Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-03-02

and when he proceeded further to attn.
butte the great and as he supposed, ac-
superiority Of the former in
wealth and general prosperity,
to the policy Of Nathan Dane, Of Massa-
chusetts, which had secured to the peo-
pie of Ohio, (by the Ordinance Of S7,)
a population Of .treemcn, / will confess,
that my feelings suffered a revulsion,
which l am now unable to describe, in
any language sufficiently respectful to-
wards the gentleman from Massachusetts,.
In contrasting the State Of Ohio, with
Kentucky, for the purpose Of pointing out
superiority Of the former, and Of attribute
ing that superiority to the existence of sla-
verg, in the one State, and its abseiice in
the other, though, l could discern the
very spirit Of the Missouri question, in.
Itruded into this debate, for objects best
known 10 the gentleman himself. Did
that gentleman, sir, when he formed the
determination to cross the southern bor-
der, in order to invade the State Of South
Carolina, deem it prudent. OF necessary
TO enlist under his banners the prgiudices
of the soorld which like Suiss-tfoops may
be engaged in any cause, and are prepar-
ed to serve under any leader Did he de-
sire to avail himself of those remorseless
allies, the passions of mankind, of which
it may be more truly said, than ofthe saw
age tribes Of the wilderness, that their
know rule of warfare is an indscrimnate
slaughter of all ages, sexes, and condi-
tons" Or was it supposed, sir, that in
premediated, and unprovoked attack upon
the south, it was advisable to begin by
gentle admonition of car supposed yeak-
ness, in order to prevent us from making
that firm and manly resistance, due 10 our
character, and our dearest interest Was
the significant hint Of the sceakness Of slaoe
holding States, when contrasted with tile
superiour strength Of free States--like
the glare of the weapon half drawn from
its scabbard, intended to enforce the les
sons OF prudence and of patriotism, which
the gentlemen had resolved, out Of his
abundant generosity, gratutously to be-
stow upon US Mr.. President, the inn
preston which has gone abroad, Of the
weakness IF the South, as connected with
| the staye question, exposes us to such con-
slant attacks, has done us SO much injury,
and is calculated TO produce such infinite
mischefs, that ] embrace the occasion
presented by the remarks of the gentle.
man from Massachusetts, to declare that
we are ready 10 meet the question prompts
ly, and fearlessly. 1t is one from which
we are not disposed to shrink, in whatever
form or under whatever circumstances it
may be pressed upon US. We are ready
to make up the issue with the gentleman.
as to the influence of slavery OIL individual
and national character-on the prosperity
and greatness, either of the United States,
or of particular States. Sir, when ar
raigned before the bar of publick opinion,
on this charge of slavery, we can stand up
with conscious rectitude, plead not guilty,
and put ourselves upon God and our coun.
try. Sir, We will not consent to look at
slavery in the abstract We will not stop
to inquire whether the black man, as
some philosophers have conteuded, is Of
an inferiour race, nor whether his colour
and condition are the effects of curse
inflicted for the offences Of his ancestorsg
We deal in no distractions. We will not
look back to inquire whether our Fathers
were guitless IN Introducing slaves into
this country?
fan inquiry should ever be in these
matters however, it will be found that the
profits of the slave trade were not colfin-
ed to the south. Southern ships and
Southern sailors were not the instruments
of bringing slaves to the shores Of Amer
lea, nor did our merchants reap the profits
of that accursed trafic." But sir, we
will pass over all this. If slavery, as il
now exists in this country, be an evil, we
of the present day fonnd II ready made TO
oar hands. Finding our LOT cast among
! people, whom God had manifesily commit.
, ted to our care, we did not sit down to
speculate on abstract questions oftheoret-
ical liberty. We met il as a practical
question of obligation and duty. We re-
solved to make the best Of the situation in
which Providence had placed US, and to
!. fulfil the high trust which had devolved
upon us as the owners of slaves. in the on.
" way in which such trust could be full
filed, without spreading misery and ruin
throughout the land. We found that we
had to deal with people whose physical,
moral and intellectual habits and charac-
ter, totally disqualified them from the en-.
joyment OF the blessings offreedom. We
could not send them back TO the shores
from whence their fathers had been taken;
Their numbers forbade the thought. even
if we did not know that their condition
here is Infinitely preferable TO what it pos
sibIy could be among the barren sands
and savage tribes Of Africa, and It was
wholly irreconciliable with all our notions
Of humanity 10 tear asunder the tender
ties which they had formed among us, 20
] CRAFTY the feelings Of false philan.ixo-
ply. What commentary on the wisdom,