The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1861-01-31

er, the verdict would be prompt and al
most unanimous. I desire thus to sim |
Fplify the issue, and for that purpose to
separate from it all collateral questions, |
and relieve it Of all partisan passions
and prejudices.
A COTTON AND A SOUTHERN CoNFEDER-
! ACY.
consider the idea Of the withdrawal
Of the Gulf States, and their permanent
reorganization, with or without others,
in a distinct coniederacy, as q means of
advantage to themselves, so certainly
unwise aud so obviously impossible Of
execution, when the purpose is under
stood, that 1 dismiss it with the dis
cussion 1 have already bestowed upon it,
The case is different, however, in re-
gard to the other subjects which I have
brought in this connection before the
Senate.
TIE UNION NECESSARY to ALL PARTIES.
Beyond a doubt, Union is vitality i'm
pOrtaut to the Republican citizens Of the
| United States, but it is just as impor-
tant to the whole people. Republican.
ism and Union are therefore not con.
vertible terms. Republicanism is sub
ordinate to Union, as everything else is
and ought to be. Republicansm, De-
mocracy, every other political name aud
thing, all are subordinate and they
ought to disappear in the presence Of
the great question Of Union.
MR.. sEwARD's INDIVIDUAL POSITION.
So far as I am concerned, it shall be
so. 1t should be so, ifthe question we're
sure to be tried, as it ought only to be
determined, by the peaceful ordeal Of
the ballot. 1t shall be so all the more
since there is on one side preparedness
! to refer to the arbitrameut of civil war.
: l have such faith in this republican sys-
tenn of ours that there is no political
y good which l desire that / am not con-
, tent to seek through its peaceful forms
Of administration, without invoking
revolutionary action. If others shall
invoke that form Of action to oppose
b and overthrow the Government, they
n shall not, so far as it depends on me-
a have that eXcuse-that l obstinately left
h myself to be misunderstood. In such
n a case l can afford to meet prejudice
- with conciiatiOn, exaction with conces.
j. sion which surrenders no principle, and
l. violence with the right hand of peace.
y SLAVERY AND TUE CoNsUITUTUoN-THE
y FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
n Therefore, sir, so far as the abstract
/. question, whether by the Constitution
f Of the United States, the bondsman who
g. was made such by the laws Of a State il
still mau or only property, [ answer
that within that State its laws on that
subject are supreme; that when he has
D. escaped FROM that State into another
il the Constitution regards him as bonds.
r man who NAV not by any law or regu.
e atiOn Of that State be discharged from
'e his service, but shall be delivered up on
J. claim to the party to whom his service
IS is due; while prudence and justice would
= combine in persuading you to modify
the acts Of Congress on that subject SO
as not to Oblige private persons to assist
.e in their execution; aud to protect free.
F men from being, by abuse Of the laws
% carried into slavery.
5, REPEAL OF PERSONAL LIBERTY LAWS
re I agree that all laws of the States
D., whether free or Slave States, which re
s. late to this class Of persons, or any 9th
IS ers, recently coming from, or residen
in other States, and which laws contra
n vene the Constitution Of the United
l. States, or any law of Congress passet
at in conformity thereto, ought to be re
/ pealed.
n sLAvERYINTHEs STATES NOT TO BE INTERTER
.y ED wTTU--PROPosED CoNsTITUTIONAI
IS AMENDMENT.
t. Secondly, Experience in public af
a.. fairs has confirmed my opinion that do
g mestic slavery, existing in any State, /
IN wisely left by the Constitution Of th
a United States exclusively to the care
a. management and disposition of tina
is State, and if it we're in my power,
u. would alter the Constitution in that re
We spect if nisapprehension Of my position
g needs so strong a remedy. l am will
30 ling to vote for an amendment of tn
w Constitution, declaring that it shall no
n by any future amendment be so altere
o. as to confer on Congress any power t
abolish or interfere with slavery 10 au
~ State.
LEGISLATION ON TUE TERRITORIES.
'S Thirdly While think that Congress
-. has exclusive and sovereign authority t
a' legislate on all subjects whatever in tn
u common territories of the United States
- and while certainly shall never di
"a rectly, or indirectly, give my vote to es
y tablish OF sanction slavery in such terri
- tories, or anywhere else in the world, yc
" the question, what constitutional law
u, shall at any time be passed ia regard {
=, the territories, is, like every other quCl
~ ton, to be determined on praetica
-, grounds. voted for enabling acts in th
- cases ofOregon, Minnesota aud Kausa
without being able to secure 10 them sue
% provisions as I would have preferre,
~ and yet ] think / voted wisely. So no
so l am we'll satisfied, that under existin
~ circumstances, a happy and satsfactor
~ solution Of the difficulties 10 the remain
ing territories would be obtained by sin
liar laws, providing for their organic,
ND tion, were it otherwise practicable. /
therefore, Kansas were admitted as
l State under the Wyandotte ConstitJ
Of ton, I would favor the admission Of tW
It, new States, which should include th
De- remaining territory, reserving the rigl
Il Al