Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-05-16

consists. And in these virtues, l trust
the patriots of Virginia will not be de-
fcient.
regret, Mr., Chairman, that the re-
marks of gentlemen have thus drawn
from me what perhaps had better never
been said, and what, | am sorry to re-
mark, have felt myself called upon to
say, in the discharge of my duty: and
having done SO, l will now proceed to
the examination of the expediency of
this restriction as an object of national
concern.
Mr.. Chairman, we have attempted to
plant in the American soil the principles
of free and republican government; we
have attempted to set an example to the
world, of the capacity of man to govern
himself, and otsecuring to all the enjoy
ment of equal rights. But, alas the
brilliancy of this example abroad is too
much darkened by the gloom which
slavery spreads over it; and while we
continue to spread that gloom, the hap
Ply influence of republican government
will continue to be weakened, till, ulti-
mately, like the sun, whose rays are OBJ
structcd by an impenetrable cloud, its in
Auence will be lost entirely. 1t is due,
then, to the dignity of this government,
to the world, that slavery only exists in
the bosom of our republic from uncon-
trollable necessity; necessity forced
upon us by our parent country. But,
when we give to new root, and spread it
beyond its ancient borders, are our prac-
! tees consistent with professions Do
we then show that it exists only from me-
cessityf Or do we not show that it ex-
lists, at least in part ofour empire, from
choice. Sir, it is due to the character Of
our government for consistency.
Since the year 1908, every exertion
has been made to abolish the slave trade.
Gentlemen from all sections of the
Union, and at all times, have united
most heartily in this humane undertak-
ing. And for what purpose +? Sir, it was
to prevent an accumulation of that evil
which so sorely afflicted our land, and
to encourage which, heaped SO much
disgrace on all who were engaged in it..
But this was not the only reason. The
cries of humanity, and the soft whispers
of religion, also demanded the measure.
And if these motives have operated SO
long and so universally in the councils of
this country, shall not the same motives
now arrest the progress of this evii.in its
attempts to plant itself in that boundless
region west ofthe Mississippi? Not only
does consistency, but the vital interests
of this government, demand it. To eX-
| tend and more firmly rivet the chains OF
slavery, is but to hasten the epoch which
| shudder to mention.
/ Sir, in the very nature of man is inter-
woven a love of freedom it is passion
of the most ardent and indestructible
character. 1t is a passion which, while
bound in chains, lies like the hidden
spark, ready to be famed into flame by
the first breeze of hope. They are a
race of beings like SO many yipers in the
bowels of the community. Is it not,
4 then our duty to use our best efforts to
preserve our posterity, If it be not ne
ccssary to preserve ourselves, from a
slow but certain fate, which an unchang-
cd state of things must inevitably pro-
ducc. The gentleman from Virginia,
(Mr. Smyth,) has read to US an account
of many of the civil wars, with all their
attendant horrors, which have resulted
| from the existence OF two different
classes of people in the same govern
ment. And, while the gentleman has
1 given us a sight of these blood-stained
pictures of human misery, for the pur-
pose of proving the position that TIVE
distinct classes of society cannot safely
exist in the same country, and thereby
to prove the necessity of diff'using this
class of society so as to keep them in
harmless numbers, and also to rivet
their chains so tight that they will be
unable to act in concert; they afford to
my mind warning argument OF the ne
cessity Of their emancipation and colonl-
cation, before another picture shall be
added to that gloomy collection, with
(which the committee have been present
ed by that honorable gentleman. For,
sir, repeat it, that, if the warning voice
ofexperience tell us that it has been the
fate of all countries where two distinct
and Heterogeneous orders of society have
| existed, sooner or later to wade through
wars and bloodshed, that even America,
the seeming favorite Of Heaven, unless
Timely measures are adopted to avoid it,
will not share better fate. 1t is, with
me, therefore, a leading consideration, to
limit the sphere of this dangerous popu-
lation, with an eye to its ultimate eradi-