Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-03-11
R,TITICsrI0S OF THR C0ysIIIUuoSAL AMENDMENT
sketch Of the Remarks Of Hon. II. !. FULTON
Of St. Croix, IN the assembly, Thursday,

Of s.. Croix, IN the assembly, Thursday,
February 23d.
Mr.. SpEaKER;-BefoFe proceeding to the
question under discussion, 1 wish to-express
nv regret that am under the necessity OF
differing upon one point from the Hon. gen
tIeman from Milwaukee, (Mr. Hadiey,l and
that in regard to his statement that the Dem
ocratic party has been neither pTo-siavery,
nor an anti-slavery party.
I shall take occasion 10 show, IN the
course Of nv remarks, that the Democratic
narty had not, like the "Priest and the Levite,
n,ssed by upon the other side," letting slav-
erv alone, but Will maintain, thas It has been
an active prO-slaveTy party
am glad to note, however, as among
the most encouraging signs of the times, the
change of opinion and feeling in regard to
slavery Ia the Democratic party.
We cannot deny that if, as some of them
have for a few years past maintained, slavery
vas consistent with Republican institutions,
and that it was a manly virtue TO live upon
the unreQuited toll of ones fellow men, we
cannot DENY, say, if these premises, adopted
TO some extent by the Democracy, are correct,
that the present rebellion is right and justi-
fable.
Is slavery Fight?. Then it is right to fight
for its extension as the rebels are now fight
ing. If slavery is right, then were the Dem
Ocratic party right, in bringing up their ranks
in solid column, both North and South, TO
fght the political battle for its extension and
supremacy.
We should be doing an injustice TO forget
that there have been prOuder and better days
in the history of that powerful party. 1t
would fisparage the manhood of that great
party in former days if we fail to remember,
that there was time, when they did not
sf,a Fof
slavery, when they did Tot thus labor IN its
behalf, with zeal that was untiring.
The Democratic Legislature Of this State in
1915, by an almost unanimous vote, declared
slavery to be an evil Of the first magnitude
morally and politically" All the free States
EXPRESSED through their Legislatures the
same idea; but a nearer view. presents dark
er record.
That great party By its platforms and its
nTrsses has many times over, ratified the de-
eIiration of Judge fancy when be said, in
speaking of the sentiment of the people IN.
regard 10 the negro, prior 70 the adoption OF
tie Federal Constitution, that They had for
more than a century been regarded as far in
feriOr to the white race, that they had no
ri-hts which the white man was bound to re-
spect; and the negro might justly and law
fHy be reduced 10 slavery for bis benefit"
But seven wears ago, on the I'd of Febru-
4rv. 1883. the Nation was informed by Its
Presi !,ut. that under the Constitution slav
ery existed in all the territory of the United
states. and he added, . Kansas is at this
n ,meut as much Slave State as South Car
DINA or Georgia"
Tue same President ia his annual message
Of i've years ago, congratulated the nation
that tie slavery question was settled. He
stated that every citizen had right to
t,ke his slaves into the territories, and 10
have them there protected under the Federal
Constitution" He said further: "Neither
congress nor 4 territorial legislature, nor
ans human power Las any authority TO aHnul
or impair this vested IigA-"
dr. Speaker-This state claims 10 be a
human power, moved aud controlled 10 a
certain extent BY human agencies, and it Is
now about 10 strike at tEis vested right,
deemed 80 sacred by james Buchanan aud
Jefferson Davis, by Geo. III. Pendleton and
Robert Toombs, by HeIatiO Seymour and
Vallandigham.
We are engaged in the most gigantic war
Of which history gives any account: 3 war
that Is taxing the power OF the Government
to its utmost capacity. Hundreds of thou
sands of our fellow men, from every.waik Of
life. have buckled or their armOr, and gone
forth TO battle for the life OF the nation.
Between Us and them broid rivers flow,
tinwed with their blood. Between us and
them hOarv mountains rear in the sunlight
their heads, among whose crags have echoed
the boom of cannon, that has been their re-
auiem In the solemn hour Of DEATH Between
Us ard them wave forests Of pine and palm,
smons whose jungies the weary aud wounded
soldier has yielded up his lie. Was there
ever picture so grand, and solemn, and inn
pres>iYe, and yet 50 mOurnful
How, sir, have this great Democracy, that
are always Haunting at Us the declaration, that
they will - stand by the Union, under the
Co. stiJutiOn, in the future a il the past
how, l ask, have they delIeaneG themselves
in this time Of trouble Hive they encOur-
aged the tagging patriotism Of brave people
IN the dark hours Of adversely? No, sir.
Have they told their erring brethren in the
South that there wlssne hope for them but in
absolute submission TO the laws of the land ?
No, sir. tt y - A
Have they not, sir, declared the war, that
was undertaken so sOlemnly to preserve our
nationality, an experiment, and then insulted
the brave and discouraged the weak among
Us by declaring that that experiments was
failure?
Slave they not, by. every art known to
E politicians, and byeveTy trick of demsgOgues,
endeavOred to create discussions among the
people, Anu mus AAhAlE AAlt uul.E aEdAuol
itself that it might fall
Have they not encouraged and, disseminated
the idea thBt this war was brought upon the
country by the folly and wickedness of the
Republican party, and that therefore Demo-
Gratis we're in great measure, if not entire
", absolved from any duties In connection
with it
They have seemed, sir, to act as if it were
the highest duty of a Democrat to instil into
the minds OF the party followers dislike
for their country and its institutions, and an
intense and bitter hated for the admistra-
ton.
Have they not, by magnify 6 the amount
Of the national debt, by stating it to be two
or three times its actual amount, sought to
deprive the Government of both men and
money to carry on the war?
TMr. T here read some extracts, showing
that the character of Democratic public atoms
tended strongly TO dislOyalty.
Why, let me ask, have the Democracy thus
apparently labOred to harass and distress the
cOuntryf What has inspired their orators
and their presses with singular unanimity 10
belittle everything connected with maintain
ing the Union, supporting It's armies and
sustaining its credit, while on the other hand
every success, both actual and prospective
of the rebels has been maguiied =
can account for it in but one way. They
had espoused the cause Of slavery. They
had become bound hand and foot 70 its tFi-
umphal car marching over the land, blasting
I;t-a a sirneco every enrip of the tree OF Tber-