Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-02-28

teu gentlemen 10 keep themselves W iair
argument of the question before the House,
but unless gentlemen made their remarks
personal, he had no power to interfere.
Mr.. CONKLIN was not addressing his re-
marks to the gentleman from Arkansas, nor
did he desire to say anything often siye to any
gentleman on the floor. But this was time
which imposed upon every man the duty of
speaking unreservedly on this subject.
Mr.. HINnMAN again rose. lie said that
the words American apostate," had been
used for some purpose, and he desired to
know 70 whom the words were applied, and
whether it was proper to apply them in that
House? 1t was better to meet the question
now than at another time.
Some interruption followed.
Mr.. CONKLIN, resuming, said that he
was about to say that these grievances of
which he bad spoken were the avowed rea-
sons for this :-pitiful, contemplate ex
cuses of designing and desperate men. He
believed them to be sufterfugss, makeshifts
Of an nnholy and vapid ambition. The true
reason of this revolt lay deeper than those
reasons which hau been assigned. The true
reason was, that by the sentiment of an over
whelmlng majority..Of the people of this Re
public, Slavery as moral poison. was out.
lawed, and abhorred. 1t was because that
Slavery, as policy to be fostered, had ceased
to be nation al in this country. It was charg
ed on the North that at all It's social assem-
blies it was held to be moral, social and
political evil, The charge is true, every
word of it. 1t as true that the vast major
ity Of the people of the North, all political
parties alike, looked upon Slavery as an in
stitution as monster of the worst kind, in
satiable, and destructive to the victim, to the
master, and to the land In that respect the
North agreed with all tie reste of the civilized
world, that avebolding WAS the worst of
wrongs, the liberty founded, model Republic
alone excepted. The Jurisprudence ae the
world was against Slavery, the civilization
of the world was against Slavery, the lilera-
ture of the world was against Slavery
Webster ence SAID, "Lightning is strong the
torrent is strong, the earthquake is strong,
but there is something stronger than all this
it is the enlightened judgment of man
kind" And that, too, is against Slavery
There was no.one to blame for that. No, it
was one of the enactments of that "higher
law" which was recognized by all people,
and to which Coke had given utterance when
he said, "that the law of Parliament, when
in conflict with the law of God, was to be held
utterly at nought." He affirmed that that love
OF liberty, that detestation of oppression, that
unquenohable hatred of tyranny, which lay
at the foundation of Republican institutions,
was the sentiment of the earth, and was
law which lay at the foundation of Republi-
can institutions. 1t was the sentiment of the
earth, and was law which could not be
suspended by Congressional compromises,
nor repealed, except by that great Legisla-
tor whose enactments enter into the subtle
essence of human life. He repeated, tina.
this Anti-Slavery sentiment lay at the bot
tom of Southern discon tent-not while it lay
dormant and slept, like passion in the breast
of infancy-not while 1t was silent, did 1t
provoke this terrible anger, but when it
found voice in the politics of the country.
It was charged with a design to accomplish
unconstitutional ends, and to grasp at un-
constitutional power. That they dida't
themselves believe but it had controlled the
election, and there was the rub. 1t had
come, like a chilling frost. to nip in the bud,
personal ambition, and to Illustrate the deep
laid plots of sectional aggrandizement, and
had changed the balance of political power in
the country. Its mission was not of to-day,
but was to prevail; nor would he deny that
it ushers in mighty reformation.
There must be no more Mexican Wars for
Slavery or ambition, travelling along the
crimson way of military conquest. The arms
of the Republic should no more go forth to
change realms into deserts, or to sack cities,
or to subdue Territories in order to people
them with Slavery and endow them with
slave representation. The ambassadors of
the Republic in Europe will never again dare
to assemble at the tomb of the great Charlie
magne and proclaim an Ostend Manifesto
Hepceforth American Slavery was not to be
enlarged No longer was she to be the feast
ed, pampered child of American destiny,
thing 20 bs fondied and caressed BY the Gov
eminent. No, but from this time out it we'd
be simple necessity in the country, having
defined constitutional rights, and having no
more. All this had long been fcreseen by the
far seeing eyes of Southern politicians, and
who pre- dicted the very year when they wo'd
come to pass. In that same hour when the !
horoscope ioretold the political reverses of
1860, child was born which has already
grown into armed rebellion. From that hour
to this, revolution had been premsditated and |
prepared, and that, too. by the very men
who, as officers of the Government were |
sworn to maintain the Constitution and the
laws, but who had thrown off the mask and |
revealed themselves as conspirators in this
Capital Of the country. With this view of
their predicament, of its origin, cause, histo-
ry and authors, he from the very outset saw