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

| bondupei That question was asked more than half
century ago lhasbeeDsnswefed by fifty years OF pros
periiy but little chequered from this cause IL VIII be
repeated fifty hundred years hence The true an
swer To- that the same Providence who has hitherto
guided aud governed US, and sveried all serious evils
from the existing relation between the two races, VIII
guide and govern Our posteny sufhclent TO the gay
Is the evil thereof We have hitherto, with that bles-
sing taken Of our ourselves Posleriy will find the
means OF lis preservation and prosperity II only
in the most drefu event which beial this people
that this great interest," and all other OF greatest IN
teTess, would be put IN jeopardy. Although m pari-
eular districts the black population Is gaming upon the
white only constitutes one-hh OF the whole popula
ton OF the United States and taking the aggregates Of
the two races, the European Is constantly, though
slowly gaining upon the African portion. This fact
demonstrated by the periodical returns Of population
Let us cease them to indulge IN gloomy iorcbodings
about the impeneirable future But, IL may attempt
to it the veil and contemplate what lies beyond IT,
too, have yentured speculative theory, with which
will trouble you, but which has been publish
ed TO the world According to that IN the progress OF
time, hundred and fifty, two hundred years
hence, but few vesiiges Of the black will remain
among our postefity.
MIR President at the period Of the formation Of our
Constitution, and afterwards, patriotic ancestors
unprecedented danger 10 the Union from two One
was, the Allegheny Mountains. dividing the waters
which flow into the Atlantic Ocean from those which
found their outlet IN the Gulf Of Mexico They
ed to present natural separation That danger has
vanished be fore The noble achievements of the spirit Of
internal improvement, and the immortal genius OF Full
ton. And now, nowhere is found more loyal attach
ment to the Union than among those very Western peo-
pie, who, II apprehended, would be the first 10 burst
its lies.
The other cause, domestic slavery, happily the sole
remaining which is likely disturb harmony,
continues to exist. IL this which created the
greatest obstacle and the anxious solcitude in the
deliberations of the Convention that adopted the gen.
eral Constitution. And ii is this subject that has
been regarded with tho deepest anxiety by oil who
sincerely DESTROYS Of the permsnency OF our Union
The Father OF his Country, in his last affecting and
| solemn appeal to his fellow citizens, deprecated as
most caamitous event, the geographical divisions which
il nigh, produce The Convention wisely left To the
several States the power the institution OF slavery,
power not necessary 10 the plan OF union which It
devised, and one with which the General Govern
ment could not be invested without planting the seeds
OF certain destruction There LEI remain undisturbed
| by any unhallowed hand
Sir am not in the habit Of speaking lightly of the
possibility OF dssoving this happy Union. The Senate
knows that have deprecated illusions, ordinary
casoBs TO that direul The country will testify
that If there be any. thing in the history Of my public
career worthy OF recollection. II is the truth and since
rty of my ardent devotion TO its lasting preservation
But we should he false in allegiance IT, il did
not discriminate between the imaginary and real dangers
by which It may be assaied Abolition should no longer
be regarded as an imaginary danger. The abotonsts,
let me suppose, succeed in their present aim Of uniting
inhabitants OF the slave States. Union the side
will beget union the other And this process of
ciprocal consolidation will be attended with all the vo-
lent prejudices, cmbittered passions, and impacabe
anmositles which ever degraded defomed human
nature. A virtual dissolution of the Union will have
taken place, whilst tho forms Of its existence remain.
The most valuable element Of union, mutual kindness,
the feelings osympathy, the fraternal bonds, which
happily unite US will have been extingushed forever
One section will stand in menacing and hostile array
against the other The collision Of opinion will he
quickly followed by the clash Of arms, ! will not at
tempt TO describe which happily lie con-
cealed from view. Abolitionists themselves would
shrink back disnsy and horror the contemplation of
desoated fields, confagraed Cities murdered inhabi-
ans, and tho overthrow Of the farest fabric of human
government that animate the hopes Of civil
lized man. Nor should these abolonsts fatter them
selves that If they succeed in their object Of uniting
the people OF the free states they will enter the contest
with numerical superiority that must ensure victory.
All history and experience proves the hazard and
tainiy Of war. And admonshed by Holy Writ
that the race is not TO the swift TO The battle to the
strong But If they were 10 conquer whom would they
conquer' A foreign ioe-one who had nsulted
flag, invaded our shores, and laid country waste
No. sir no, sir 1t would be conquest without au-
rels, without glory-a self, suicidal conques-a
quest uf brothers brothers, achieved by
another portion OF the descendants OF common
who, molly pedgng their lives their fortunes, aud their
sacred honor had fought and bed side by side, many
hard battle on land and ocean, severed country
from the British Crown and established national in
dependence. .....a...
The inhabitants Of the slave are sometimes
cuscd by their Northern brethren with displaying too
much rashness and sensbli,y the operations and pro-
ceednes Of aboltonists But, before they be rightly
judged, there should be reversal Of conditions Let
me suppose that the people OF the slave States to
form societies, subsdze presses make large pecunary
contributions, send forth numerous missionaries through
out all their borders and into Vaccinations
to burn the beautiful cap'as,desroy the productive ma
nuacories, and sink in the the gallant ships Of the
Northern states. Would these incendiary proceedings
be regarded neghbohy and friendly, and consistent
with the fratena sentiments which should be che
rished by portion of the Union towards another
Would they excite no emotion! Occasion manifes-
tons OF on lead any Of realiatory
violence But the supposed case falls far short Of the
actual one in amos essential circumstance In
tngency could these capitals, manufactures and ships
rise in rebellion and massacre inhabitants Of the Northern
states
! i am, Mr. President, no friend Of slavery. The
Searcher of all Hearts knows that every pulsaon of
NINE beats high and strong in the of civil liberty.
Wherever 1t is safe aud practicable, ldesre every
portion Of the human family in the enjoyment Of it,
But prefer the liberty Of my country to that Of
any other people; and the liberty Of my own to
that Of any other The liberty Of the descendants
OF Africa in the United States is incompatible with the
safety and liberty Of the European descendants There
slavery forms an excepton-an exception resulting
fom memorable necessty--to the general liberty IN
the United States We did not originate nor are we
responsible for, this necessity Their liberty, il it
possible, could only be established by violating the in
contestlbe powers Of the States aud subverng the
Union And beneath the ruins OF the Union would be
buried, sooner or later, the liberty Of both races.
But If one dark spot exists political horizon, is
it not obscured by the bright and eulgcnt and cheering
light that beams around US? Was ever a people be-
fare blessed are il true to ourselves Did
any other nation contain within its bosom many
elements Of prosperity Of greatness and Of glory Our
only real danger lies ahead conspicuous elevated and
visible. 1t clearly dscerned the commencement,
and distinctly seen throughout whole Shall
we wanonly run upon IT, and destroy all the glorious