Year: 1860

/
rather than the elevation of IA man. He viii


feel this to be the more incumbent upon hin


at such tim. the present, wlsen the ten
, denotes 0f parties more distinctly marked


than in any previous campaign. 1t will bt


my object this evening. 10 endeavor t. exhibit


in distinct light, the dividing Iinc between
the political parties Of lIc day. and to ascer


tain, i. possible, what, i'll all probability, woulC


be the effect upon The country Of the election


Of the respective candidates for he Pres. den
cy.


If this were strife merely between indi i'd


ual m N, it wea!d possess but triiing import


ance, ard should not trouble you with ciiheI


reuaark suggestion. But as | regard the


contest, the determination will soon be made


not alone as TO our vaue in the confedcracy
but to the destiny Of the nation itself


The policy Of our government is, in many
respects, underlined. The more serious ques-


tions affecting us have but recently become


topics of careful consideration. Oar fathers


were unable to foresee, during the formation Of


the Constitution, the greater embara


to which the future of the country was to be
! subjected, and consequently no provision was


made against them. Subjects which distract


cd and divided them, in their d2libcration,
! have lost much Of their former consequence


and we seem to be more anxious to ascertain


what they should have said furt ther, than what
| they actually did say. Even the controversies


in which we ourselves have been engaged
within the last decade have been settled or
/ lost sight of, and we are now about to enter


into that conflict which is to define many of
| the most important powers Of the government,


and to fix the character Of the dominant in
stitutions Of the country. The prupricty Of
/ re-elgibility TO Office, the exact relations be
tween federal and local authority, the consti-


nationality Of banks and internal improve


ments, the regulation of the cureley and the
distribution of the proceeds of the public
lands, no longer agitated and discussions
upon them are only to be found in our past
history, aud in the fossil remains of extinct
parties It may in truth be said that old
| things have passed away and all things have
| become new.


There was time, not very far back in the


past, when Slavery was universally admitted


to be wrong m Sc, unwisc in practice, detri-


menta! to both individuals ami communities,


and against the spirit and genius Of our free
system. Now, however, it is declared to be


divine in its origin the highest type Of human


civilization, and indispensable to the mainte-


nance Of democratic republic. Formerly


it was regarded as u condition to be constant


y reduced. and finally to be extuguished.
Now, on the contrary the demand is urged


that it shall be extended and made controlling.
Here find the cause Or source Of the great


political issue of the present. Shall Slavery


become national institution and governing


power in the country, or shall it remain as the


Constitution eft &? This is not an inquiry
propounIed by Us Of the North, but forced
upon us by our brethren of the South. They
inquire an answer at our hands, and we cannot
avoid response if we would Silence upon
our part, under the circumstances could not
be construed otherwise than as affirmative Of
their claims. / make the distinct uvowai that
Slavery seeks the acquisition of all our new
States; for two objects: first, to secure the
value of slaves, and second, to direct the
powers of the Federal Government.


The irrepressibe conflict" SO frequently
commented on and denounced by the South,
is constantly admitted and acted on by them.
They are too astute as observers. and saga
cious as politicians, not to know there is ne
cessary and unending antagonism between IL |
berty and slavery. If they thought different |
ly, there would be far more peace and harmo- |
nv between the sections. 1t is their full ap
probation of the struggle for the mastery
which arms them for the conflict and induces
them to wrestle for the victory There is no
more evident fact than this, that the advo
Gates Of Slavery seek its extension SO as to
limit the influence Of the sentiment Of free
dom. We hate tyranny, and W uld prevent
such consntnmation. They ask that all who i
toll shall be held as propcrty-be regarded. !
in the chuste language Of an eloquent Sena-
tor, as mud sills." We believe that God ere
ated all men free, ard imposed lnbor upon
them for their advantage. Which hypothesis
shall he proven true? We will see hereafter
But, knowing that ;he principles of justice are
uniform and eternal, presume to believe that
those principles will prevail, and human rights
be maintained I am not ignorant Of the
fact that those who suppose they may right
fully make merchandise of mothers and their
children seem to think they can shape the de-
signs Of Providence, and re-write the history
of humanity, reversing everything our fathers
taught, and for the maintenance of which they
peried life and honor. | must be pardoned
for disagreeing with them, and protesting
against such conclusions.


The extension of negro slavery into the
territories of the United States has become a
settled policy of the Democratic party This
reality cannot be disguised, and ought not to
be denied. 1t is easily accounted for. Unity
Of interest and unity of desire win always
produce perfect concentration of strength.
The fortunes of the South have become COM
pletely identified with their peculiar domestic
relations By their harmony they have been
enabled to govern the Democratic party, and
shus far, to govern the country through the
agency Of that party. The vital force of that
organization being ia the South, and slavery
regarded there as necessity, it
cannot be considered strange that the inhu- S
,nce of the party should be directed rs to S
ortify doctrines most congena to the sup
posed welfare of those who direct its machine
lery. To many it has seemed unaccountable
hat executive action and legislative and judi
,ial proceedings should be SO shaped, from I
year to year, as TO strengthened the few )
at the expense of the great mass of our peo-
pie. Let it no longer be regarded as marvel I
ii mystery; the responsibility of it rests {
With those Northern men in whom we have /
'eposed our confidence and clothed with the I
garments OF authority. Examine the record
ID votes in your national Congress, and there
earn why it is that Northern capital and la |
,or are constantly borne down by the enor- i
nous weight of Southern exaction. When d
'our reasonable requests are denied need not /
ell you, with earnestness aud emphasis, it q
is because eight millions of men control eigh- /
zen millions through our representative elect {
ID By party pl edged to interests adverse to
ours Slavery educates its statesmen in a S