Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-02-23

government in which are concentrate ted the fond 3
est hopes of the civilized world, are nothing $
single idea has taken possession OF their minds, C
and ward they pursue 1t, overlooking all barrl- o
ers. reckless and regardless of all consequences. I
With this class, the immediate abolition OF slave
Try in the District of Columbia, and in the Terri
tory Of Florida, the prohibition of the removal OF
slaves from State to State and the refusal to ad
NIT any State comprising within its limits t
the institution of domestic slavery, are but so {
many means conducting to the accomplishment OF
the ultimate but perIlous end at which they a.
yowedy and boldly aim: are bat 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, peacea-
bly, if it cam forcibly if il must. Their obi is
no longer concealed by the thnncst veil; it is a.
vowed and proclaimed. Utterly destitute of con-
stitutiona other rightful power, living in total
ly distinct communities, alien to the conmunI-
ties in which the subject which they would
operate resides, 50 far concerns political power
over that subject, If they lived in Africa or
Asia, they nevertheless promulgate to the world !
their purpose to bo to manumlt forthwith, and !
without compensation, and without moral prep1r-
alton, three millions of negro slaves, under ilris-
dIctlons altogether separated from those under |
which they live. have said that immediate alb
clifton Of slavery in the District of Columbia and |
IN the Territory of Florida, and the exclusion of
new States, were only means towards the attain !
ment of u much more important end. Unlortun-
, ately, they are not the only means. Another,
and much more lamentable is that which this
class is endeavoring to employ, of arraying one
, portion against another portion of the UnIo9
With that view, in all their leading prints and
, publications, the alleged horrors of slavery de-
pIcted In the most g lowing and exaggerated col
ors, to excite the imagipations and stimulate the
rage of the people in the free States against the
people in the slave States. The slav ehoder is
held up and represented the most atrocious of
human beings. Advertisements of fugitive slaves
, aud OF slaves to be sold carefully collected
and blazoned forth, TO infusa spirit of destaton
and hatred against entire and the largest sec
O ton of the Union. And like notorious agitator
upon another theatre, they would hunt down and
prescribe from tho pale of civilized society the
inhabitants of that entire section. Allow me, Mr..
. President, TO say, that whilst recognise in the
h justly wounded feelings Of the Minister Of the
i United States at the Court of ST. James much to
: excuse the notice which he provoked to take
I of that ngitator, in my humble opinion, he would
: better have consulted tho dignity of his station
and of his country in treating him with contempt
uous silence. He would exclude from Europe
.. society-he who himself only obtain a
r contraband admission, and received with scorn-
n ful repugnance into 1t! If he be more desr-
a Gus of society than of his, he may rest
a. assured that state OF eternal nou-iptercourse
>, will exist between us. Yes, sir, | think the A
of merican Minister would have best pursued tho
d dictates of dignity by regarding the language
ns of the member of the British House of Commons
ne as the malignant rawlings of the punderer of his
II. own country, and the hbeiler OF a foreign and
IL kindred people.
CO Blu, the means to which have already advert
sr cd not the only which this third class oil
ar Observation-Disclosures employing to effect their
81 ultimate end. They began their operations by
an protesting to employ only persuasive in
to appealing to the humanity, and eniightening the
tb unders landings, of the savehodng portion of the
ic- Union. If there some kindness IN this n
en- vowed motive, it must be acknowledged that there
700 was rather a presumptuous display also Of an as
L ~ of tell ed 70
III For time they continued to mako these ap
mt peass to our duty and our INTEREST," but lmpatIen
We with the slow influence of their logic upon on
on stupid minds, they recently resolved to change
of their system of action. To the agency Of thei
u.s. powers Of persuasion, they now propose to sub
INA situte the powers of the ballot box and he mus
,m be blind to what is passing before us, who doe
BE- not perceive that the inevitable tendency of thei
To- proceedings Is, if these should be found INSULT
er- cient, to invoke. finally, the potent pow er
I'D of the bayonet-
be Mr. President, it is at this alarming stage of III
of proceedings OF tho Observation-Disclosures that woui
ms seriously invite every considerable in III
,us country solemny to pause and deliberately re
of ect, not merely on our existing posture, but upo
cn that dreadful precipce down which thew woul
zen hurry 1t is because these observation-disclosures
have ceased TO employ The instruments of reaso
to and persuasion, have made their cause poli:ica
I'VE and have appealed TO the ballot box that am In
nit duced, upon this occasion, to address you
ed, There have been three epochs in the history
not our country at which the sririt of abolition d
am played itself The first Immediately afte
&C the formation of the present Federal Government
18th When the Constitution was about going into ope
,m atlon Its powers not we'll understood BY tn
Is community at large, and remained to be accurate
yer ly interpreted and defined. At that period nun
his erous abolition societies were formed comprisin
to not merely the Society of Friends. but MANY otI
Is er good men. Petitions were presented TO Cor
ON gress, praying for the abolition of slavery. The
the were received without serious opposition, refe
red. and reported upon by a committee The n
or port stated TINT the General Government had Il
of power to abolish slavery it existed in the Sc,
ose eral States. and that these States themselves ha
an exclusive jurisdiction the subject. The II
nee port was generally acquesced in, and satsfaco
the and tranquility ensued the abolition societit
and thereafter limiting their exertions in respect
of the black population. Offices of humanity With
Ter the scope of existing laws.
hat The next period when the subject of SLAYER,
one and abolition incidentally, was brought into n
c of ice and discussion, was that on the inemorab
ace occasion of the admission of the State of Misso
ass ri into the Union. The struggle was long, stree