Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-01-31


and stating the case most strongly in favor
of that party, IL was the refusal of the
South to consent that slavery should be
excluded from the Territories that led TO
the continued agitation, North and South
of that question, and finally 10 disunion
and civil war. Sir, will not be answer.
ed now by the old clamor about "the ag-
gressons of the slave power That mis-
cfable speoter, the unreal mockery, has
been exercised and expelled by debt and
taxation aud blood. II that power did
govern this country for sixty years pre-
ceeding this terrible revolution, then th e
sooner this Administration and Govern
ment return to the principles and policy
of southern craftsmanship, the better for
the country; and that, sir, is already, or
soon will be, the judgement of the people.
But 1 deny that it was the "slave power"
that governed for so many years, and so
wisely and well. 1t was the Democratic
party, and its principles and policy, mold
ed and controlled, indeed, largely by
southern statesmen. Neither will be
stopped by that other cry of mingled fan
aticism and hypocrisy, about the sin and
barbarism of African slavery. Sir, ! see
more of barbarism and sin, thousand
times, in the continuance of this war, the
dissolution of the Union, the breaking up
Of this Government, and the ensavement
Of the white race by debt and taxes aud
arbitrary power. The day Of fanatics
and sophists aud enthusiasts, thank God,
is gone at last aud though the age Of
chivalry may not the age of practical
craftsmanship rs about TO return. Sir,
accept the language and intent of the In
dlanna resolution to the full-'that in
considering terms of settlement we will
look only to the welfare, peace, and safety
of the white race, without reference to the
condition of the African. And when we
have done this, my word for it, the safety,
peace, and welfare of the African will
have been secured. Sir, there is fifty fold
less of anti slavery sentiment to day in
the West than there was two years ago,
and if this war be continued, there will be
still less year hence. The people there
begin, at last, to comprehend that domes-
tsc slavery in the South is question, not
of moral, or religion, or humanity, but
form of labor, perfectly compatible with
the dignity of free white labor in the same
community, and with national vigor, pew
er. and prosperity, and especially with
military strength. They have learned or
begin to learn, that the evils of the system
affect the master alone, or the community
and State in which it exists; and that we
OF the free States partake OF all the ma.
terial benefits Of the institution, unmixed
with any part fits mischieis. They be
ieve also in the subordination of the ne
gro race to the white where they both ex.
ist together, and that the condition of
subordnaton, as established in the South,
is far better every way for the negro than
the hard servitude of poverty, degradation
and crime to which he is subjected in the
free States. All this, sir, may be pro-sla.
veryism, if there be such a word. Per-
haps it is; but the people of the West be-
gin now to think it wisdom and good sense.
We will not establish slavery in our midst;
neither will we abolish or interfere with
it outside Of our own limits.
Sir, an anti slavery paper in New York
(the Trbune,) the most influential, and,
therefore, most dangerous of all that class
woSld exhibit more of dignity, and COM
mand more of influence, if it were always
to discuss public questions and public men
with decent pect-layng aside now
the epithets of "secessonist and traitor
has returned to its ancient political nom
encatute, and call certain members of
this House "pro-slavery." Well, sir, in
the old sense of the term as applied to the
Democratic party, | will not object. |
said years ago, and it is fitting time now
to repeat it.:
lfto love my country 10 cherish the Union; to re.
we're the Constitutions ifto abhor the madness and
hate the which would lift up a socrilegious
hand against either If to read that in the past TO be-
hold in the prcseut to foesee It IN the future of this
land which is of more value to and to the world for
ages to come than all the multiplied millions who have
Inhabited Afrca from the creation to s day If this
is to be prosavery then in every nerve, fiber, vein,
bone, tcudon joint and liPanent from the topmost
hair of the head to the last extremity of the foot
all over and aogethera proslavery man."
And now, sir, | com to the great and
controlling qsestion within which the whole
issue of u.ion or disupion is bound up: is
there "an rrcpressible conflict between
the slavehoding and non-slaveholding
States! Must ''the cotton and rice fields
Of South Carolina and the sugar planta-
tons Of louisiana" in the Language of Mr..
Seward, "be ultimately killed by Tree la
Dor, and Charleston and New Orleans be-
come marts for legitimate merchandise
alone, or else the rye fields and wheat
fields Of Massachusetts, and New York
again be surrendered by their farmers to
slave culture and the production of slaves,
and Boston and New York become once
more markets for trade in the bodies and
souls of menu If 80, then there is an
end of all union forever. You cannot
abolish slavery by the sword; still less
proclamatons, though the President were
to "proclaim' every month. OF what
possible avail was his proclamation of
September Did the South submit .
Was she even alarmed? And yet he has
now fulmined another "but against the
III