The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-06-07

y
their master the fugitive slaves that may escape?
In short, l will give the Senator an oPportuni-
ty now TO say
Mr.. WADE. MIR. President -
Mr.. DOUGLAS. One other question, and
will give way.
Mr.. WADE. Very well.
Mr. DOUGLAS. | will give the Senator an
opportunity of saying now whether it is not
the policy of his party TO exert all the powers
of the Federal Government under the Constitu-
ton, according to their Interpretation Of the ln-
StTument, to restrain and cripple the institution
of slavery, with view to lis ultimate extinc-
ion IN all the States, old as well as new, south
as well as north.
Are not these the views and purposes of his
party, as proclaimed by their leaders, and un-
derstood by the people, IL speec ches, addresses,
sermons, newspapers, and public meetings -
Now, will hear bis answer.
Mr.. WADE. Mr.. President, all these ques-
tions are most pertinently answered in the
speech the Senator is protesting to answer.
have nothing TO add to it. If he will read my
speech, he will find my sentiments upon all
those questions.
expect an unequivocal answer. knoY too well
interroga atories do express his indivdoai policy
and the policy OF the Republican party as he
understands it. should not have propounded
the interrogatories to him If he had not accused
me and the northern Democracy OF having mis-
represented the policy OF the Republican party,
and With having deceived the southern people
by such misrepresentation. The most obnox-
Ious sentiments ever attributed 10 the Repub-
Hra nd thotr - h. L,,s
northern Illinois and in the stronghods of Abo-
litionsm, was that they intended to exercise the
powers of the Federal Government with view
TO the ultimate extinction of slavery IN the SOU
thern States. | have expressed my belief and
would be glad 10 be corrected if am in error,
| that it is the policy of that party to exclude
slavery from all the Territories we now possess
or may acquire, with view OF surrounding the
slave States with GORDON Of abolition States,
and thus confne the institution within such mar
row limits that, when the number increases be-
| yond the capacity of the soil to raise food for
their subsistence, the institution must end IN
starvation, colonization, or serviIe iHsurreclon.
! have often exposed the enormities of this pol
icy, and appealed to the people OF Illinois to
know whether this mode of getting rid of the g.
wills of slavery could be justified N the name of
have often used these arguments in the slron-
gest abolition portions of the North but never
in the South. Thetruth is, have always been
very mild and gentle upon the Republicans
when addressing a southern audience, for it
| seemed ungenerous to say behind their backs,
and where they dare not go to reply to me,
those things which was in the habit OF saying
! to their faces, and IN the presence of their lea
Itya tphp fhay Fha
| But inasmuch as | do not get a direct answer
| from the Senator who makes this charge against
the northern Democracy, as to the purposes of
that party TO use the power of the ultimate ex-
tnclion OF slavery 10 the States, will turn to
the record of their President elect, and see what
| he says on that subject. The Republicans have
gone to the trouble to collect and pu bsh in
| pamphlet form, under the sanction OF Mr. Lin
| coin, the debates which took place between him
and myself in the senatorial canvass of 1855
1t may not be improper here 10 remark that
| this publication Is unfair towards me, for the
reason that Mr.. Lincoln personally revised an d
corrected his own speeches, without giving me
| an opportunity to correct the numerous errors
in mine. Inasmuch as the publication is made,
under the sanction OF Mr.. Lincoln himself, ac-
companied by letter from him that be has re-
vised the speeches by verbal corrections, and
thereby approved them, it becomes important to
show what his views are, since he is in the
daily habit OF referring to those speeches for IS
present opinions.
Mr.. Lincoln was nominated Tor United States
Senator by Republican State cony ention al
Springfield, in the year 1858. Anticipating
the nomination, he had carefully prepared a
written speech, which he delivered on the oc-
nd hIro Oft ha
was published among the proceedings as con-
tanning The platform of principles upon which
the canvass was 10 be conducted. Mole I'M
postance is due 10 this speech than TO those de-
livered under the excitement of debate in joint
discussions by :he exigencies OF the coEteSt.-
The first few paragraphs which will now read,
NAV be taken as fair statement OF his opinion
and feelings upon the slavery question. Mr..
Lincoln SAID:
uMr. President and Gentlemen Of the Con-
vention. if we could first know where we ar
and whittier we are tending we could better
Judge what 10 do and how 10 do it. We are
now far into the fifth year since policy was
| initiated with the avowed object and confident
| promise of putting an end to slavery agitation.
| Under the operation of that policy, that aglta-
t,on has not only not ceased, but has constantly
augmented. 1t IS my opinion, ii will not cease
until crisis shall have been reached and passed
! A house divided against itself cannot stand
| | believed this Government cannot endure
permanently balf slave and half free. do mol
expect the Union 10 be dIssolved-I do not ex'
pect the house to fall--but do expect it will
| cease to be divided. IT will become all one
thing or all the other. Either the opponents o
slavery will arrest the further spread of it, ane
place il where the public mind shall rest in th'