Year: 1860

as well as upon that OF slavery.
has expresses it's opinions on natur
. alizatIon, on the homestead and tn


tariff; it has declared its inviolabl
attachment to the Union. and it ha
avowed its purpose to substitut
economy for extravaganza, and re
form for mismanagement in nationa
, administration. There arc very few
think, who do not approve wba
the Republicans propose in thes


respects, and certainly it cannot b


denied that their compact unity


their determined energy, and :hei


superior numbers afford prett,


substantial ground of expectation


that their purposes in these respects


will be accomplished If the power


OF the federal government shall b,
committed to their charge. So ial


as other questions than that OF slave


ry are concerned, therefore, there il
clearly no reason to deprecate Re-
publican success.


| como back then to the slavery
Question, and first Of all let me say
what suppose all will admit, that
it is exceedingly desirable that this
slavery question shall be settled, and
finally settled in some way. 1t has
disturbed the peace of the country
too long. Let it be settled, and lot
| it be so settled that it will stay set
tied. All unite in this wish - at
least all who have no ends to pro-
mote otLer than the public good.


Nearly all will, probably, agree
also that all plans for the settlement
Of this question hitherto adopted
have proved utterly abortivo.


The settlement OF the slavery
question, therefore remains an unset.
tied problem. Who shall sofvu i'll


Few observers Of the course of
human affairs, hesitate to admit that
political events, as well as natural
phenomena, are regulated by certain
laws, impertectly understood indeed,
but not the less regular therefore in
operation. The progress of every
country in civilization determines
what civil and social questions must,
from time to time challenge solution
and settlement. Every community
necessarily strives to adjust its es-
tabished order in harmony with the
IDEAS OF Justice and the greatest good.
In a country of free institutions, the
people, seeking the same general
end, bn, differing as to the best mode
of attaining it, divide, naturally into
parties, and whatever question may
be at the time, most prominent in
the public consideration, is deter
mined, for the occasion at least, by
the succcss Of one or the other, as
the popular voice may decree.


Now he must be blind indeed,
who does not see that the question
Of slavery has for long time been
becoming more and more weighty
and important. For twenty years
it has been taking higher and higher
rank among the political questions
which have agitatcd the country. -
No art or device of politicians has
given it prominence or consequence.
Every art and device of politicians
on the contrary has been employed
to evade or suppress the discussion.
But the question would not down
1t mixed itself more and moro with
all political movements and organi
cations. 1t entered more aud more
into the whole administration of
at home and abroad. =
1t influenced more and more the
whole course OF legislation aud ia.
dicial action. Necessarily, therefore,
and inevitably. it challenged more
and more OF public attention and
consideration, until it became what
il ia now acknowledged on all hands
to bo, the paramount and controlling
question beforethe American people.


Is it not clear then, that tie time
had come when the question must
be settledl Is it not clear that other
great pu''lic interests must suffer 80
long as it remains unsettledl Is it
not then the part Of wisdom and pat
riotism to meet this question directly
and squarely, and ascertain exactly
upon what principle and in what
mndo it can he settled, constitution
ally, beneiicially and permanently


The public Judgment OF the coun
try certainly answers these questions
in the affirmative. The people are
earnestly engaged in the considera
ton Of various plans Of settlement
proposed; and the result OF the pend.
ing Presidential election depends on
their choice of them.


Permit me, then, to examine these
plans, and to ask your candid indg-
ment Of the views which shall sub.
NIT to you.


Four parties have nominated can
didates for the Presidency and Vice
Presidency, and urge their election
upon considerations mainly derived
from their relations to the slavery
question.


The friends Of Mr.. Breckenridge


insist that the National Constitution


recognizes slavery as property, and


that in virtue Of this recognition, the


Shareholder has a constitutions


fright to take his slaves into nationa


territories, and hold them there a


property, and be protected in 81


holding them by the power Of tn,


federal government. 1t is Difficult
to see how, if this doctrine be al
) mitted, tho right to take slaves a
! property into any state can be dc
=