Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-01-24

American people, then, become all of suddeI
unnatural. as well as unpatriotic? and will the,
dlslnherit their children of the precious estat,
held only In trust for them, and deprive tn,
world OF the best hopes it has enjoyed since th,
human race began its slow and painful, We
needful and wisely appointed prcgress9
Here might close my plea for the American
| Union; but it is necessary, if not to exhaust ar
gument. at least to exhibit the whole case. Th,
disunionists. consciously unable 10 stand OF
their mere disappointments in the recent elec
tion. have attempted to enlarge their ground.-
More than thirty years there has existed a con
siderable-though not heretofore a formidable
mass of citizens in certain States situate near o.
around the delta of the Mississippi, who be.
lieve that the Union is less conducive to the
welfare aud greatness of these States than
smaller eonfederacy, embracing only slave States
/ would be: This class has availed itself of the
discontents resulting from the election to put
into operation the machinery of dissolution lone
| ago prepared and waiting only fol occasion. In
| other States there is a soreness because of the
want of sympathy in the free States with the
efforts of the shareholders for the reeapture oi
| fugitives from service. In all the slave States
there Is q restiveness resulting from the re-
sistance which has been SO determinedly
made within the last few years, in the free
States, to the extension of slavery in the COM
mon Territories Of the United States. The Re-
publican party, which cast its votes for the sue
cessful Presidential candidate on the ground of
that policy, has been allowed, practically, no
representation. no uiterance BY speech or through
the press, in the slave States. while its policy.
principles and sentiments, and even its temper,
have been so misre presented as 10 excite ap-
preheDsions that it denies important constitu-
tional obligations. and aims even at interference
with slavery and its overthrow by State author
tiles or intervention of the Federal Government.
Considerable masses even in the free States. in
terested in the success OF these misrepreSenta-
tions means of partisan strategy. have lent
their sympathy to the party claiming to be ag-
grieved. While the result of the election brings
the Republican party necessarily into the fore
ground in resisting disunion, the preiudices
against hem which / have described have de-
prived them OF the cooperation of many good
and patriotic citizens. On a'complex issue be-
tween the Republican party and the disunion-
lists, although it involves the direst national
lamities. the result might be doubtful for the
Republican party is weak in large part of
the Union. But on = direct issue. with all who
cherish the Union on one side. and all who de-
sire its dissolution by force on the other, the
verdict would be prompt and almost unanimous.
desire thus TO simplify the issue. and for that
purpose to separate from it all collateral ques-
tions and relieve it of all partisan passions and
prejudices.
consider the idea Of the withdrawal of The
Gulf States, and their permanent reorganization
with or without orders in disiinrt Confcdera-
cy as means of advantage TO themselves. 50
certainly unwise and so obviously impossible
OF execution. when the purpose is understood.
that dismiss it with the discussion | have al
ready ineidently bestowed =pon it.
The case is different, however, in RECORD to
the other subjects which have brought in this |
connection before the Senate.
Beyond doubt. Union is vtally important |
to the Republican citizens oft the United States;
but ii is just as important 10 the whole people |
Republicanism and Union are, therefore not |
convertible terms. Republicanism is subordi- |
nate to Unlon as everything else is and ought to
be-Republicanism, Democracy, every other |
political name and thing: all are subordinate !
and they ought to disappear in the presence |
of the great question of Union. So far as / am |
concerned, it shall be so; it should be so if the
question were sure to be tried as it. ought only
to be determined, by the peaceful ordeal of the
ballot. ] shall be SO all the more since there
IS one side prepared to refer il to the arbritra-
ment OF civil war / have such faith in this
Republican system of our. that there IS no pol
ical good which L desire, that am not to seek
through its peaceful forms of administration.
without invoking revolutionary action. If 9TH
ers shall invoke that form of action to oppose
and overthrow the Government, they shall not,
so far rs it depends on me, have the excuse that
Obstinately left myself to be misunderstood.
In such case l can afford to meet prejudice
with conciliation, exaction with concession
which surrenders no principle, and violence
with the right hand of peace. Therefore, sir,
20 far as the abstract question whether, by the
Constitution of the United States the bonds
nan, who is made such by the laws of State.
5 still man or only property, answer that,
vithin that State, its laws on that subject are
supreme; that when he has escaped from that
State into another. the Constitution regards him
IS bondsman who may not, by any law or reg
Ilation of that State, be discharged from his
ervlce. but shall be delivered up, on claim, to
he party to whom his service is due. While
prudence and justice would combine in persuad-
ng you to modify the acts of Congress on that
subject, so as not to oblge private persons to
Issist IN their execution. and TO protect ireemen
rom being. by abuse of the laws carried into
lavery, l agree that all laws of the States,
which relate to this class of persons or any 9th
RS recently coming from or resident in other
States. and which laws contravene the Consti-
ution of the United States. or any law of Con-
,rrss passed IN conformity thereto, ought TO be
epealed.
III puOllc 1IIaIrS mas | .
ontirmed my opinion, that domestic slavery,
xisting in any State is wisely left by the Com
titulIon of the United States exclusively TO the
are, management and disposition of that State;
nd il 1t were III my power, would no. alter
he Constitution IN this respect. Ii misappre- : :
ension of my position needs so strong RENEE
v, | am willing TO vote for an amendment of {
ne Constitution, declaring that it shall not, by
ny future amendment, be 50 altered Us to con- :
,r on Congress power to abolish or interfere !
18th slavery in any Stare.
Thirdly While think that Congress has &
Sclusive and sovereign authority to legisate on
Il subjects whatever, in the common territories
+ the United States; and while certainly shall
ever, directly or indirectly, give my vote to I
'tablish or sanction slavery in such Terrific
es. or anywhere else in the worfd yet the
uesiion what constitutional. laws shall at any, v
me he passed IN regard to the Territories. Is, v
ke every other question, to be determined ON y
tactical grounds. ] voted for enabling acts in
he cases of Oregon, Minnesota and Kansas.
Ithout being able To secure in them such pro- u
sions rs l would have preferred. and yet / S
'ted wisely. Sonow, am well satisfied that. |,
nder existing circumstances. a happy and sat :,
factory solution OF the difficulties IA the re.
aiming Territories would he obtained by sim !
ar laws. providing for their organization. if j
Ich organization were otherwise practicable. h
!, therefore, Kansas were admitted us State, -
nder the Wyandot constitution rs | think she y
ignt to be. and if the organic laws of all the o
her Territories could be repealed, could vote
authorize the organization and admission of
70 new States which should include them, re- a
rving the right to effect subdivisions of them =
henever necessary. into several convenient '
aies; but do not find that such reservations q