Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-04-13


The Senator further entreats the clergy TO de
sist from their efforts in behalf Of Abolitionism-
who authorized the Senator, as politician. Il
use his influence TO poin. out To the clergy upoI
what they should PREACH for what the,
should pray: Would the Senator dare exert hi
power here 10 bind the consciences of menf
think not. By what rule OF ethics then he under
takes 20 his influence, from this high place
of power, in order to gain the same subject, an
at loss TO determine. Sir, this movement O
the Senator is far more censurable and danger
Gus, attempt to unite Church and State
than were the petitions against Sunday nails, the
report in opposition to which gained for you, Mr.
President, so much applause III the county. /
sir, also appeal to the clergy to maintain theil
rights of conscience; and i. they believe slave
ry TO be sin, we ought to honor and respect
! them for their open denuncIation of II, rather
than call on them to desist, for, between their
conscience and their God, we have no power &c
interfere; do not wish to make them poitica
agents for any purpose.
| But the Senator is not content to entreat the
clergy alone to dcss,; he calls to his country wo
men warning them. also, to cease their efforts
and reminds them that the ink shed from the pen
held in their fair fingers when writing their
names to Abolition petitions, may be the cause
of shedding much human blood! Sir, the Ian
gunge towards this class of petitioners Is very
much changed Of late; they formerly were pro
nounced idlers, fanatics, old women, and school
misses, unworthy of respect from Intelligent
and respectable men. l warned gentlemen then
that they would change their language; the blows
they aimed fell harmless at the feet of those
whom they intended to injure. In this
NOV mcnt Of my country womeD thought was
plainly to be discovered the operations Of Provi-
dence. and a sure sign the final triumph of uni
rersai emancipation! All history, both sacred
ano profane. both ancient and modern. bears tes-
timony to the efficacy of female influence and
pnwer in the cause of human liberty. From
the time of the preservation, by the hands Of wo-
man, Of The great Jewish lawgiver, In his in
fantiIc hours, and who was saved for the purpose
Of freeing his countrymen from Egyptian bond
age, has woman been made powerful agent in
breaking to pieces the rod of the oppressor-
With pure and uncontaminated mind, her &C
tions spring from the deepest recesses OF the hu-
man heart. Denounce her you will, you can
not deter her from duty. Pain, sickness, want,
overtv, and even death itself form no obstacles
in her onward march. Even the tender virgin
would dress, rs n martyr for the stake, as for her
bridal hour, rather than make sacrifice of her
purity and duty. The eloquence of the Senate,
and clash of arms, like powerless when
brought in opposition to the influence OF pure and
virtuous woman. The liberty of the slave seems
now to be committed to her charge, and who can
fight against her and hope for success and we'll
does the Senator know this; hence this appeal
TO her feelings rerrfy her from that which she
believes to be her duty. II is vain attempt.
The Senator SAYS that it the principles
IF the Constitution which carried US through the
Revolution. Surely it was; and to use the Ian /
yuage of another Senator from slave State, on
former OCCASION, these are the very principles (
IN which the abolItionlsis plant themselves. 1t
vas the principle that all mon are born FREE and
EQUAL, that nerved the arm of our fathers in
heir contest for independence. 1t was for the
natural and inheren, rights of man they contend
d. 1t is libel upon the Constitution to say
hat its object was not liberty, but slavery for
Millions of the human race.
The Senator, well fearing that all his cIoquence
nd his arguments thus far are but rs chat, when
weighed in the balance against truth aud justice,
Gems TO find consolation in the idea, and says
hat which opposes the Interior object Of Adolf
onists, is that the General Government has no
over to act the subject of slavery, and that
be Constitution or Union would not last an hour
the power claimed was exercised by Congress.
is slavery then, not liberty. that makes us one {
eople To dissolve slavery, is to dissolve the
non. Why require of us to support the Con- c
tuition bv oath, ii the Constitution itself is sub q
ct TO the power of slavery, and not to the NOR a
power of tho country? Change the form of the {
9TH which you administer to Senators on taking e
,ats here, swear them to support slavery, and, h
;cordng to the logic of the gentleman, the Con- n
tuition and the Union will both be safe. We '
ear almost daily threats Of dissoIving the Union,
I'd from whence do they come? From citizens c
the free States? No! From the slave States on
J. Whv wish 10 dissolve it? The reason is b
ain, that a new Government may be formed, by i:
hch we, a nation, may be made slavehold- n
9 people. No impartial observer OF passing a
ents, can. in my humble judgment. doubt the e
1th Of this. The Senator thinks the Abolition ID
IS in error if they wish the slavehod2r to free p
slave. He ask, why denounce him? can Il
!, admit the truth of the question:; but might o.
Ill ask the gentleman, and the shareholders gen.
ally, "why are you angry at me, because ! tell c.
u the ruth?'' II is the light Of truth which the c.
vehlder cannot endure; plain unvarnished ii
e Of what slavery is, he considers libel upon p
nself. The fact s, the STAKEHOLDER feels the ii
,rosv Of slavery upon him. He is anxious to fe
lie the odious disease from the public eye, and pl
ballot box and the right Of petition. when q,
ed against him, he feels sharp reproof: and T
ing unwilling 10 renounce his errors, he tries W
escape from their consequences, by making the OF
rid believe that HE is the prosecuted. and not 1t
prosecutor. Shareholders have said here, dur pu
this very session, 1.-The fact is. slavery will pI
bear examination" 1t is the Senator who de- no
1nces Aboli,onists for the exercise Of their
st unquestionable rights, while Abotionists be