefore, Kansas were
admitted as State, under the Wyandotte
constitution, as / think she ought to be,
and if the organic laws Of all the other
Territories could be repealed, could vote
to authorize the Organization and admis
sion of two new States, which should include
them, reserving the right to effect subdivisions
Of them whenever n5coeJlry, into several con-
yenent States; but do not find that such re-
servations coad be constitutionally made,
without them, the uIteror enbarrassments
which would result from the hasty incorpora-
ton of St;r1cs' Of such vast extent ami various
interests and character, would outweigh all the
immediate advantages of such measure. But
if the measure wert practicable, | should pre-.
for o. different course namely; when the ecc1n-
trio movem snts Of secession and disunion shall
have ended, in whatever form that end may
come, and the angry eNcitements of the hour
shall have subsidtd, and calmness once more
shall have resumed its accustomed sway over
the public mind, then and rot until then-oue,
two or three years lence--I should chcerfullv
atlvise q convention of the p9)p!e, to be as
sembed in pursuance Of the Constitution, to
consider aud decide whether any and what a
mendhnents of the organic national law ought
to be made. A republican now-as have
heretofore been member of other parties eS<
iyting in my day-I nevertheless hold and
cherish, as l have always done, the principle
} that this Government exists in its present form
ouly by the oonsnet OF the governed, and that
tt is as necessary as it is wise to resort to the
people for revsions Of the organic law when
: the troubles and dangers Of the State certain
: " transcend the powers delegated by IL 60 the
public authorities Nor ought the suggestion
to excite surprise. Government in any form
I is machine this is the most complex one
y that the mind OF man has ever invented or
j. the hs4ir of maphas' ever framed. Perfect us
+ it is, it oqGht to be expected that it will, at
= least as olEtf Us once in century, require
d some noli Al adapt it to the changes
a of society tsilationss of Empire