Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1845-12-03

Selling upon the power of government at
early day. It dsca rtod tho Constitution which
adopted tor ';he purpose of securing the blessings
OF libcrty'-and welded our national influence
to fer e:uate the curse of meric slavery. Be-
tore the naughty vaporings of Southern members
Of Congress. Northorn statesmen. unassuming in
their manners, and retiring IN their habits, were
carly accustomed to cover. Tho history OF
government - exhibition of tho continual ar
rogancc on tho part of tho South and of constant
submission on the par: Of the North; of Southern
cncroachmcnt and of Northern surrender. 1t is
4 most Illuminating fact that tho rohdomontades
! OF Southern men silence debate in Congress on all
SUBJECTS whcrc slavery was concerned. If the
rights Of the FREQ States happened to como in
contact with the interests of slavery, all discus
sion III favor OF the former. and against tho lat
ter. sienccd; whiic southern members with
bullying sWagger, would declare tho glores and
blessings OF 'hc peculiar institution and look
unu,torablo contempt upon those whom they in
snltin9iy torn northern doughfacos.' If north
ern member, undor sense of duty, wore to
attemp. reply, he would DO compelled to do it in
such language was dictated by southern slave
holders. If he give Won. to his feelings Of self
respect, or spoke tho languag of freedom, he was
instantly sence1 by southern insolcnco aided by
northern potroonery. Whc sitting in the Hall
of Ropresen.a.ives. AMI compelled for hours TO
listen to language insulting TO every citizon Of
oar free States without tho privilege of reply, I
havo deeply felt tho degradation to which pooplo
Of the north wore subjected.
Inc people OF this Congressional District are
aware that IN lSt2.. It was regarded as offensive
10 Southern dignity for Northern member to
express his Vows IN favor of the most obvious
lights of the free States. Indeed, so servile had
tho feelings OF some northern members Of Con-
gross become, that they voted 10 censurc follow
nombor for daring TO assert tho Constitutional
rights Of the FREQ State. Many northern papers
condemned Tho act: others spoke Of it as irnpru-
dent ana lli-sIinedi wtilo bu, few appeared viii
Of doctrine winch no northern man darod deny.
50 yi.iatcd had northern sentiment become in re-
spect 10 slavery. th1t FREQ expression in regard
10 the crime Of that institution was scarcely toll.
Grated III our social circles. The dissemination
OF truth III relation to slavery was obstructed in
every mode which slavcholdlng ingenuity could
invent. Nlobs wero collected: the laws of tho
Federal and State government set at defiance:
southern post-oliicos woro violated private COR
respondence exposed: printing presses destroyed:
northern cl.izens travelling IN southern States
were seized By mob violence, imprisoned and
scourged: and IN some instances, lifo itself was
taken 10 prevent tho promulgaton of truth. In
docd, while now write, intelligence has reached
our village OF a sIavoholdng mob convened in an
adjoining State, for the purpose Of preventing
by violence the publication of paper devoted to
the cause Of humanity and in order 10 silence the
tongue and paralyzo the pen Of one of the most
devoted patriots OF the ago. Languishing upon
bed of sickness. from which ho was unable to
rise. q concavc of towards, headed by late
member of Congress, seized upon the opportunity
70 display their valor. 1t was n most fortunate
moment, when the physical debility Of their vic
tim held ont 70 them sure guaranty of personal
safety. Never did realize more fully the truth
that Slavery IS an unmitigated CURSE than
while now write. 1t is truly a curse to tho
master-a curse 10 the slave-and a bitter curse
to tho free States of this Union. Rather than SEQ
these outrages continued would gladly sec our
Union with the slaveholdng States dissolved.
No greater Insult could be offered to tho dig
n!ty OF orr free States than to tax thcm for the
rccapturo and return Of Southern slaves that
have fed from their masters. No greater outrage
than this could have boon perpetrated upon the
Constitution. ct the people Of Ohio havo paid
Tor uflosti's "nd atar.ineg snch f,gitives Mt tho
rate Of eighty thousand dollars per head. We
have been taxed for the purchase of blood hounds
10 act as auxllarIcs to our army in leading them
10 the hiding places of women and children, who
have sought liberty in the deep recesses Of the
forests. Equally insulting to our character and
subversiye of the Constitution has been the en-
poymcnt of our army in shooting and butchoring
defenceless women and children for no other
cause than thoir attachment to liberty. This
deep disgrace. these damning crimes, havo been
brought upon us by our union with tho slavcho!d-
ing States. Not IN pursuance of tho Constitution
bu. in subversion of that instrument. With my
hands thus cotted and dripping with the blood of
slaves, cannot reverence Union with those
olates Inat nave thus involved us in such over
whelming guilt and disgrace. For the Union
with those slave States, who have thus defeated
tho great and paramount objects of confede-
ration; slbverted the Constitution, waged a
gains! the rights Of mankind, entertain no at
tachmcn.. Give mo Constitutional Union, or
give dissolution.
IT we look 10 tho position which our own State
holds in the Union. we shall find bu, litte to
cheer our hopes or cherish pride. Our soil
IS often polluted with s|aveholdng violence.
Neither the dignity of our S'ate nor tho Federal
Constitution has been able to protect our people
from the saveholding raP4city of adjoining
States. Our coIorcd citizens have been seized,