Year: 1860

and hands off by the Territorial Legislature !
Loud applause With the Supreme Court !
of the United States hold that neither Con- !
gress nor the Territorial Legislature has any
power TO establish, impair, or abolish slavery
in the Territories. But if, in the face of this !
positive prohibition, the Territorial Legisla-
ture should exercise the power of interven !
ing, then this would be a mere transfer OF
the Wilmot proviso and The Buffalo plat |
form from Congress, to be carried into exc
cution in the Territories TO the destruction
of all property in slaves. [Renewed ap-
plause.


An attempt of this kind, if made in Con-
! gress, would be resisted by able men on
| the floor OF both Houses: and probably de-
| feated. Not so in remote Territory. To
every new Territory there will be a rush of
Free Soilers from the Northern States They
would elect the first Territorial Legislature
before the people of the South could arrive
with their property, and this Legislature
would probably settle forever the question
of slavery according TO their own will


| And shall we for the sake OF squatter
sovereignty, which, from lis nature, can
| only continue during The brief period of
| Territorial existence, incur the risk of divi-
ding the great Democratic party of the
| country into two sectional parties, the one
| North and the other South Shallthis great


party which has governed the country in
| peace and war, which has raised il from
! humble beginnings TO be one of the most
| prosperous and powerful nations in The
world-shall this party be broken up for
such cause? That is the question. The
numerous, powerful, pious and respectable
| Methodist Church has thus been divided
The division was a severe shock 10 the


Union. A similar division of the great


Democratic party. should it continue, would


rend assunder one of the most powerful
links which bind the Union together


entertained no such fearful appreheu-
sions. The present issue is transitory, and


will speedily pass away. In the nature Of


things it cannot continue. There is but one


possible contingency which can endanger


The Union and against this all Democrats,


whether squatter sovereigns or popular SOW


ereigns, will present united resistance


Should the time ever arrive when Northern


agitation and fanaticism shall proceed so


far as to render the domestic fresides of
! the South insecure, then and not till then


will the Union be in danger. A united
Northern Democracy will present wall OF


fire against such catastrophe


There are in our midst numerous persons
who predict the dissolution of the great


Democratic party, and others who contend
that it has already been dissolved The
wish is father 10 the thought. 1t has been


heretofore in great peril but when divided
, for the moment, it has always closed up its
ranks and become more powerful, even


from defeat. 1t will never die whilst the


ConshtutionSnd the Union survive. 1t will


live to protect and defend both. 1t has its
: roots in TIE very vitals of the Constitution
and, like ore of the ancient cedars of Leb
anon, it will flourish to afford shelter and
,, protection to that sacred instrument, and &c
shield it against every storm o. faction. Re.


newed applause.l


Now, friends and felow.citizens it i:


probable that this is the last political speech
that shall ever make. A voice, awe


hope not"] Ii is now nearly forty year
since | first came to Washington as mem


Der of Congress, and | wish TO say this


night that during the whole period have


received nothing but kindness and attention


from your fathers and from yourselves


Washington was then comparatively


small town now it has grown 10 be grea
and beautiful city and the first wish of m,
heart is that lis citizens may enjoy uninter
rupted health and prosperity. thank yor
y for the kind attention you have paid to me
. and now bid you all a good night. GPro
u Iongec cheering