Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-07-19
SPEECH OF MIR. }. Il. GIDDINGs, OF OHIO,
Upon the Annexation OF Texa>.@
DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Z, s., MAY y, 1914.
IConcluded.I

who believe that tho FREQ States have rights
VOL Us the slave States; and that right TO be
exempt from slavery, and from It's expense, ts
guilt, and It's Disgrace. is supreme and unrestrict-
ed; and these efforts Of the Executive, and 9TH
ers. TO involve US in tho support perpctuaton
of slavery, and Of the slave trade, denouncc as
attempted violations of dearest rights, and of
common Constitution. Sir. no such power
was delegated by tho people OF the free States
TO this Government, and tho cXorcIso OF such
powers would BIO usurpatlon OF authority sufh-
GENTLY Migrant and outrageous to dethrono any
monarch of Europe
Tho Federal Constitution regards slavery as
strictly Il State institution, over which the Gene
raj Government has control whatever. 1t
belongs exclusively to the several States, and tho
power of each State over the institution within It's
territory is supreme and unlimited. With slavery
in the States, Congress has power to IN
terfero than it has with tho SORTS of Russia; and
Virginia to-day holds her slavery as independents
ly of the Federal Government the Emperor of
Russia holds his SORTS.
By her legislation, she may modify or abolish
it at tho pleasure Of her people. Supreme and
exclusive is her powor over it, that mover feel at
liberty to discuss its moral bearings in this Hall.
unless | compelled to do SO in defence of my
! own rights of tho rights of the people whom
! represent. In doing this. merely comply with
what boiicvo to be the spirit of tho Constitutions
That instrument has placed all the States upon
pie Of Ohio the same those Of Nirgi na.-
You, Mr.. Chairman, have been taught to regard
slavery as cXcusabc, or perhaps right. | have
been educated ia tho hatred of that institution
My feolings and my principles are opposed to It
in Ill its forms. Yours in favor of it. | OK
ocrato and condemn it. You cherish and support
it. You are INDUCED in your views and sent
monts, whle your State continues slavery, with
out regard to the feelings of our people or of
/ Congress. | rest with tho same perfect security
! in the freedom of oar State. knowing that the
people of Virginia, nor the Federal Government,
have any power whatever to Interfere with our
feelings or our interest IN regard to slavery
Thus YOU and arc mutually safe in the enjoy
mont Of opposite opinions. Tho rights of our
States too are perfectly mutual, and in all res
poets reciprocal. The rights of Ohio in all res
poets correspond with those of Nirg ma. As
the Federal Government possesses no power to IN
terferc with the slavery of Virginia, it is equally
incompetent Interfere with the rights of Ohio,
to be exempt from al partlc patton IN what we re-
gard tho guilt or tho disgrace of that lnstltu-
ton. The right of Ohio to be entirely FREQ from
all the stain and pollution of slavery. is abso-
lutte and unlimited, is the right of Virginia to
enjoy what her people regard as tho advantages
of it. Nor has the Federal Government any
more power to act for the benefit of slavery, than
it has to act for It's abolition. Most happily, the
Constitution has given this government no rig ht
10 Interfere eithor for its support its destruction.
Nor could tho Government be maintained upon
any other principles. The Government IS the
common property Of all the people Of all the
States. 1t is as much tho Government of the
people of Ohio as it is those of Virginia. 1t is
the common agent and protector of all. What
ever is done BY the Government, is done by the
people ofall the States. Now, sir,cvery man must
at once soc.that common agent of all tho States
could act either for against the institution of sa
very, without offending ore portion or another OF
the people. If it were to put forth its influence to
abolish slavery III Texas. southern friends
would complain, for they desire to retain the nsti
tuition. If IT'D puts forth lis influence to preserve
slavery there, the people Of the north will Of
course complain. for they in favor of liberty
and freedom. and ardonty desire to sec slavery
abolished. 1t was therefore most wise and sal
utarv object with the trainers of the Constitution
to withhold all power from the Federal Govern
ment in regard to slavery. except which has rof
erence 10 fugtives. which have already re.
marked. The safety of tho south and of the
north consists III this wise and salutary absence
of all power over slavery. 1t forcseen by
tho Trainers of the Constitution. that the sublec,
was of such delicate character, that the Fedc
raj Government could not Interfere with it IN any
form, without endangering the existence of our
Union. | fully understand the excuse of Messrs
| Upsher and Calhoun for attempting this unconsti
tutional support of slavery. They say that tho
continuance of slavery in the south would be en-
dangered by the abolition of that institution in
Texas. | answer. that the continuance of s1av.
cry in Texas, will endangor tho freedom Of Ohio
Mr.. Calhoun calls upon the Federal Governmea,
to interpose its power to sustain slavery In Tex
as. lest its abolition shall endanger the continu.
ance of slavery in our southern States. The
people Of Ohio call upon this Government to eN-
ert It's power to abolish slavery in Texas. lest lis
existence shall cndanger the continuance of our
liberty. Our Government, in such case. would
be under the same obligations to exert lis efforts
to abolish slavery in Texas, that it would be &c
sustain it there. The trainers of the Constitu
ton wisely forcsaw these difficulties, and withheld
all power in regard to that institution.
| am often misunderstood. When | say that
the Federal Government cannot malntaln.support,
or defend slavery, am sometimes asked-lt an
enemy should invade a slave State. to get away
slaves. ''woud it not be the duty Of the Federal