Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-02-25
The Voice of an Old Democrat.
SPEECH OF THE
nan. BENJAMIN CHAMPNEYS.
CorNry

uHN. AN s..
OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
A Joint resolution instructing our Senators in
Congress to oppose the passage of a law appropri-
ating twenty millions of dollars to com pensate the
owners of emancipated slaves in the State of Mis-
souri, offered some days since by Mr.. Kaine of Fa-
-yette being under consideration in the House,
Mr.. CHaNPSEYs said: 1 regret, Mr.. Speak
er, that some other gentleman. better able
than myself TO discuss tn is question, has not
risen to address the House but no other gen.
,Ieman taking the floor, am rather compelled
to speak on this subject, which think should
not pass without discussion.
have always been opposed, Mr.. Speaker, to
this sort of legislative revision of the Con-
gress of the United States, except in matters
pending there, in which our own Common
wealth interested. There is now upon the
files of this House series of resolutions not
one of them breathing any cofdence in the
tiovernment-not one of them denouncing re-
bellion of the South-all of them sympathi-
zing with those who are opposing the arm of
the Government; because, sir, | hold that, at
This time, opposition to the Government of
this country is aiding rebe llion. If ever there
was q time in the history of any country in
which there should be one united heart to sus-
tain this Government, il is at the present IN o.
ment. 1t was wise law of the Athenian Re-
public that compelled every citizen, when the
country was in danger, TO avow his sentiments.
Those who remained silent were punished
equally with those who avowed their senti-
ments against the Government. 1t was wise
law and one which think should commend
itself TO every loyal heart.
Now. sir, what is the history of this con test
Il am not going 10 give it but simply to
glance at it, aud pariicu larly in reference to
this slavery question Why, sir, Pennsylva-
MIA is now retrOgrading. Twice when was in
the Legislature some years ago. voted in
favor OF the abolition of slavery in the Dis
frict of Columbia. In the year 1896 or 1880
proposition in favor of that object passed
the Senate unanimously, and in this House it
was passed with but eight dissenting voices.
and the ground on which these eight dissen-
ting voices were given was that the resOlnt ion
not imperative upon our Senators and
Representatives. And, sir, L recollect the
admirable and noble preamble of the act of
1880, drawn by@one of the most distinguished
men of the county, in which are set forth
sentiments OF opposition to the institution of
slavery, and in which ii is declared that we,
having gained our own liberties, should con
slider it first duty to give freedom TO
those who have been so much oppressed-to
those who have been separated. parents from
children, and husbands from wives.
That resolution, at the time when it was
passed, received universal commentator.
How We have gone back since that time
Why, sir, the establishment of a new State
Western Virginia. in which slavery has been
rrpudiated, has been denounced when every
one knows that the soil of that State is worth
three dollars where it was worth but one be-
fore the abolition Of slavery. Wherever the
foot of slavery touches any soil. there is nee
essarily depreciation in everything. 1t pre-
vents the emigration of freemen to that Sec
ton. No laboring man who values his perso-
nal position desires to make his home in
community that sustains the system of slavery.
Why, sir, look at South Carolina-that little
State which undertook to overawe the Federal
G"vernment-a State in which thirty thous-
and planters ruled two hundred Thousand nom
slsveholding whites with rod of iron, no one
helng entitled to vote, un less he has such an
amount "t property as may give him the pow
er 10 do so. Yet, sir, the masses OF the North
are told that this institution of slavery is eve
r,thing. 1t was De Bou's Rerie,r which de-
ciared that slavery is the cornerstone of all
civilized society that there is nothing to be
compared TO It anywhere that it has made
the South moral and religious, lie the North
mas become fsnantical and Intidcl. And Ham
mond, who in the Senate of the United
States denounced the people of the North as
'mudsllls" I'D speech which was answered so
splrndidly by the unfortunate Broderick, said
that the non saveholding whites of the South
bad only enough education and enough pride
Of spirit to enable them to be ruled by the
shareholders.
Now, sir, what is the policy Of our Govern
Hent 1t is a beneficial policy-a benevolent
poiicy. II is policy designed to make this
great country what il ought to be. The Dem
oelailc party in former days acknowl ledge the
evils Of slavery. Democratic convention
h'ld at Pittsburg In lSi9, adopted resolutions
q do nat now recollect with what number of
0'sse nting voices) declaring in favor of free
soil IN the territories. That Was the Demo
cratic doctrine in those days. / reco llect al
30 that an eminent gentleman of our own
S,aie, who had occupied the most distinguish
~ position in this country, denounced, in
Ie-o, the Missouri Compromise and condenn-
Gu any attempt to force slavery into the terri
torles. Such was the state Of the public mind
ih former years. But, sir. at this date, after
seventy years of consistent action against the
institution OF slavery and in favor of emanci-
patton, mot with the design of DESTROYING il
unconstitutionally, do not mean that,) il is
proposed that We shall now suddenly take
STAND in this hall in favor of the institution of
slavery. When Missouri is sending up her
SHOUTS In favor of emancipation-when she
Has begun to appreciate the beneficial effects
VI iree institutions-it is proposed to array on
W .le side OF slavery, Pennsy lvania, a State
,hat gave so noble an utterance on this SUBJ
Jeet IN 1864 State that placed upon her
statute books, by vote unanimous or near
so, the declaration that slavery is an insti- |
su'loh iraught with evils to the country, and,
ns a. we had just emerged from the war of the |
neVolution, in which we struggled to gain lib |
cry Tor ourselves, it was our duty before God
70 give freedom to the oppressed race within
, vur own midst. But, sir, it is now proposed |
ana. .ne Government of the country, when en-
saged in one of the most beneficial measures
!. mas ever attempted, shall be checked and |
tsnwsrted by that Legislature whose solemn |
ueciaration in 1850 was that the institution of |
,a'ery Is curse to the country. How ex- |