Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-09

through that role OF PROPHECY W1icn o1htrwssct
would restrain me, but to be guilty sometimes OF
those very 90 vain repetitions" also. May hope |
to be pardoned for this, not only in consideration
of the peculiarly of my situation of my condition
but in consideration of defect whether Of ma
ture or Of education, it is perfectly imma,erial-
perhaps proceeding from both defect which has
disabled me, from my first entrance into public
life, to the present day, TO make what is called
regular speech which, sir, like some other regu-
lar things, although constructed according to every
rule Of criticism, is sometimes extremely dull not
always convincing. There is no positive fault in
the speech, or composition; the unities are all
preserved there is no fault TO be found with it,
but as to its general effect, which is want OF
effect altogether. Sir, although ! give to the
subjects submitted TO the Senate the most patien,
consideration; though turn them, and return them
over and over again in my mind, yet when come
to utter the results of that ruminaton, am COM
pelledto desc as an irregular rather as par'izan
officer than according TO the regular art military;
as an impr ovisatore-- that I believe is the name
which the Italians give to those who speak, not
without much previous thinking indeed, but with
out the book, or even without notes. Sir, in re-
spect to these regular arguments, 1t has often
| struck me that they resemble, in more regards
than one, the modern invention Of chain
bridge which, provided the abutmen,s and fix
lures are perfectly strong, and provided there is
the finest and most useful specimens of hu-
| man ingenuity; but, sir, when reverse the
proposition when the abntments are not sufficient
- AMI there Is one single link which ia detective
| one is as good--Hs bad rather, theusand--,ha,
one Is fatal 10 the whole structure, and down
INTO the water comes the unwary passenger, who
| trusts himself TO the treacherous ediiice. There
| are artists indeed-and some of them not far of
either who have the skill to elaborate those tech
4 s,f to.l
quisiie finish to defy the eye, or the touch Of
any man alive; but while they puzzle and confound
the understanding, they can never convince il, be-
cause they lead Us to such monstrous and frehtful
conclusions, that fair exercise Of that reasoning
faculty which has been given US by our Maker for
| our guide, can bring plain man to. Here is a
case. IN which lift be not ssfe to reason By con-
ciusions which perhaps is too much my habit il is
| quite safe to reason from conclusions. Whenever
any chain of reasoning, however learned and in
senlous it may be, leads TO conclusions 50 mon
| s,rons as to offend tie common sense Of mankind
l say that although you may not be able 10 detect
IN which Ink OF the argument The defect is, ye
you know, from the results 10 which it carries you
that it is radically defecive-that there is some
thing somewhere about it, although neither you
eye nor your touch can detect it, that renders i
radically detective and unworthy ofuust; and if
were called on for an illustration could give it
and would give il, IN the opinion Of the Suprem
Court in the case OF Cohens against the State @
Virginia.
Sir, know there gentlemen, not only from
the Northern, bat from the Southern States, WIN
think that this unhappy question-for such it is
OF negro slavery-whicht the Constitution has vanl,
attempted to blink, by not using the term -sliou,
never be brought into public notice, more especial
y into that of Congress, and most especially, here
Sir, with every due respect for the gentlemen Sh,
think so, differ from them, toto cello. Sir. il is
hing which cannot lie hid ii is not dry rot tina
you can cover with the carpet, until the hous
tnmbles about your ears you might as well try t,
hide volcano, in full operation. it cannot be hi
, lit Is cancer in your face, and must be treaties
sectnduaa drteaj h must not be tempered wit
by quacks, who rev the disease or tho patient
and prescribe across the Atlantic; it must be- !
you will, let alone; bat on this very principle G
letting it alone, il is that have broush: in my reso
luton am willing to play whnt is called child
play-let me alone and will let you alone; let m
; resolution alone, and will say nothing in suppo
Att for there is want Of sense sayjgg s9g5biis
Dir, vii! the Senate pardon nv repeating the word
oil great man, which cannot be too often repea,ed
"A small danger menacing inestilnable object.
i OF more importance, in the eyes OF a wise man
that the greatest danger which can possibly thre,te
an object Of minor consequence. The oues,;on h.
fore us L. rs this an object Of inestimable eonse
quenee' 90 not put the question to you. Si
, | Know what your answer will be. know wha
WIZ be the answer of every husband, father. son
and brother, throughput the Southern States:
know that on this depends the honor of ever
matron and maiden OF every ma,ron. (wife a
wdow,) between The Ohio and the Gulf of Mexico
Sno" that upon 1t depends the life's blood of III
little ones, which are lying in their cradles. in han
Ply Ignorance of what is passing around them: an
hot the white ones only: for shall not we too kin
Shall we not react the scenes which were acteJ :,
uusielnaia, and elsewhere, except, hone will
lar different success; for If, with superiori,v !,
point oil Numbers, as well as of in,ellinenee an,
courage, we should suffer ourselves 10 be- az there
vanqulshed we should deserve TO have neoroe
10. our TASK masters, and for the husbands of OH
wives MS then, IS tie inestimable object which
me gentleman from Carolina views in the same liob
that do, and that you do too, sir, and to vbicl
| every Southern bosom responds; chord which
when touched, even by the most delicate bard
v'oiaes 10 me heart OF every man in our country
e. WISH could maintain, with truth that i, can,s
| within The other predicament-- that Il was sn.1l
aanees- nut 1T rs great danger i, is danger tina,
mas increased, IS increasing, and must be 6rnin-
isnea' or mnst come 10 IFS regular catastrophe.
MIR. President, within the last thirty years. or
tnereaoous -ior have been con,emporarv viii
inc facts- total change has taken place in nubIc
opinion In Great Britain. which always acts as
possessing common language and almost litera.
lure and laws in common, she must and she ouoI,
70 act with great force us-and in certain o,be,
parts OF other countries, which | shall not NOS,
designate In reference 10 this question Tbero
was time, Sir, when the advocates for the aboli-
tIon OF the Slave Trade found, in aImos, every
BOSOM possessing common humanity, and common
sense, friend There were some few 10 n. .r.
old veteran Swiss OF State, who uphold all al
minsiraiions, and all abuses and corrup,ions hi
gone more than knee deep in corruption--followers
perhaps oil Dundas, fellows of old George Rose
who still upheld that aboruination. Thee ,ya.a