Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-07-12
'LEDGEs BROKEN AND POWER
ABUSED.
Speech of .Eyr. ,Slode.

SAe cacu aud diplomatic expenses Of The Go
erament for the year 1899.
delivered in the House of Representatives. Feb %
An amendment to the bill making amir,
priatlons for the civil and diplomatic exper
SEES oil the Government for the wear sac
oeing under consideration in COMMITTEES :
the Whole on the state ofthe Union
MR. SLADE rose, and said that il had M
been his intention TO trouble the House d,
ring the present session, with anv remark
on the great questions which divide the lead
ing parties IN the country. 1t was alwa o.
WIN extreme reluctance that he addresse,
the House; and he felt his ordinary embar
rassment much increased by considerable,
OF tne extent and fulness of the discussion.
winch these questions had recently under
gone mere and elsewhere. He had not IN,
vanity to suppose that he could adduce anv
new facts, or urge any new arguments
yet ne deemed the present crisis when !,
is incumbent on every man TO do his dptv
ana his whole duty and when il becomes
no man to stand still until he can do some
great thing" before he attempts ANYTHING
but TO do, according 10 his ability wba,ayer ;
his hands find TO do with all his nigh, In
the fearful struggle going on between Eve.
cuive Power and Constitutional FrooJons
every man should feel that he has n deen
stake, and that the efforts of the feeblest and
huinoles, may not be unavaiing TO turn the
scale and secure victory. III can ;nau.
ence but single mind if can rouse but
single freeman, and give 10 his efforts rio hit
direction, l shall be amply rewarded.
Buf, sir, have other motives for address.
ing this committee. 1t has been my lot to
stand on this floor as an opponent of slavery.
and to DC identified with those who are
sometimes som reProachedas being men of 'ons
are SO engrossed as to overlook all other
public interests. lam willing to bear
the reproach OF being opposed TO slavery,
here and everywhere. am not ashamed
10 own that on this subject. | think much
and feel deeply. But, sir, so far from for
getting other interests, in my desire for the
emancipation of the enslaved, the contempla-
lion of Inc great principles at justice which
lie nj the foundation of that cause does but
INSPIRE me with 6rmer purpose to main
tain another cause with which those princi-
Piles are deeply identified.
lam opposed 10 slavery of every kind to
slavery of mind and slavery OF body !;
to the slavery whose silken cords are
ar,fully coied around the spirits of
freemen, as well as to the harsh and cruel
bondage which forces the sweat and toll of
him who moves at the bidding OF taskmas-
ter. Sir, cannot stand sill and see eorrup-
ton stalking through this land, and crushing
everything beneath its tread. without stand
ing up and opposing my feeble strength to
its progress No man can estimate the con-
sequences of failure in the present effort to
arrest it. The crisis is one Of momen.
tous and fearful interest The triumph Of
corruption now, may be its enduring tr
umph-a triumph which may reach, in it,
consequences, far beyond the time when AT
rican slavery shall have been extermina
ted--as.I pray Heaven it may soon be-
from this and every other land. That slav
ery abhor and detest and shall do what
figh;fully can to root it out from the world
Bat also detest and abhor the slavery ii
which the policy Of this Administration hal
loue sought TO bind the freemen of this conn
try and l intend to do what can TO taxi
away the power OF the oppresscr so that tn
oppressed may go free. In both cases | an
for emancipation without delay. In one,
do not expect 10 see it accomplished immedi
ateIy in the other, hope TO see it efecte'
on the 4th of March, lS4l. Neither OF thes
causes do intend to forget for the other
The sword Of justice is two-edged; & bot
he curse of slavery & the corruptions OF
Burensm may be made to feel its power.
The People tired Of Discussions.
have, MIR Chairman, listened to the n
cent debate in this committee with some a
tention, and have heard some things whic
sounded to me very strangely. On enterin
this Hall, two days ago. ] found gentle
man from Maryland (Mr. Howard) replyin
10 the arguments which had been urge
against this Administration, and professin
10 defend 1t on its arraignment for CORFU
ton and abuse of power. And what did
hear from him2 Why, sir instead of ser
GUS defence, there met my ear a most mour
full complaint OF waste of time in this discus
ion Instead of an argument, we we
3 gravely and reprovingIy told that the re
pie are dissatisfied with us as debating $
ciety' Yes. sir. standing in the high pos
ton of chairman ofihe Committee OF 70
eign Re!ations--a position from which
might well be supposed to speak the sen
i ments Of the Administration--the gentlem'
deems il Sufficient 70 meet the indignant
monstrances of the People through the
Representatives, against the newly deyelo
ed results Of Executive favoritism and CO
ruption. by telling us that we are mere
batting society, with whose harrangueso