Mar. 16, 1850.
* * * * * * *
As to affairs here, there is little of interest which you
will not learn from the papers. Of our Ohio Democrats I regard only four as heartily
opposed to the extension of slavery. These are Carter, Wood, Cable &
Morris. All the rest except Miller & perhaps Hoagland may be relied on to
vote for the proviso when brought forward. But I am not sanguine that it can be
passed. The ground taken by the Administration and the hope on the part of the
Old Line Democracy of securing the support of the slaveholders in the next
Presidential struggle, and the peculiar circumstances which tie up Col Benton
& prevent him from taking ground in favor of the proviso & induce to
represent it as unnecessary — all these things are against the friends of freedom.
Still this Congress will not go by without something gained for humanity and
progress — the slave trade will be abolished in the District & two cents
postage probably established. It will then remain for the Free Democracy by its
steadfastness, courage, & perseverance to bring up the nation to the
standard of our principles, by declaring and acting upon, a fixed resolution to
support no candidate who will not take decided ground against all slavery which
the national jurisdiction reaches and against all national political alliances
which involve the support of slavery. Our cause is onward. The fluctuations
which ordinary politicians see are occasioned by the ebb and flow of the
accidental floating mass which comes and goes without principle. But the
current, which knows no ebb flows on steadily swelling in volume &
accumulating power, freighted with the hopes of millions.
I send you Seward's speech & Hamlin's. Walker of
Wisconsin also has made a good speech which I will send you by & by. Hale
is to speak Tuesday. I have been endeavoring to get the floor lately, but have
not succeeded as yet. I am only beginning feel at home.
P. S. Was any thing done about getting a suitable Editor for
the Columbus paper. Do see to it that we have a real democratic platform.
SOURCE: Diary and correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol.
2, p. 204-5
No comments:
Post a Comment