Year: 1861

MAY it please your Honor, if you weigh the
votes and not count them, we carry the point.
1t IS demanded that we shall concede the right
of transit and sojOuTn Of slaves with their
masters in Pennsylvania. But concede that
point on this floor, in this year of our Lord,
1861, and what pnralyZing qriver will go
through the body polite Of this State, at least
through the better part of it? Only concede
that point, and you will hear cry of condem-
nation come up from the tens of thousands of
Pennsylvania's intelligent sons, who inhabit the
valleys and hills OF the State, as loud as


Heavens thunders. / know that petitions
have come from Philadelphia. | could get pc
titions signed by 10000 persons, that the
honorable Senator from Huntingdon, whom |
appreciate highly should be hung. We know
we'll how to appreciate petitions presented from
certain sections. If Pennsylvania was to take
the step proposed by that Senator, there would
be a constant influx Of slaves here; men could
then buy and sell human beings, while on our
soil We need not make any such proposition
as that, for | tell You that it can never be car.
red out Should the Republican party endorse
that, its cpitaph is written, coffin made and
burial service performed 1t is demanded
further that the subject of slavery should be
taken from our legislative halls But there is
power behind the throne. The people can
not concede this point. 1t is claimed that we
shall execute the fugitive slave law. Have we
not stood by and pressed down our nervous
system and upheaying syspathies? Have we
not stood by and seen the Uuited States
Marshal size his captive by the throat and
take him away into bondage? Have we not
seen it. and is that not enough! Resistance
may have been made to the execution of the
law in certain cases; bat never so often as has
resistance been made in the South to the exc.
cut;on of the United States laws. | think it
enough to be compelled to stand by and see
the deed done, without being myself made a
misera le p0ltroon to execute 1t. | would say
to the South, do not expect the Fugitive slave
law to be executed any more faithfully in the
future. ! believe this TO be the voice of Penn
sylvania, thrilling up from each valley, flung
down from each height, our Country and
Liberty-God for the right. If We cannot
meet the difficulties which beset Us except by
conceding these fundamental principles of our
organic nature, what are we 10 do! There is
the Constitution, which reads; at shall be the
Gaty of Congress to suppress iuSurrection, to
repel INVASION Suppose that England had
made war upon US what would then be done?
1t is not England but part Of oursclves-the
Southern States. What is to be done? Let
your Constitution defend the law Of the realm
protect the right and crush out rebellion. /
know that the picture is dark one, but the
path Of duty is always the same REMARKED
that | could not see out Of our difficulties but
in three WAYS We must concede the right


-, - .Iop
aud where they please; or, in the second place
we must couclate their wrath by surrenderng
every principle of dignity and truth or, in the
third place--aud this is the manly and patriotic
course must maintain the Government by
all the resources that Providence aud Nature
have put within our reach-truSting to the
God Of empres-clinging to the Constitution
-laShing ourselves 10 that sacred instrument
as Ulysses did to the mast O.. his vessel. re-
solved 10 sink or swim with this, the ark Of
our National hopes


One other principle would direct attention
to: the duty of cur State government TO assist
in maintaining this Union; that Pennsylvania
with her three millions of people, her vast re-
! sources of wealth and her profound patriotism
pledges to Congress all the resources and
power of this great State for the maintenance
Of the government handed down to Us by our
fathers | look over these resolutions and
am frank enough ID say that every one Of the
principles named and advocated by myself are
contained in the resolutions Of the Sena;o or
from Philadelphia. They are contained in full
or in germ state, and l shall therefore vote
for them. We have fallen sir upon troubious
times Storms and tempests are about us
The pillars of our country seem cOllapSing.-
But let there be no fear, let no mans heart
fail him Stand for the truth, for the gov
ernmental principles of our fathers. The clouds
shall yet clear away, and the good old ship
Constitution, bound for the port of universal
freedom, shall emerge from the misty tempest,
the stars and stripes at her masthead, glori-
Gus history behind and en- undimmed future
before her.


The SCHooLMAsTER ABOUT New YoRK-J