The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-02-13

say many things by their authority, but
that is one thing ] do not think he is al>
lowed to say by his master, Jefferson
Davis, yet. i,sei ~ - Hu ,
Now, sir, I wish to follow little fur
ther the suggestion which the gentleman
saw fit to make here of the origin of this
war and how ii was brought about
The policy which has brought about
this contest is very different from the
early policy of the Government to which
the gentleman refers. He says that il
the old status Of slavery under the Con.
stitution were restored, all would be
well. l beg leave to say that it is be,
cause thegentleman and. his party broke
up the old policy of tlieN- Government
touching slavery that this rebellion be.
came possible inthe land. Suppose the
gentleman and his party had not gone
off Of late years in the conspiracy with
these very rebels to extend slavery and
give il empire for the sake Of securing q
present party triumph, but had stouily
stood by the old policy, the ancient
landmarks ofthe Republic, does any,
body suppose that this rebellion would
this day have shaken the Union and
filed the hearts Of all good men with
Girefnl apprehensions for the success o.
this last experiment of representative
government! Not at all. Who ever
heard in the beginning of the Govern.
ment of the United States going out on
crusade for the conquest of territory
for the very purpose of extending tht
area of slavery and upholding it by Fed
eral arms! We all know that in the be,
ginning slavery existed in the original
thirteen States. with the exception o.
Massachusetts, and we know as well
that under the benefcent workings o.
our institutions, operated upon by The
free spirit OF our free Constitution, which
Washington himself declared was "per.
fectly free in lis principles" one half Of
those States, without violence to hu,
man being or human habitation, abel.
ished the system. When everything
was tending directly TO the same end in
all the other States, new light arose in
the Republic, after the fathers had de.
parted, and when the Calhouns and the
Haynes and McDuffies found theil
places in the national councils. It was
under the lead of that distinguished
man, whom the gentleman himself citet
upon this floor this morning, Mr.. Cal
houn, that the Government was thrown
into conflict with foreign Power fol-
the very purpose Of acquiring terrific
ry, equal in extent to the territory of tht
empire of France, for the support of thu
institution Of slavery.
refer you to Mr.. Calhoun's letter
as Secretary of State, to our representa-
tive in France, (Mr. King,) wherein h,
says that the annexation of Texas TO tn,
Union as slave Statei is essential to tn,
maintenance and perpetuity of the insti
tuition of slavery. What followed3-
These gentlemen from the North, whit
tell us now to restore slavery to its an
cient status under the Constitution, ant
all will be well with the Republic, i'm,
mediately fell in with the suggestion
and all over the North, upon the ban
hers of this Democracy, who claim tc
be the guardians of the Union and tn,
Constitution to-day, blazed the words
"Polk, Dallas, and Texas" That il
not all. After they had succeeded il
hunting to his grave by their slander
and their calumnies the great commone
Of Kentucky, the man who had hear
large enough and patriotic enough /,
embrace the whole Union and all its in
terests; the man who had vision clea
enough and strong enough to penetrat
the future, and with the pre.science Q
a prophet to fortell that of this propose,
acquisition of foreign territory could on
ly come national dishonor; when he wa
hunted down, and your champion, upo
the sole basis of the annexation of Tex
as, was elevated over him to the Pres
dency, what followedl Where, ther
was your love for the Constitution an
the time. honored policy Of the Govern
mena Texas, a foreign State, by you
party, not mine. was admitted into tn
Union with perpetual slave constitu
tion by contract. Every body know
that contract of that sort made with
. foreign State could only be rightfull
: made, if at all, under the Constitution
by the treaty-making power, and there
fore only with the assent of two third
of the Senate. 1t is fact in histor
that the attempt was made so to anne
Texas, and that it failed. The tw
! thirds ofthe Senate refused to assent I
it, What then! Why, the party rep
resented by these defenders Of 18th
Constitution as it is and the Union as
was" laid the foundation Of this YER
revolt to>day by breaking through tn
restrictions of the Constitution, b
trampling their oaths under their feel
by introducing, in the service Of this in
stitution ofslavery. which was the gres
pillar Of Democracy at that day, thei
famous joint resolution, and by passin
it through the Senate by a meager ms
jority Of one, in defiance Of their oath
and the Constitution.
To-day, sir, the words'of Mr.. Cla
sound like prophet word, "Do thi,
and you will involve your country i
national dishonor and war;" You di
do it and theresults predicted followe,
as effect follows cause. The first resuI
ofthis new slave policy was foreigl
war with Mexico; the last is this ciVi
war at home over the division of tn
spoils Of this conquest. You had nj
sooner got Texas into the Union, an,