The national Republican., 1861-01-23
convince me, that whatever of high hone las


they were all landed there in day. they would |
perish in the next ten days and there are not |
surplus shipping and surplus money enough in |
the world to carry them there in many times |
ten days. What then? Free them all, and |
keep them among us as underlings? Is it quite |
certain that this betters their condition.
think l would not hold one in slavery at any |
rate yet the point is not clear enough to de-
nounce people upon. What next Free them
and make them politically and socially our
equals2 My own feelings will not admit of
this and if mine would, we well know that
those of the great mass of white people will not.
Whether this feeling accords with justice aud
sound Judgment, is not the sole question, it,
indeed, it is any part of it. A universal feel.
ing, whether well or i'll founded, cannot be
safely disregarded We cannot, then, make
them equals. 1t does seem to me that sys.
tens Of gradual emancipation might be adopt
ed but for that tardiness in this respect,
will not undertake to Judge our brethren of the
South.
"W hen they remind us of their constitutional
rights, l acknowledge them, not grudgingy,
but fully and fairly and l would give them
any legislation for the reclaiming of their fugi
tives, which should not, in its stringency, be
more likely to carry free man into slavery
that our ordinary criminal laws are to hang an
innocent one."-Speech at Ottotca, Ill.,, dug.
81, 1858.
Has anything ever threatened the existence
of this Union, save and except this very institu.
ton Of slavery? What is it that we hold most
dear amongst us? Our own liberty and pros
perity. What has ever threatened our liberty
and prosperity save and except this institution
of slavery If this is true, how do you propose
to improve the condition Of things by enarging
slavery-by spreading it out, and making it
bigger?
:" You may have wen or cancer on your
! person, and not be able to cut it out lest you
bleed to death but surely it is no way to cure
it to engrait it, and spread it over your whole
body. That is no proper way of treating what
you regard as wrong."-Speech at Alton, Oct.
l5, 1858.
al suppose most of us Il know it of myself)
believe that the people of the Southern States
are entitled to a Congressional fugitive slave
law AS the right is constitutional, l agree
that the legislation shall be granted to it, and
that not that we like the institution of slavery.
We profess to have no taste for running and
catching negroes; at least, profess no taste
for that job at all. Why, then, do yield sup
port to fugitive slave law? Because do not
understand that the Constitution which guar
antics that right, can be supported without
| it."-Speech at alton, Oct. l5, S5S.
"The real issue in this conference.-the one
pressing upon every minds the sentiment on
the part of one class that looks upon the inst-
tuition Of slavery as a wrong, and of another
class that does not look upon it as q wrong.
The sentiment that contemplates the institution
of slavery in this country as a wrong, is the
sentiment of the Republican party. They look
upon it as being a moral, social, and political
wrong; and while they contemplate it as such,
they nevertheless have due regard for its actual
existence among us, and the difficulties of get
ting rid of it in any satisfactory way, and to all
the constitutional obligations thrown about it..
Yet having a due regard for these, they desire
policy in regard to it that looks to its not ere.
ating any more danger They insist that it
should, AS far as may be, be treated as wrong
and one of the methods Of treating it as a
wrong is TO make provision that it shall grow
no larger. If there be a man among us who
does not think that the institution of slavery is
wrong in any Of the aspects of which l have
spoken, he is misplaced, and ought not to be
with US. And if there be man amongst us
who is so impatient of it as a wrong as to dis
regard its actual presence among ms, and the
J difficulty of getting rid Of it suddenly in sat
l isfactory way, and to disregard the constitu
tional obligations thrown about it, that man i.
} misplaced if he is on our platform. ."-Speech a
Alton, Oct. 10, 1858.
FEW WORDS TO THE SOUTH.
We the Republicans, and others, forming
: the opposition of the country, intend to stanc
by our guns to be patient and firm, and in thu
long run to beat you. When we do beat you
4 you perhaps want to know what we will d.
5 with you. l will tell you, so far as am au
l thorized to speak for the opposition, what We
mean to do with you. We mean to treat you
as nearly as we possibly can, as Washington
Jefferson, and Madison, treated you. We meal
to leave you alone, and in no way interfere
with your institution; to abide by every com
promise of the Constitution and, in a word
). coming back to the original proposition, t.
. treat you as far as degenerated men (ifwe hav
: degenerated) may, according to the example
! of those noble Washington, Jefferson
q and Madison. We mean to remember that yo
;. are as good as we are :; that there is no di
| ference between us, other than the difference
of circumstance We mean to recognise an
: bear in mind, always, that you have as goo
hearts in your bosoms as other people, or q
. we claim to have, and to treat jou accord
, ingly-Speech at Cincinnati, Sept. II, 1859.
! DOUGLAS AND JOHNSON PLATFORM
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