Year: 1860

| that the colonies separated IRON the Brlt-
! ish crown. The and Parliament Of Eng.


land claimed at that day that the people


or the colonies possessed no rights except


those derived from the royal charter, Just


as it claimed at this day, that the people


Of the Territories have no rights except


what they derive from Congress. But it


must be remembered that our fathers de-


MED that they derived their rights from


the King, Just as we deny now that the


people Of the Territories get theirs from


Congress. Our fathers claimed that the
/ right of self government was inherent in


the people-dcrived from the Almighty,


and inalienable by Parliament. The Dec


laration of Independence was formal as


sertion of this inherent right, was asserted


not only for sovereign States, but for de-


pendent colonies, provinces and Territor-


les. The right of self government was


conceded by the tories of the Revolution


in sovereign States, but denied in the


provinces. Hence the principles estab-
! liShed by the Revolution was the right Of


self government in the provinces and


Territories as well as sovereign States.-


! repeat, this principle Of local self gov


ernment undcries our entire political sys-


TEN. 1t is recognized in the constitution


as the basis of our complex system of


government. All powers not delegated


to the federal government are reserved to


the States or to the people. The right to


control the domestic relations not being


delegated are necessarily reserved. If


this principle of local self-government be


maintained there can be no sectional strife


between the North and South-betwcen


the free States and the slave States. The


perils which now threaten the existence


of the Union are all traceable to the effort


on the part of the federal government for


interfere with the domestic affairs of the


people in the Territories. The Republi-


can party demands the possession of the


federal government for the purpose of


welding its whole power for the prohibit


tion OF slavery where the people desire to


maintain the institution. The secession


lists on the other hand. demand the pos


session of the federal government, for the
purpose of maintaining and protecting


slavery, where the people do not want 1t.
Neither proposes to Interfere where the
people will decide in their favor, for the
people of the Territories will refuse to
maintain slavery where they do not want


it and will protect it where they desire it.
Thus we are threatened with two section
al parties the one appealing to the pas.
sions, predjudices and ambition OF the
- North, against slavery, and the other APP
pealing to the passions, predjudices snd
ambition of the South, in favor OF slavery
in opposition to the wishes of the people


in both cases. These two sectional par
, ties are attempting to divide the Ameri
can people by geographical line, in two
grand divisions, rallying all the people
North under the one banner, and all
South under the other banner, and thus
producing an irrepressible conflict which
disturbs the peace of the country, and


threatens the very existence of the Union.


From thest perils | see but one mode OF


escape, and that is to be found in faith


full adherence to the principle of non-in-
reference by the federal government with
the domestic affairs of the people in the
Territories. This was the principle af-
lirmed in the compromise measures OF
1850. The establishment of this princi,
pie was the last crowning act in the
eventiul lives Of Clay and Webster. This
principle was incorporated into the plat,
form of the Wing party in 1852, and al
so into the Democratic platform in the
E same year. 1t was plank common tc
the platform of both parties, and the only
one remaining that was common to both
| intend to stand by this principle, who
ever may desert it. Let this principle be
maintained and this Union will last for
ever. My friends, owe you an apollo
r gy for these desultory remarks. l die


not intend to indulge in any partizan re
, marks, and trust have said nothing
which is calculated to wound the sensi
blities of any person who may have done
me the honor to listen to me. Renewing
/ my thanks for the cordial reception yor
q have extended to me, retire with the as
| surance that | came here to mingle will
, you socially, and not to participate in the
$ discussion of partizan politics.