The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-06-14
I Concluded |

These, Mr. President are Of the ruinous
consequences affecting the Industrial and CONNER
cial interests Of the United States with which We
are threatened If Texas should fall under the iDfu-
ence of that foreign ''ascendency" which we have
seen that distinguished British statesmen re
claimed a sort OF "niluroin prerogative OF Eng
land in the younger and weaker States OF the New
World. Now sir, lei Us consider the dangers which
threaten security from that same ascendency, II
We are to heed the open and undisguised aSowas of
British policy, recently addressed, all the forms OF
diplomacy, directly to Ourselves. The Senate VIII
comprehend, at once, that refer to the despatch OF
Loi d Aberdeen TO Mr. Pakenham, communicated by
the latter under the express direction OF his Govern
ment, TO the American Secretary OF late MIR.
President you know ull we'll, and this body will bear
me witness, that am agitaior or alarmist in re-
gard to the designs Of foreign Powers. cheri.h the
interests of peace as among the highest aud dearest
of humanity and especially have felt and still feel
how import ant and desirable il is to preserve peace
and amity and a cordial good understanding with Eng
land, with whom we have all the ties Of a common
ancestry, common language, and large and mutu-
ally beneficial commercial intercourse, to bind US
closely together. But with all these feelings have
not been able to blink the IL port-he true and naked
import, Of this communication of Lord Aberdeen
and will add sir, that, in my long conneXion with
this body, nothing has struck me with so much sur
PRISE as The communication with which ii has been
treated by the distinguished S.na from ssouri,
Mr. Benton That IT is frank, and more--a bold
despatch, will readily admit but that it is 'no-
Ole" despatch, merng our especial eulogy thanks,
can never agree On the contrary, mus say that,
bold and formal annunci ation of a settled policy
on the part OF one Government TO use its influence
and erertons to procure the abolition of certain do
nestle institutions OF another, contained in a commu-
ncatlon addressed directly and face to face to that
other, 1t is without example IN the diplomatic inter
course OF nations except so far England her
self has recently ventured 10 set The example in her
intercourse with two other American Powers, Brazil
md TaNa hat nd ,,,I tic, A,.
cussions in her Parliament, in her nti-sa,ery con-
yentions say What she peases about her seLassumed
mission Of aboshing slavery throughout the ,oorid
even a, the expense OF the peace of the world, and
that, without giving Just cause of offence or com
plant 10 other Powers, will not deny hut when she
boldly that to be her poiicu which she will
continue TO pursue openly and unremttngly, in a
NAL diplomatic communication made 10 another
eregn and independent Power, where the Institution
she proscribes is still permitted to exist becomes
us to pause, and TO contemplate calmly but reso-
lutely, the consequences TO which such nteryen.
ton tins IN the domestic of other
tends, and vii IN all probability vitality lead
end. IL seemed to me, Mr.. President that the homo
rable Senator from Miss uri MIR Benton) had de-
ceiyed himself the true character of this extra.
ordinary diplomatic paper, by dwelling rather fondly
upon the least significant parts Of it, In his com.
ments upon II, he told that il amounts TO nothing
more than the innocent expression Of uish-a mere
wsh-to see slavery abolished IN Texas and through
red to these com paratiyey feeble expressions in the
despatch Let the honorable Senator turn again TO
the despatch, and he will find other and far sig
nihcsnt and characteristic passages in il.
In announcing and defining the policy" Of Eng
land, Lord Aberdeen employs the following naked
AID uhreseryed language IN which there is something
very different from mere passive tcsh TO see slavery
abolished throug out the world +" Great Britain y
says he desires and IS constantly erering herself to
procure the general abolition Of slavery throughout the
D A 80 a.. Il
patch, lest we should not have sufficiently compre-
hended the pregnant import of his previous annun
cation OF the policy OF his Government he takes oc.
cason TO advertise US again. in a parentbesis, that
mat tey VIII not doslst from those open honest
V0rh winch lhey have constantly made for procuring
the abolition Of slavery throughout The world ~
Now, sir, this sounds TO my very differently from,
a mere wish TO zee slavery abolished, TO which the
honorable Senator from Missouri reduces and atten-
yates the whole yigor Of Lord Aberdeen's despatch
On the contrary, his lordship tells US emphatcally
that the policy of England Is to ereri" herself con-
stsntly and actively, and T. make use of efforts" TO
procure the abolition Of slavery throughout the world
and he twice repeats the declaration in the same SIG
nfcant terms. What il this, Mr. President but the
solemn annuncation Of England, IN all the 3 pomp
and clrcumstancen Of an official communication to
foreign Government, Of determined purpose TO place
herself at the head Of moral and diplomatic tropI-
gandi1n, ITO say the leasl) involving the internal
peace and safety OF foreign countries, In some Of
very institution against which she procaims this
crusade
Is not tins, sir, the very principle OF the French
revolutionary propagandism against which her own
Burke raised the voice Of eloquent and indignant re-
monstrance and rallied the energies Of his country
lie told them II was " armed docfyins' against
which they were called 10 contend And is not this
universal abolition openly proclaimed in a for
mai diplomatic communication, rs the poheu Of the
British Government, an armed doctrine "a doctrine
armed as We who are exposed 10 its consequences
know full we'll whether they be designed or not by
those who pat onize t--a doctrine armed with the
torci Of the inoendsry and the instruments of mid
night MURDER And, like that same armed doofrin,
which Burke denounced, it too "has lis faction of
opinion, Of interest and Of fanatcism IN every con
Wy Even here m our own country, 1t has its allies
II not ITS nstgstors for among the most painful and
revolving Developments contained in THE paners
which have been submitted 70 US, is the evidence
they present that the movement Of the British Co
vernment on this subject has been specially invoked
by aboiiionids from America.
Let me not be misunderstood Mr. President in
what have said on this subject under the deepest
convictions Of hat is due 10 the dignity as well a.
10 The peace and safety Of our common country |
am no advocate Of slavery never have been
oeepy lament ITS existence In any portion Of our
country, as have freely and unreservedly declared
10 TINS Han believe and fondly hope that it's ren-
dency IS TO ultimate extinction But any attemnt "a
force or precipste that contamination by foreign
interference or domestic faction have none other
but the most oaamitous consequences TO both of me
races concerned and especially TO that on whose be
hall all tbs pragmatcal and dangerous interference
has been employed. The history Of African slavery
IN America proves that is tendency is TO recede far
Their and farther TO the South and Southwest until
u lei to the operation Of those natural laws which
govern the progress Of society everywhere. with
such uxliary measures as the States Immediately
concerned best know and when 10 apply, ! firmly be-
lleve will finally disappear from oar horders "a
the whole African race 10 America be Transferred n,
those tropical regions most congepsl 10 their ooo.t
tuition, and where they minge, in social and civil
squshty, with races which, presenting lever and
less msrked traits Of original difference are known
10 sei no nvipeble rePugnanee to the assoc Il