The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-12

notorious agitator upon another thea,r. thew woud
hunt down and prescribe from the pale OF civilized
society me inhabitants OF that entire section. Allow
me, Mr.. President TO say that whilst recognize In
the justly wounded feelings OF the Minister Of the
United States al the Court Of st. James much 10 ex-
cuse the notice which he was provoked 10 take Of
thai agitator In my humble opinion, he would better
have consulted The dignity Of bis station and OF his
country In treating him with contemptuous silence.
he would exclude us from European society-he
VINO himself can only obtain contraband admis-
aon, and Is received with scornfnl repugnance into
~ y ne De no more DESTROYS Of our society than
We are OF his, he may rest assured that state OF
esefnai non-intercourse will exist between us. Yes,
s.i, mink The American Minister would have best
me dictates Of true dignity by regarding the
r1sssase OF the member Of the British House OF
- Lons as the malignant rawlings Of the plunderer
kindred people =
buI me means TO which i have already adyerted,
az no VIC only ones which this third class of ultra
apoion OH are employing 10 effect their ultimate
end. They began their operations by protesting 10
employ only persuasive means in appealing to the
humanity and enlightenng the understandings, of
the slaveholding portion OF the Union If there were
some kindness in this avowed motive il must be ac-
knowiedged that there was rather presumptuous
display also Of assumed superiority In Intelligence
and knowledge. 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 pow
ers OF persuasion, they propose TO substitute the
powers OF the ballot box and he must be blind TO
what is passing before u.s. who does perceive that
the inevitable tendency OF their proceedings is, If
these should be fonnd insufficient to invoke, finally
the more potent powers Of the bayonet
MIR. President, Il is at this alarming stage of the
proceedings OF the ultra-abolitionists that would
seriously invite every consderate in the coun-
try solemny TO pause and deliberately reflect not
merely ON our existing POSTURE but upon that dread
iul precipice down which they would hurry u.s. II
is because these ultra abolitionists have ceased to
employ the instruments Of reason and peTsualon,
have made their cause political, and haya appealed
to the ballot box, that am induced upon this occa-
sion, to address you.
There have been three epochs in the history Of our
country at which the spirit Of abolition displayed itself
The first Immediately after the formation Of the pre-
sent Federal Government. Nnen the Constitution was
about going into operation, its powers not well
understood by the community large, and remained
be accurately interpreted and defined AT that period
numerous abolition societies were formed, comprising
not merely the Society Of Friends but many other good
men Petitions preserved to Congress- praying
for the abolition Of slavery They received with
out serious opposition referred and reported upon bya
committee. The report stated that the General Co
vernment had power to abolish slavery as existed
IN the several States, and that these States themselves
had exclusive jurisdiction over the subject. The re-
port was generally acquiesced in and satisfaction and
tranquility ensued the abolition societies thereafter
limiting their exertions in respect the black popua
ton TO Offices OF humanity within the scope Of existing
laws
The next period when the subject Of slavery and abo-
tion incidentally brought notice and
was that the memorable occasion OF the admission
OF the State OF Missouri into the Union. The struggle
was long, strenuous, and fearful II recent to make
necessary to do more than merely advert to it, and to
say that il was finally composed by Of those
promises CHARACTERISTIC Of institutions, and of which
the Constitution itself is the most signal instance.
The third is that in which now find ourselves
Various causes Mr. President have contributed pro-
dnce the existing excitement on the subject Of aboli-
ton The principal one, perhaps, is the example Of
British emancipation Of the slaves in the islands ada
cent TO our country Such is the similarity in laws in
language, in institutions and in origin, between
Great Britain and the u States, that great
ofnaoBal policy be adopted in the one country with
out producing considerable degree Of influence in the
other Confounding the totally different together,
Of the powers Of the British Parliament and those OF the
Congress Of the United States and the totally different
situations of the British West India islands, and the
slaves the sovereign and independent States of this
Confederacy superficial have inferred from the
decided British experiment the practcabty of the abo
lition of slavery in these States The powers Of the
British Parliament unlimited, and often described to
be omnipotent. The powers Of the American Con-
gress, the contrary, few, cautiously limited,
pulously excluding all that not granted and above
ALL carefully and absolutely excluding all power the
existence continuance of slavery in the several
States The slaves, too, upon which British leglsla-
ton operated, not in the bosom Of the kingdom
but in remote and feeble colonies having voice
Parliament. The West India STAKEHOLDER was neither
represented representative in that Parliament And
whilst most ferventy wish complete success to the
British West India emancipation, confess that have
fearful orebodngs Of disastrous termination Of it.
Whatever it may be- think it must be admitted that, ii
the British Parliament treated the West India slaves
freemen it also treated the West India freemen
slaves II, instead Of these slaves being separated by
wide ocean from the parent country three or four
millions Of African negro slaves had been dispersed
England, Scotland Wales and Ireland, and their
owners had been members Of the British Parliament
which would have presented analogy to that
Of our counrydoes any one believe that it would
have been expedent practicable to have emancipated
them, leaving them to remain with all their embtcred
feelings, in the United Kingdom, boundess as the
powers of the British Parliament arel
Other causes have conspred with the British example
to produce the existing excitement from abolition
say with profound regret but with intention TO
cason irritation here or elsewhere, that there are per-
in both parts Of the Union who have sought to
mngle abolition with politics. and to array one portion
OF the Union against the other. 1t is the misfortune in
free countries that high party times, disposition too
often prevails to seize hold Of every thing which can
strengthen the one side weaken the other Charges
Of fostering abolition designs have been heedlesly and
unusy made by party against the other Prior to
the late election Of the present President OF the United
States, he was charged with being aboitions and
abolition designs imputed to many Of his support
ers. Much as was opposed to his election, and am
to his Administration neither shared in making nor be-
lieving the truth Of the charge lie scarcely in
stalled in office before the same charge directed
against those who opposed his election.
Mr.. President it not true and rejoice that it is
not true, that either of the great parties in this
country has any designs aim OF abolition. should
deeply lament If were true. should consider, If it
true, that the danger to the stability Of our system
would be infinitely greater than which does, lhope,
actually Whilst peither he. | think.
Justly accused Of any abolition tendency purpose,
both have prof,ed and both have been injured, in par
tcular :aes by the accession abstraction OF abo
on support. If the account fairly stated be-
eve the party which am opposed has proited much
more and been injured much less, then that to which
be LONG But am far for that reason. from being dis