Year: 1860

course of argument which has to be met invites
Southern men to assail us that they, the RepuL-
cans, may justify their assaults on tho South un-
der the plea Of self-delense.


In order to show that he did not misinter pret,


he read an extract from Senator Seward's speech
ut Rochester, in regard to the "Irrepressible Con-
nct" This, he said, was the theory Of the Repub-
lican party. that there is conflict between the
different institutions of the States-not of the
same State but of the Free States and the Slave
States. Their argument is, that two systems of
States cannot permanently exist in the came Union
without sectional warfare must continue to rage


with increasing fury, till the Free States shall sur


render or the Slave States be subdued. Hence


while they appeal to tho passions of one section,
their object is to alarm the people of the other


tioD, and drive them to madness, in the hope that
they will invade their Northern rights as an ex-
cuse to carry on aggression on Southern rights.
Lie appealed TO the candor of Senators whether
this was not fair exposition of the tendencies OF
the doctrines proclaimed by the Republican party.


The creed of that party, he said, is founded on


the theory that because Slavery is not desira bio in


their States, 1t is not desirable anywhere; and be-


cause Free Labor is good thing with US, it is a


good ihing every where Ia other words, that par


~ rests on the theory that there must be uniiur-


nifty in the domestic institutions and internal


policy OF the several States of this Union. Here


IN his opinion, is the fundamental error on which


the system rests. While in Illinois, he denied


aud now repeated it, that uniformity in the domes-


tic institutions Of the different States was either
possible or desirable, On that issue he conducted


The canvass at home, and he wished to ask the


Senate 1t such was the doctrine Of the trainers oi


the Constitution ? lie wished the country to bear


in mind that, when the Constitution was adopted


there were twelve Slave States and one Free State


and, suppose this doctrine ot uniformity on the


Slavery question had prevailed, would Freedom
have trumphed over Slavery? On the contrary,
II the test had been made, and this doctrine then


proclaimed, would it not have resulted in the
Constitution fastening Slavery on every inch oi
American soil, North as well as South? Was it
fair for the friends of free institutions in those
days to claim that the Federal Government must
not touch the institution but wait until they get
majority, and then WELD that majority to abol.
ish the institution in those other States2 II uni


tormiy was desirable, it might have been obtained


by blotting out State Governments, and by having
State legslatious conferred on Congress and pow
er over the municipal and domestic concerns OF
the people in the States, as well as over the
questions affecting the whole Union. But the
trainers Of that instrument knew, as well as we
know, that in country as largo as this is there
is grea: variety Of climate, soil and production,
and there must be diversity of institutions and


domestic regulations adapted to the wants of each
locality. They knew shat liberty depended
ON the right of the people Of each State to estab-
,ish their own laws and institutions, and control
them at pleasure The Constitution, therefore,
was based on Gissimilarity of domestic iustitu.


tions and domestic polity. The Constitution was
founded on the idea that each State had peculiar


wants, which required peculiar legislation distinct


from every other Safe. Hence, said Mr.. Doug
las, assert that this doctrine Of uniformity is re-


pugnant to the Constitution, and revolutionary in


its character, and leading directly to despotsm


Uniformity in local affairs in any country, TO any


great extent, is despotism always Show Inc


Centralism, prescribing uniformity, and l will


show you despotism as odious and insuferable
as that Of Austria or Naples. Dissimilarity there.
FORE is the principle which the Upion rests.
Give such law as the Con nsttution contem-
plates and authorizes and will show the Senator
from New York that there is q Constitutional mode
of repressing even the "irrepressible conflict
lie would open the prison doors and tell these
conspiraors to select their cells, where they are
to drag out miserable life as a punishment for
crimes against the peace of society Can any
man cay there is 10 danger of the recurrence OF
the outrage at Harper's Ferry? Isnot the Repub-


can party strong, vigorous, defiant, and success.
NJ a. LID


creed they did before this invasion? 1t is true
that most of them disavow the acts of John
Brown. l am glad they do that. am rejoiced
they have gone thus far; but l must be permitted
to say it is not enough that they disayow the act


unless they also repudiate and denounce the doc.
trines and teachings which produce the act.


These doctrines are promulgated in the shape OF
speeches and pamphlets and books. The causes
which produced the Harrer's Ferry invasion are
the Border States are to have their hands tied as
to the power of self defense, and remain patient
under a threatened invasion in the day or in the
night? Can you expect people to lie patient
when they dare not lay down to sleep without frs,
stationing sentinels to see If band of marauders
are not approaching with torch and pistol lire
qures more patience than freemen have to submit
to such state of things. II we wish to preserve
this Union, We must perform its guarantees. and
we must remedy every evil within the Union in
obedience to the Constitution. for which the Union
would furnish remedy. II the Federal Govern
ment fails to act, either from choice or from appre.
hension of want of power, it cannot be expected
that the States will be content to remain unpro.
. tecsed. Then, sir, see no hopes Of peace, fra


ternity and good feeling, among the different por-
8 ,ions Of this Union. except by bringing the power
Of the Federal Government. to the extent author
ICED by the Constitution, to protect the people Of


the Statos against any external violence and sg-
. gression to preserve peace. This system of sec