The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-07-25
SUBSTANCE OF
7 D UBTH OF July SPEECH H
in Portsmouth,
by J. II. CREIGHTON.

all governments that have been set I'D
have teen bad; most OF lhem very bad,
and yet, they are better than none at all
A civil government cannot be set up in a
day. and when once established, is 10
bless or curse wh ole generations. Most
governments have bad their origin in hd.
man ambition, and while they give some
protection, The people have dearly paid
Tor 1t, great portion Of it being wasted
in war aud The rtst taxed to Il cir utmost
ability. .e..
Our government had a most honorable
origin which we are pleased 10 set forth
by reading our "dee{GratiOn" every fourth
Of July. ...
Al the beginning Of every great gov
ernment we generally find some master
mind giving Direction, or elementary or
der 10 the constitution or laws. Such was
COnfuciuS to China, Alfred to England
and Peter the Great to Russia.
In this country, this honor will forever
belong TO Thomas Jefferson who with
lew patriot compeers layed tie f. undation
Of a government that has surp ssed all
others. 1t has b. en- called the great ex-
pertinent. 1t has up to recent period
accomplished what was SUP posed 10 be
impossible-to have the people TO be Sow
ereign and the rulers 10 q setvsnts. Dur
ing the Iast hall century this government
has truly heen the wonder oi the world.
and the hope Of the plrilanthropist thro'
out the earth, with peace at home and
Profouhd respect abroad No direct tax
or standing army or Religious establish
ment. Wien the frainers of thdt instru-
ment commenced their work they found
the country in most critical condition
1t WAS thought by many good men that il
the old cCnfedeTacy was touched it would
fall and with it would go down all hopes
Of liberty. The colonies were only leagu,
ed together, aud formed very imperfect
government. The old doctrine that Re.
, publics were dangerous and that monarch
les were necessary for. safety had TO b.
4 met-and We must admit tlat the pas
4 history Of the world furnished no gooC
4 argument against it. Oar patriot foun
. ders started out as Columbus when look
ing for new continent, with no map no
!, chart, nor PRECEDENT to direct But The,
, finished their bold attempt A. b. 1899.
TIE dark and dis urbing question n
, slavery existed as it does now. They sim
!, ply let alone. not even using the w0rt
slave, or slavery which according to Mr.
Madison, was so made out purposely.-
They did provide for the return Of fugi
tives and give the slave States some ad
; vantage in representation, but with the
! understanding that slavery was TO be sra
i dually done away. or this fact there cal
! 3 no doubt for those trainers were all op
posed TO the institution, wrote and spok
= against it--and set their own slaves frte
and that in some cases not a few in mum
4 Ter. John Randolph, Thomas Jefferson
y George Washington, 6c., for example =
:, II however any one should dispute th
Ic fact that they we're strongly opposed 1
e slavery. refer 10 their own words--se
= Jefferson Notes On Virginia, page 970.-
; Also, see Washington's writings, Vol. 6
:, page 1866. Also his letter to Lafayette
page l59 If any further proof is wanr
ing, | refer 10 late speech Of Mr.. A. +
l. Stevens made in Savanna, Georgia, i
u which these words octuri "The prevail
a ing IDEAS entertained by him (Jetfetson
q q and most of the leading statesman at th
= time oil the formation of the old Cons titu
IL ton. were that the enssvement Of tn
T. African was in violation Of the laws
u uie,--that it was wrong In principle
! socially. morally and politically. 1t wa
an evil they knew not how 10 deal witt
le but tie general opinion of the men {
ID that day was some how Or other in th
Is order Of providence the institution woul
'e be eyanescent and pass'away.' The
y follows Mr.. Stevens new idea which i
h calls the "corner stone Of the Souihel
l. Confederacy.) .... .
Re As still further ard if possible mol
le Overwhelming evidence OF the wide sprea
n, opinions of the people six of the State
lie afterwards abolished slavery. No prom
es inent statesman or minister Of the Gosp
Of advocated ii then. 1twas almost ui,ive
8, sally deplored, and only asked time
a. die. | do not make this statement TO q
ht que the question but to prepare the WI
d. Tor reiulipg some positions now taken
is the enemies Of our Constitution and lay
lie when l come 10 speak Of these new me
I'd sures. @. 4e.ag ssrraN ,-..- ...f..-
ne Even two years teiore the Constitute
Id was made Mr.. Jeferson's ordinance OF
es was passed which excluded slavery fro
Of territory which now CONSTITUTES four
es five great, rich powerful States-inclut
IS ing our own was the Ordinance. r.
us Tie next important occurrence touch
he ing these matters was the compromise
nd 1890 which did not alter the fixed pril
n. cple localiEiug slavery, which accordir
he TO Mr.. Benton was the greatest MT asu
re 10 make free soil of any that had J ct pa
ut sed Next followed the very noted Cor
We promise Of 1850, Next comes the mea
ur ures so identified with the late NJ
ur Douglas in the shape of Nebraska bill al
Ike Kansas matters and whatever retrograt
ur movement may have been in il, it is ST
ur fcept for my argument to state that t
old principles of the Constitution we
l not disturbed by it at least nothing a
y preaching the new measures advocat
by the cotton States.