Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-30
An Eloquent Defense of the south-Horatio
Seymour. %

We invite our readers to an intellec-
tual treat, in the speech of the present
Democratic candidate for the Presidency,
delivered at St Paul, Minnesota. nine
years ago, to-wit: in August, 1859. As
an eloquent, honest and noble defense of
the South, as a bold and fearless con.
demnation of her revilers at that day
equally applicable to-day--it is worthy of
the best days of the Republic. He said !:
why is it that good men have been
taught of late years to cherish something
like hatred toward their fellow-country-
men because they chance to live in cir
cumstances and under institutions differ.
ent from our own? Why is it that we
are forgetful of the cost at which our
liberty was achieved? Why is it that the
very institutions which have contributed
so much to our great prosperity are held
in such light regard? Now, | am a
Northern man, standing on Northern
soil, and speaking to Northern men.
and, in speaking of the South-though !
believe with the North that they have
men among them who are sel6sh-yet,
after all, as body, / imagine them as
patriotic men, who love their country, as
brothers of my own, men whom wish to
see live in the kindly memories of every
citizen Of this great and glorious land
[applause]; therefore, in speaking of the
origin, rise aud history of this difference
between Northern and Southern men,
shall speak of the faults of the North, as
consider it in good taste and true man
hood to speak plainly to these who hear
me and kindly of those who are away.
[Applause When our fathers, on COM
mon battle-felds, we're struggling for
common rights, slavery existed in all our
colonies; there was no exception; it was
on every rood Of ground. We had no
difficulty on account Of slavery, then, in
achieving our independence. But since
that time slavery has been abolished over
more than half of this land of ours. 1t
is now in comparatively contracted lin
its, and now we hear that it must lead to
alienation of the people and the disrup-
ruptious Of this great confederacy. l
fear that we of the North are unjust, and
not altogether courageous, in our treat
uent Of our brethren Of the South. How
came slavery in these United States
Who brought the negro from Africa
| The South never had ships. The men of
New York, where / came from, the men
Of Massachusetts, and the men of Rhode
Island, were those who stole them from
their homes and brought them over to
the shambles here. Applsuse Who
laid the foundations OF slavery which un-
derlie the institutions Of many Of our
| States7 The time was when, over the
whole length and breadth Of this land Of
ours, the people did not recognize the
black man as having any political rights.
Now. my friends, that is Just as true Of
Massachusetts, as Of South Carolina, and
Judge Taney, in so stating. merely stated
an historical fact, and known to be so BY
every student Of history. The other day,
/ in looking over papers which came into
my hands, | found an original document,
bill Of sale for q slave from q man in
| Massachusetts TO a man in New York, and
| that paper throwsa most remarkable light
over this whole question Of slavery. II
commenced thus: To sll Christian peo-
| pie 10 whom these presents may come,
Mark Rose, sell my slave, etc. The
people Of Massachuseeis held that no
| persons we're entitled TO any political
| privileges unless they we're Chfistiansi
and they went further than thai-lhey
held th.s no one vas entitled e political
privileges unless be vas the right kind Of
q Christian. Laughter They held The
views which laid the Foundation Of
slavery in the theology Of that time
They sold Qusksrs into slavery-thsy