Year: 1860

ions ought to be fairly canvassed and if they are
good, you should viudicate them by carrying them
into practice, md if they be bad, then it is yJur
duty to reject them and take thote that are bet
ter.


Is SINCERELY AN ENANc1PATIoNTsT.


As said in tho beginning, Gibbon says Of the
two great virtues, sincerity is one This, gentle
men, whatever may be my shortcomings with re-
ga,d to courage, believe my sincerity and love of
truth have not been questioned. and although I
am here alone, one among million, differing
from you it possibly may be, know that you will
credit that believe that which say l believe.
DO not deny that, following the faith Of our faith
ers. am emancpatonst. How would l COM
mend myself, then, to you, if having made this
avowal everywhere within tho limits of the Com
monwealth, l shall conceal or deny my sentiments?
lie is not dangerous man that goes about openly
and above board, avowing what his sentiments are.
but he il the dangerous man who having senti-
ments denies them, and you all know and feel
this TRUTH and therefore it is because you believe
have been true in my utteranoe. that 1 have
been abe to stand comparatively alone in the
State, telling these things am, upon this sub.
ject of emancipation, just where l always was.
But do not now intend to discuss this subject
do not now propose to enter iuto debate as to
whether wo should, By gradual, and distant. and
prospective means, get clear of slavery. That |
have done upon every stump and in every county
in this commonwealth, again and again. That is
not the present issue. 1t cannot be denied, and
you oil know it, that l have always stood fairly
and squarely upon tho constitution and laws, that
have ever been obedent to law, law and order
man. ..


THE MADISON COUNTY MODS.


Now, gentlemen, for "A few personal explanations
before onter upon tho vindication OF the Repub-
lican party. Allow me here to state wha, has
Lecn and whatisyet my position in my own county
There are distinguished gentlemen here, mem bers
of che Legislature, and outside of the Legislative
body. OF Madison, and they know that that which
shall say is so is TRUTH allude to tho e1pul-
sion Of the Rev John o. Fec, Of Kentucky, and
some nineteen other citiseus Of tho commonwea ealth
By birth and choice. from their homes and their
departure Into exile. .'..i ,'+ .'-.


Some three years since. on the Fourth OF July,
when Mr.. Fee returned again to the State after n
temporary absence, he took tho ground Of what
might be called the radical abolition party that
citizen of she commonweal,b. .ho owed no aalir,
giaucc to the constitution and laws adopted and
enacted on the subject Of slavery, and tha. he
planted himself on the law of natural right Al
though accorded to him that which mol believe
and still assert, that no was honess-that ho was
pure in his purpose. that he was actuated by the
highest love Of Christian charity, yet it was not
the ground upon which stood, as was consti-
tuition and law loving man. argued to him that
could not and should no longer stand by him.
that owed it to myself and owed it to those Labor
ing men 0! the country who held no slaves, whose
cause plead. and who conlided in my leadership.
to Say TO them that bis was an unsafe and uneua-
ble position, and one which no man can hold
that it would Immediately bring them into con
hict with the laws Of the country, and that that
position, no matter By whom strengthened, could
net be maintained. That is what told him and
them. Well now. / am no DIN Quizote to 20 for
ward and fight the battles of every man tina, may
venture an opinion upon the subject Of slavery [,
and am | to be accused as scditiuus man, and de.
nounced by others as bully because was will
ing to stand by those men who took and maintain





on | put it to every man that hears me if it
would not BE- base in me, after | persuaded men
comparatively ignorant, to come out and take
ground against slavery, if had deserted them !?
Although love life much as any man, and
have perhaps as much to live for any man, |
would Gle ten thousand deaths before | would be
guilty Of such base ingra.tude Isay this, that
whenever man, planting himself on the broad
constitutional ground of our fathers of l776, fol-
lows me, will stand by him and defend him to
the best of my ability, and give him such protec.
tion as can when the laws of the country refuse
10 give him what the constitution guarantees to
him as his right. Therefore | could not stand by
Fec anl his associates. | believe he is as pure q
man as ever knew, yet did not believe his po-
stion was tenable, and was not willing to take
ground with him. not only proclaimed this On
the stump, but at later day when l was asked
by men sympathizing with him, coming from 9TH
er portions of the United States if could not con
scientiously lend him my aid and countenaLce In
carrying on his work and enforcing his doctrines,
| declined by letter announcing that could not
stand upon the platform Of Mr.. Fee; upon that
ground we must split. lie was responsible for his
acts and for mine. That has been my whole
course in connection with these parties.


1t is untrue-it is absolutely and entirely untrue
-on the other side, that said that these men
ought to be expelled from the Commonwealth. My
position was one of strict neutrality. said that
while was willing to see these men removed by
law, if they violated any law, l was the sworn
and eternal enemy Of mobs, come they from what
source they might AS soon as heard that my
name was connected with this transaction in that
way, that /, who had fought against somc eight or
ten mobs bad come and sanctioned a mob, I'M
mediately wrote to the editors of the Richmond
Messenger and the Cincinnati Gazette, utterly de-
uying it, and stating my views. What was the
result? 1t was told eight days after it was done
and that with the influence of my name he of the
Messenger received my letter. In eight days he
received my letter. at distance ofabout an hours
ride from my ofico. That was what Judge Field