Year: 1860




bond, we abide by it. We entered into


this Union with States, Knowing that they


held slaves; and we feel ourselves bound


TO sustain that institution so far as the


law and the Constitution require US to do


SO, bat no further.


Does the South respect our rights as


much as we do theirs? Why, sir, free


man cannot 90 into slave State and


speak what George Washington and
Thomas jefferson taught, without being


considered an Abolitionist, an incendiary,


dangerous man taken and punished IN


the most shameful manner, and sent out


of the country; and he may think him


self we'll off if he escapes with his life


They break open the mails, and destroy


what they plea1e of the contents; and


more than that, We are told that we must


not exercise the right of suffrage in the


manner we think proper. When we are


ready to give up all these rights we shall
be fit for slavery, but not before.


propose to devote some remarks now


to the discussion of that other principle


of the Republican party-protection to


American industry. Upon that subject
| cannot expect to say anything very new


or interesting; anything which has not
been said by others better qualified to


discuss it than / am. The best minds


of this country have been turned to Its


examination; and think | may safely
say, that, when they have done SO with


an impartial desire to arrive at the truth,
the decision has almost universally been
, in favor of the doctrine.


Before l proceed to the discussion of
that subject, | wish to notice some re-


marks by the gentleman from Virginia,
Mr.. MILLsoN. who addressed the COM


mittee aday or two since. | did not hear
the gentleman's speech, but see it re.
ported in the Globe; and 10 order that he
: may not be misrepresented. | will read
= what he said on that occasion


" But understood the allusion of the gen
/ tleman from Pennsylvania, and it confirms me
. in the supposition that have INDUCED for


some time past as to the objects Of the Repub-
lican party, with which the gentleman is avow-
edly associated. What is that party2 Sir, |
4 say, for one, that do not fear the Republican
: party in any of its assaults upon slavery. |
, am not sensitive because do not fear you,


gentlemen. You can do netting that dread,
You will do nothing that can alarm me-"
The gentleman said only what he be-
: lleyes, and what every other gentleman
on that side of the House believes, if he
; would speak his true sentiments. The
Republican party have 10 desire, have no
8 design, have no power, have no wish, to
interfere with slavery in the States where
it exists. They have said SO in every
!. form, on every occasion, and gentlemen
ought to believe US and | am glad to find
the gentleman from Virginia does. He


says further.


"Yet YOU maintain your organization, hop
ing that the strong anu-slavery sentiment
which you attempt to nourish and perpctuate
will induce the people to remain with you.
} bound together as Republican party; and


when you are lifted into power, then you will
give that protection to northern manutactur-
; ing apd mining interests, and persecute those
grand and gaudy schemes of internal i'm
: provement, that you have been prevented for
! so many years from accomplishing, by the
stern opposition of the Democratic party"
am obliged to the gentleman from
Virginia for that candid and frank avow-
, al of what he believes to be the position
E and objects Of the Republican party
That Is, no doubt, the true secret of the
opposition to that party op the part Of
| our Democratic friends. They do not
' fear us on the slavery question. They


themselves say SO, speaking through one
! of their most distinguished leaders OF
:. this floor; but they oppose US because
s they believe that, when We do get into
f power, we will pass laws for the pTotec
: ton of northern industry. That is the
$ true secret of their opposition. They
$ are not afraid of us on account o.
f slavery; and why should they be? Do
(; we not hold the same principles on thai
a subject that Henry Clay held in his life
time? We stand precisely where ht
n stood when he was supported by large
t majority of the shareholders for the Pres
| idency. | ask leave to read what Mr.
e Clay says on that subject:


e $50 long as God allows the vital curren
E to flow through my veins so long as reason
: holds her seat enthroned in my brain, | vii
never, never aid in submitting one rood o
: free territory to the everlasting curse of hu


man bondage"


h Does the Republican party hold an
stronger position than this No, sir
: What does he say again with regard tt
: the moral, political, and social aspect o
: slavery?


9 al have made no change from the earlies
{ moment when | could consider the institution
# Of slavery. have held and have said, from
J. that day down to the present again and again
o and shall go down to the grave with the


opinion, that it is an cvl--a social and poll