Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-10-10

which | puTpOseiy iorDCar 10 press De
cause | do not wish 10 excite any unplea-
SAINT feelings, am anxious to cherish har-
mony. and most ardeniiy hope that some
compromise may take place which will
satisfy the reasonable wishes Of all par
ties.
Mr.. President: In attempting to dis
cuss the present proposition, 1t i, not
nv purpose to advocate slavery in any
shape, or to derry, that, in its mildest
form, il is equally inconsistent with the
inherent rights OF man, and repugnant
to every principle Of Humanity and PHI
lanthropy. On the contrary, rejoice
most sincerely, that an increasing sense
of its moral injustice and turplnde, and
the happy prevalence Of more enliGhtcn-
ed and magnanimous views throughout
every part Of our common country, as
well as in various other parts OF the civil
lied world, are eliciting The most jealous
efforts not only to prevent It's extension,
but to ameliorate its present condition,
which, with the blessing of Divine Pro-
violence, | trust will, in due season,
eyentuate IN its hnal determination.
The present subjectof discussion sure
" is not the expediency Of increasing
slavery in the United States BY importa-
tiuns from Africa or sevhere-nor Is
it a question OF slavery or freedom and
il does not appear to me to be consistent
with candor, 10 attempt to give to it the
imposing and dolusive aspect of eli
ther. And how much soeyer such an
article may be resorted to, in other
places, fer the purpose Of rendering po-
pular feelings andpiejudiccs| ubservient
10 political views, tclicitate myself i'll
the firm conviction tbat such unworthy
motives can receive 40 countenance from
this honorable body, and that every mem
Der of the Senate would disdain 10 i'm
pute to others sentiments which he does
not believe them to entertain.
Were it, i'll fact, question whether the
further introduction Of slavery into the
United States, by importation from
abroad, should be permitted, tie univer-
sal adherence in which practice SO dis
graceful to humaniiy, is held BY all class
es Of our fellow citizens, and the cordial
cooperation Of gentlemen from every
section of the Union, particularly at the
last session of Congress, in measures 10
prohibit it, forbid the belief that such
measure could find one advocate or friend
in this house; nor can there be doubt
that we would all cheeriuly unite in such
farther legitimate. means as experience
may demonstrate to be necessary to rem
dcrsucbprohibition complete and eiiectu
al, which | have no doubt is perfectly
practicable.
4 II of US, therefore, entertaining tie
same adherence and repugnance to the
further introduction and increase of sla-
very, the only point of difference between
US relates to the slaves that are now
us; and, as it is conceded ON
all sides, that Congress possesses no
power to abolish the slavery that now eX-
lists, ii follows that the question of slave
~ or freedom is not involved in the pre-
sent proposition, and that an opposition
to the restriction that is attempted to be
imposed upon the sovereignty and indie
penderee of a state, may we'll exist with
out any prediction for slavery; for,
should our opposition prevail, the new
state, Notwithstanding, like all others in
this Union, would be left perfectly free
to abolish slavery; and | am very ready
to admit that she would consult her best
interest by doing SO.
l have, Mr.. President, viewed, with
feelings OF the deepest regret, attempts
that have been made to excite local and
sectional jealousies, particularly against
the slave-hoIding states, upon this sub.
iect, in their nature but too well calculat-
cd to sap the foundation Of that spirit Of
Cancellation which produced this great
and to interrupt that social
harmony and mutual friendship and con-
fdence which are SO essential to main
tain and strengthen the bonds of our
Union.
Experience teaches us that it is much
more easy to produce popular discomfort
than to limit its operation and influence
to the first exciting causes; and, if the
restriction upon Missouri is to
be carried by arraying popular prejudi-
ces in hostility to one principle of com
promise, that contributed, in no small de-
gree, to produce our present happy
Union, is ii not to be feared that it may
be difficult to limit that hostility by any
thing short of the power to assail that
principle with success And if an in
equality in the apportionment Of repre-
sentatives in the other branch of the ma
tional legislature, with a correspondent