Year: 1860

ry, with his dying breath asserted the doc
trine we hold to-day. Why, then, are we
held up before the community as violators
of your rights? 1t is late in the day to ac-
cuse us of harboring these opinions. Then
what doctrine do we hold that are com
planned of? You don't complain Of our
liberty bills. You don't complain that Mr.
Lincoln is violent man, and will probably
do any injury to you.


"The republican, party in the North aud
in Ohio in particular, hold the same opin-
ion, so far as know, with regard 70 this
peculiar institution that is held by all civil
lied pations in the world. We don't differ
in public sentiment from England, France,
Germany or Italy, or any other civilized
nation on Gods earth. tell you frankly.
you will never find community who are
in love with your peculiar institution
Now, the senator from Texas told us that
cotton was king, and could overrule, by its
influence q do bu, use his words,) and
compel men to come dowR-that it had
subjects in Europe. ! will say to that SEN
ator that they are rebellious subjects, and


are talking very disrespecfully of their


king. They tell you they sympathize with


those you call black republicans. There
fore, hope we shall hear no more Of the


toast that 'cotton is king" and is going to
overrule all nations and bring them under
its footstool. 1t never will be dole But
have our southern friends any complaints
to make If the platform? ! tell you frank
ly that we would prohibit, if we had the
power, slavery from invading another inch
of free territory of this government. i
stand there to-day. ! have argued it to
half million of people, probably, and
they stand thare-and they have cemmis-
stoned me to stand there forever, and help
me God / will. / say to you, while we
hold this doctrine to the end, there is no re-
publican, or convention of republicans, or
paper, that pretends we have any right in
states TO interfere with your peculiar insti-
tuition. On the other hand, our platform
repudates the idea that we have any right,
or intention even, to invade your institution
! in your own states. Now, what do you
complain of? You are going to break up
this government You are going to involve
US in war and blood out of mere suspi-
cion that we shall transcend that which we
stand here to vindicate. How would you
be justified in the eyes of the civilized
world 10 take SO monstrous position, and
predict it an mere suspicion? We don't
love slavery. Didn't you know it befnre to-
day. Everything remains as it did year
ago. But all at once, when we meet here,
find all gloom, and gentlemen rise up TO
say We are on the eve of breaking up this
government. Seven or eight states are GO
ing TO set up hostile government and
they look imploringly over TO US, and say,
You can prevent it, What can we do !?
You have not condescended to tell us what
you want done. If we should give up the
verdict of the people and take up your
platform, don't know but you would be
satisfied, and think the senator from Tex
as (Mr. WigfalD. rather intimated, and the
senator from Georgia Mr.. Iyerson), rather
more than intimated, that if we would take
what is exactly the Charleston platform, on
WHICH Mr. Rreckinridge was placed, and
give up that on which we won our victory,
you would grudgingly and hesitaiins be sat
isfed."


After asserting in strong and unequivo-
cal terms that the republicans would not
surrender the principles on which they had
won the presidential contest, and could not
do so without betraying the trust confided TO
them by the people, Mr.. Wade defined his
position towards the secession movements
as follows: =


"Many of you stand in an attitude hos
tile to this government when you threaten,
unless we do so and SO, you will go out of
this Union, and destroy the government.
| say, in my private capacity. never yield
ed to anything by the way of threats. In
my public capacity have no right to- yield
Therefore, / would not entertain PROPOSE |
ton for compromise. This long, chronic
controversy must be met upon the princi-
piles of the constitution. hope it may be
adjusted, but ! know Of no way except that
laid down by the e9nstilHii9n Of the United
STATES. When we go astray from that we
plunge ourselves into difficulties. There
are different ways Of esnstrping it, but, in
my judgment, it is the wisest constitution
ever yet organized, and / am willing to
stand by it. | ask for nothing more
There is another subject about which ]
ought to say omything. It is claimed that
yQp have q right TO secede at yoAr pleasure.
cannot aud any warrant for doctrine
like that in the constitution. In my judy
mpnt it would be subversive Of constiiu-
iional obligaiions. If that is so we have
no government. 1t would reduce this
pnion 10 mere conglomeration of states, I