Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-02-20
NUMBER 81.

! t"k !" agitate the subject frauVht with The
most direful consequences.
There are three classes Of persons opna
SEQ, or apparently opposed, to the contin.
ued existence OF slavery in tho Tn;tea
States. The first are those WIN fror,
sentiments Of philanthropy and humanity.
are conscienciously opposed 10 tho erie.
tence oil slavery, but who are no less onoo-
sed, at the same time, to any d,sturoanc.
OF the peace and tranquility of the uu;or.
or the Infringement of the powers az ,hs
States composing the Confe6eracy. In
tins class my be comprehended that peace.
tul and exemplary society Of " Friends."
one OF whose established maxims il. an
aohorronce OF war in oil its forms. and tho
cultivation ofpeace and good. will amonp,t
mankind. Tho next class consist, ar an.
parent aboliilonists--thnt is, those who.
having been persuaded that tho riQbt Of
pet ton has been violated by Congress.
cooperate with the abolitionists for the
sole purpose Of asserting and yindicaf;n0
that right And the third clas. r.. rhe
reai Observation-Disclosures, Who are resolved
70 prrsevere IN the pursuit Of their object
at all hazards, and without regard to any
consequences, however calamitous thew
may be. With them the rights Of prom
efty are nothing the deficiency or the
powers OF the General Government il no.
thing; the acknowledged and incontesta-
bic powers OF the States are nothing ci-
val war, dissolution Of the Union, and
the overthrow Of government in which
are concentrated tho fondest hopes ofthe
civilized world, are nothing. a sinole
| idea has taken possession OF their minds.
ana onward they pursue ii, overlooking
all barriers, reckless and regardless of ali
consequences. With this class, the inn
mediate abolition OF slavery in the Dis.
trct OF Columbia, and in the Territory Of
| FLORIDA, the prohibition Of the removal Of
slaves from State to State, and tho refu.
sal to admit any new State, comprising
within It's limits the institution OF domes.
TIC slavery, are but so many means condu.
eng to the accomplishment Of the Ultimate
but perilous end at which they avowedly
and boldly aim are but SO many short
stages IN the long and bloody road to the
distant goal at which they would finally
arrive.
Their purpose is abolition, universal
abolition, penccably ii il can, forcibly IL
It must. Their object is no longer con.
cealed by the thinnest veil it is avowed
and proclaimed. Utterly destitute OF con-
stltuuonul or other rightful power, living
IN totally distinct communities, as alien 10
the communities in which the subject on
which they would operate resides, 20 far
as concerns political power over that SUBJ
Ject, as # they lived in Africa or Asia,
they nevertheless promuIgate to the world
their purpose TO be to manumit forthwith.
md without compensation, and without
moral preparation, three millions OF negro
slaves, under Jurisdictions altogether sep.
araied from those under which they live.
have said that immt diate abolition or
slavery in the District OF Columbia and
in the Territory of Florida, and the or.
clusion OF new States, were only means
towards the attainment Of a much moro
important end. Unfortunately they are
not The only means. Another, and much
more "meniable one is that which this
class IS cndeavoripg 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 cofors, TO
excite the imngnations and stimulate the
rage ofthe people in the free States against
the people in the slave States. The slave.
holder is held up and represented az tho
most atrocious Of human beings. Advers
!, 'isements Of fugitive slaves and Of slaves
to be sold are carefully collected and bla.
zoned forth, to infuse spirit Of detesss.
ton and hatred against one entire and tho
largest section ofthe Union. And like
notorious agitator upon another theatre.
they would hunt down and prose- ibe from
the pale OF civilized society, tho inhabi-
iants OF that entire section. Allow me.
Mr.. President, to say, that whilst recoe-
nize in the justly wounded feelings OF the
Minister ofthe United States at the Court
OF 81. James, much to excuse the notice
which he was provoked to take Of that
agitator, in my humble opinion, he would
better have consulted the dignity Of his
station and ofhis country in treating him
with contemptuous silence. He would
exclude us from European society--hs
who himself can only obtain contra band
admission and 10 received with scornfuf
repugnance into il. Ir he be no more de-
srous of our society than we are Of his,
he may rest assured that state or eter
nal non.lntercourse will exist between Us.
Yes, sir, | think the Americas Minister
would have best pursued the dictates Of
true dignity by regarding the language OF
the member of the British House Of Com.
mons as the malignant rawlings ofthc plum.
derer Of his own country, and the Iibelley
OF a foreign and kindred people.
But the means 10 which have already