Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1839-02-28

tltl,loy Nll0 %llW0tE1 toAy pursue ~ oveftoot-
ing oil barriers, reckless and REGARDLESS Of an
c0nsequsnces. Win this elias, ne immediate
abolition ofslavefy in the District Of CoIum.
bio, and Ia the Territory ofFlorlda,the prOhi.
6lfiunUfthe removal Of slaves from Suite 70
State, and the refusal TO admit any new State,
comprising within lis limits the institution OF
domestic slavery,are but so many means con-
ducing to the accomplishment of the ulti.
male but perilouS end III which they itvowed-
" and boldly aim are but so many short
stages IN the long and bloody road to the dis
tant goal at which they would finally arrive.
Their purpose is abolition, universal 0bOli-
lition, peaceably it ii can, forcibly if it must
Their object is no longer concealed by tho
thinncst veil il is avowed and proclaimed.
! Utterly destitute Of constitutional or other
rightful power, living in totally distinct com.
| munitics,as alien to the communities, in which
| the subject on which they would operate re-
sides, so far as concerns political power over
| that subject, as if they lived in Africa or Asia
they nevertheless promulgate TO the world
their purpose to be TO manumit forthwith, and
without compensation, and without moral
preparation, three millions of negro slaves
under jurisdictions altogether separated from
those under which they live.
have said that immediate abolition of sla.
very in the District of Columbia and in the
Territory of Florida, and the exclusion of new
states were only means towards the attain
meDt OF a much more important end. Unfortu-
nately, they are not the only means. Another,
and much more lamentable one is that which
this class is endeavoring to employ, of array
ing one portion against another portion of
the Union. With that view, in all their
leading prints and publications, the alleged
horrors of slavery are depicted in the most
glowing and exaggerated colors, to excite
the imaginations and stimulate the rage of
the people in the free states against the peo-
pie in the slave states The slave holder is
held up and represented as the most afro.
cious of human beings. Advertisements of
fugitive slaves and of slaves to be sold are
carefully collected and blazoned forth, to in
fuse spirit of detestation and hatred against
one entire and the largest section of the Un-
ion. And like notorious agitator upon an
other theatre, they would hunt down and
prescribe from the pale of civilized society
the inhabitants of that entire section. AL
low me, Mr.. President to say, that whilst
recognize in the Justly wounded feelings of
the Minister of the United States at the Court
of st. James much to excuse, the notice
which he was provoked to take Of that agi-
tator, in my humble opinion, he would better
have consulted the dignity of his station and
Of his country in treating him with contemp-
tuous silence. He would exclude us from
European society, he who himself can only
obtain contraband admission, and is receiv-
ed with scornful repugnance into it! II he be
no more DESTROYS of our society than we are
of his, he may rest assured that state Of
eternal intercourse will exist between
Us. Yes, sir, think the American Minister
would have best pursued the dictates of true
dignity by regarding the language of the
member Of the British House of Commons
as the malignant rawlings Of the plunderer of
his own country, and the libeller of a foreign
and kindred people.
But the means to which have already ad.
verted are not the only ones which this third
class of ultra abolitionists are employing to
effect their ultimate end. They began their
operations by protesting to employ only
persuasive means in appealing to the human
ity, and enlightcning the understandings of
the slaveholding portion of the Union. If
there we're some kindness in this avowed mo-
tive, it must be acknowledged that there was
rather a presumptuous display also of an as
suned superiority in intelligence and knowl-
edges For some time they continued to make
these appeals to our duty and our interest !;
but impatient with the slow influence of their
logic upon our stupid minds, they recently
resolved to change their system of action
To the agency of their powers of persua-
sion, they now propose to substitute the pow
ers of the ballot box and he must be blind
to what Is passing before Us, who does not
perceive that the inevitable tendency of their
proceedings is, If these should be found in.
sufficient, to invoke, finally, the more potent
powers Of the bayonet. 's' .a sH g.
Mr.. President, it is at this alarming stage
of the proceedings of the ultra abOlitionists
that would seriously invite every conside-
rate man in the country solemnly to pause,
and deliberately to reflect, not merely on our
existing posture, but upon that dreadful pre-.
cipice down which they would hurry us. 1t
Is because these ultra-a bolitionists have ceas-
ed to employ the instruments of reason and
persuasion, have made their cause political,
and have appealed to the ballot box, that |
am induced upon this occasion 10 address
you. Pr s0s''i' st!-site Ft&#G fat
There have been three epochs in the his.
tory Of our country, at which the spirit of
abolition displayed itself. The first was i'm
mediatcly after the formation Of the present
federal government. When the constitution
was about going into operation, its powers
were not we'll understood by the community
at large, and remained to be accurately in
terpreted and defined. At that period nu.
merous abolition societies were formed, COM
prising not merely the Society Of Friends,
but, many other good men. Petitions were
presented to congress. praying for the aboli-
ton of slavery. They were received with.
out serious opposition, referred, and reported
upon by a committee. The report stated that
the general government had no power to
abolish slavery as it existed in the several
states, and that these states themselves had
exclusive jurisdiction over the SUBJECT The
report was generally acquiesced In, and sat
isfaction and tranquility ensued the aboli.
ton societies thereafter limiting their exer.
tons, in respect to the black population. to
offices Of humanity within tho scope If ex.
listing laws i.s b ~. "it@ata--Hof oat
The next period when the subject of sla.