The Arkansas advocate., 1830-04-07

entire class of persons who are ready to bow downa the very names of theirldols. But sir. whatever difference of opin- ion may exist as to the effect of slavery onnationaI wealth and prosperity if we may trust to experience, there can De no doubt that it has never yet produced any injurious effect on individual or nation al character. Look drought the whole history of the country, from the com
 mencement of the Revolution down to
 the present hour; where are there to be
 found brighter examples ofintelleetuai
 and moral greatness, than have been
 exhibited by the sons of the Southg 1 From the Father of his country down to
 the distinguished Chieftain, who has
 been elevated by grateful people, to
 the highest office in their gift, the inter-
 val is filled up by a long line of orators,
 of statesmen, and of heroes, justly enti-
 tied to rank among the ornaments of
 their country, and the benefactors of
 mankind. Look at the Old Donin-
 ion.o great and magnanimous Virginia,
 C whose jewels are her sons." Is there
 any State in the Union which has con-
 tributed so much to the honor and well
 fare of the country? Sir, will yield the
 whole question: will acknowledge the
 fatal effects of slavery upon character,
 if any one can say, that for noble disin-
 terestedness, ardent love of country, ex-
 alted virtue, and pure and holy devo-
 ton to liberty, the people of the South
 ern States have never been surpassed
 by any in the world. I know, sir, that
 this devotion to liberty has sometimes
 been supposed to be at war with our in-
 stitutlons: but it is in some degree the
 result of those very institutions. Burke
 the most philosophical of statesmen, as
 he was the most accomplished of ora
 tors, well understood the operation of this principle, in eleVating the senti-
 ments and exalting the principles of the people in slaye-holding States. ] will conclude my remarks on this branch of the subject, by reading a few passages
 from his speech " on moving his rasolu-
 tions for eonciliation with the colonies, the 22d March, I775.
 There is a circumstance attending the Southern Colonies, which makes the spirit of liberty still more high and naughty than those to the Northward. It is, that in Virginia and the Carolinas they have a vast number of slaves. Where this is the case, in any part of the world, those who are free, are by far the most proud and jealous of their freedom. Freedomis to them not only an enjoyment, but kind of rank and privilege. Not seeing there, as in coun- tries where 1t is a common blessing, and as broad and general as the air, that it may be united with much abject toll, with great misery, with all of the exte- rior of servitude, liberty looks among l themii like something more noble and lib- | eral. l do not mean, sir, to commend the superior morality of this sentiment, which has, at least, as much of pride as virtue in it-but l cannot alter the .na- ture of man. The fact is so, and these People of the Southern Colonies are much more strongly, and with a higher and more stubborn spirit, attached to liberty, than those to the Northward. Such were all the ancient common wealths-such were our Gothic ances- tors-such, in our days, were the Poles
 and such will be all masters of slaves who are not slaves themselves. In such people, the haughtiness of domination combines with the spirit offreedom, for tifies it, and renders it invincible."
 In the course of my former remarks, MT. President, took occasion to dep recate, as one ofthe greaest of evils, the consolidation of ttss Goverusent! The gentleman takes alarm at the sound. ]" Consolidation, like the tarif," grates upon his ear. He tells us, ss we have heard much oflate about consolidation; that it is the rallying word for all who are endeavoring to zveaken tue Uaion by adding to the power of the States" But consolidation Says the gentleman was the very object for which the Union was formed, and, in support of that opinion, ne read passage from the address of the President of the Convention to Con- gress, which he assumes to be authority on his side ofthe question. But, sir, the gentleman IS mistaken. The object of the framers of the Constitution, as dis closed in that address, was not consolsda-