Year: 1860

tlhkuloneu senator CleCt CuOOStS 10 style


the sentiment Of leading Republican Of


the United States, none other than Gov.


Seward, the present Senator Of New York.


Allow me TO say in the beginning, that


am not now, and never have been, parti-


zan of Senator Seward; but, standing as he


does, one Of the representatives Of the Em-


pire State Of New York, that great State in


which centres not only the commerce, but |


may say the political intelligence Of this


country; admitted by and on all hands to


be as able man, if not tho abiest man in


the Senate Of the United States, | say


would be doing injustice were not to vim


dicate him from all that is unjustly imputed


to him here. AT other times, in other pla-
ces, that Senator is perfectly competent to


vindicate himself but here in Kentucky


where that vindication, on account Of tho
censorship Of the press and in part the re-


fusal TO allow the constitutional freedom Of
speech, he will hardly else be indicated


| imagine | shall not be considered at all


intrusive if l answer one or two of those
charges made by those distinguished gem
tlemen.


The first denunciation that comes TO us


with regard to Mr. Seward is that he is
higher law man. intend to be very dis


tinctly understood on this subject In this


time when great issues, issues unparalleled


in their consequences in the world are de-


pendent upon the principles advocated by


parties, you should not go away with doubt


upon your minds, and you will allow me to


90 into details as to the true meaning of


this term. | understand, then, gentlemen,


IN the common sense in which this term is


used by higher law, an enactment that


has the sacredness, the weight and the
power that belong to no human law. Now
are we christian people, and is there any


man that claims to be one Of the common


brotherhood of christianity that will deny


that there is an overruiug Providence who


governs the Universe by eternal and immu-


table laws which will prevail, the vicious, or


sacriligious attempts ofmen to the contrary


notwithstanding? There is no man who
will be so regardless of the sentiment of
christian goodness as to utter any such idea
as that. That, then, is the "higher law"
which he acknowledged, and although do
not quote him from the book, 1 will state


his position specifically; it was to the ques-


ton of admitting the Territory on the Pa


cific as free State when he said that Cali


fornia ought not only to be free, but home


for those driven out from the Slave States


by the competition of unpaid labor, and for
, others driven from their homes by the com


petition of capital in the free States; but


there was a "higher law" even than Consti-


tutions to which this new constitution


should be conformed. l put. it to every
Democrat who hears me tonight if that is
not the true doctrinel If that be not so,
how dares President Buchanan to make his
recommendations to Congress in the name
of the Almighty God!


: That, then, is the assertion. It is not an
r assertion that brings anarchy upon COM
t munity, but it is the only one principle of
right and justice upon which the permanent
good of the community can rest; it is the


only paramount security for goods, proper
ty, reputation, lives and opinion, and that


was the sense in which Senator Seward has


uttered that sentiment and he has again
E and again said when Constitutions were


made and laws enacted, not that we should
E cast ignominy and reproach upon them, or
disobey them, but that we should acouiesce
in them obeying them, until they are chang
ed by an intelligent constituency, acting
through the legislative department of the


government. That is what he said, and


there l stand by him, here and elsewhere,


now and forever; and there is not a man


here tonight that does not stand by us,
acknowledging that principle, that higher


law, that reliance upon God, if he dare


speak his honest sentiments.


We had great deal of it at least, in this
same Representatives Hail from which we


are excluded tonight The opposite party


found there was a "higher law" and what
was that Divine and Omuipotent God -


It was slavery. Slavery is higher than
heaven and earth, and all constitutions and
laws. 1t was found in the constitution we
, are told, or it is higher than that consttu-
{ ton; and since that time we have heard


nothing of the "higher law" of Gov. Seward.
, That thing is neutralzed as chemists say
, done for, as common men may urge.
{ THE IRREPREssIBLE CONFLICT.
|, Another allegation is made against that
4 Senator, intended to effect the Republican
:, organization. 1t is now alleged that he has


announced in his Rochester speech, this


much abused and cant phrase of a conflict;
that there is a conflict between slave labor
and free labor all through this government
and that that conflict has been going on


and will 90 on until one or the other utter
ly triumphs. That is the assertion. We
acknowledge tive own up. So let us
examine it. Why, gentlemen, l understood


that to be the declaration of our fathers in
l776. understood that to be the openly
! avowed sentiment of Washington, Madison
: and Jefferson, | understood that TO be the
declaration of the resolution in Virginia, for
which your candidate for Speaker of the
Democratic party, Mr.. Bocock, voted some
a years ago understood, furthermore, that
, that was the declaration of the late South
. Carolina Legislature, and above all, l have
q it here, taken from the Louisville Courier


the leading organ of the Democracy in
Kentucky, made more than ten years ago
You would like to read it. Then will yoT
: have the goodness to turn to the files of tha
: journal and see if lie or not. (Cries o
"read i'm


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