The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-02-26


therefore free and equal.
Because Northern gentlemen insist upon
the sacred right Of petition, the rignt oil me
worm TO turn when it is trodden, upon, they
ar. CHARGED with a reckless hatred OF the
south and its institutions. Sir, men truly
hate only those whom they fear, and those
whom they have wronged. TO tie South we
say, we tremble not at your menaces, we
have done you no wrong.
The North has been charged with ignorance
of the true character of the servIle reiation'
and of blindness to the palpable and inviBcI-
BILE obstacles, which are alleged by Southern
gentlemen to oppose themselves TO abolition
present or prospective. 1t lies in the very
nature of things, that this charge should be
in some degree true. Nothing but personal
observation can teach the extent, either efthe
evils of slavery, or of the difficulties which
muede the abolition Of this, as OF all other
rooted and general abuses. Indeed have new
err met with an aboliionist, however jealous;
who pretended that he could see his way al
together clear on this subject.
There is, Mr.. Chairman, no general dlspo-
sitiou in the North, to dictate to the South
on this subject Of emancipation. We hope
YOU will be convinc ed Of the expectancy and
duty of Ultimate abolition, ano will IN rea-
sonable time redeem your implied pledges to
that effect, and we are content to leave to you
the mode, and | had almost said the terms.
cannot forbear to suggest to Southern
gentlemen, in this connexion, one mode by
which they may both pacify the North. and
retain and even increase their relative weight
in the House Of Representatives. Remove
what an honorable member has called in an
other place the bugbear Of slavery, and the
current of emigration will set in new direc
ton. The North has always been an oticind
gentium, and every year throws off a new swarm
Of enterprising and industrious adventures.
To them no more powerful attraction
could be presented than the mountains and
the valley of the sunny South, if like their
own snow topped hills and the verdant dells,
they were but the abode Of the mountain
nymph, sweet liberty" The natural adv an
tages Of the Southern portion Of the Union
are unquestionably unrivalled upon the face
of the earth, and they need only to be develop
ed by the energies of free hands, guided by
free heads, to enable those States TO give
laws, not to this Union only, but to the wSkd.
But in regard To this change of ignorance
and passion, will, in all seriousness, suggest
TO Southern gentlemen measure, which
honestly believe would do much, very much,
towards dispelling those clouds ofignorance,
and calming whatevere exists of feverish pas
sion, Let candid and intelligent men from
the slayeholding States visit the North, and
call meetings of all political parties to hear
this subject discussed. can confidently pre-
dict, that the most jealous advocate, even of
slavery itself, who should address the people
of the North on this subject, in decent and
respectful language, would not only be atten-
lively listened to. but civilly and even kindly
treated. Instead of being lynched, as any of
the supporters Of the right of petition would
be at the South, he would be feasted and
caressed, and fanatics, incendiaries as we are,
there is not on this floor Northern gentle
man who would not shed the last drop Of his
blood, in defending Southerncr against any
who should assail him, for maintaining the
rights and interests of his own State, in such
language as becomes freeman and gentle
man. Speak to the people of the North, as
that heroic young member from North Caro-
lima, (Mr. CLINGMAN,) last year addressed
this House, with the simple eloquence Of
honest conviction, and though you may fail
TO convince, though YOU may shock their
prejudice, yet you will win their respect, their
sympathy, and even their confidence. shall
not venture to predict, that their opinions
would be changed by the course l advise
probably, they might even be confirmed, but
all feelings of undue asperiiy, all disposition
to assail you with any other weapons than
those of reason, ifsuch exist, would be allayed;
the North and the South would come TO
better understanding, and this most difficult
subject would assume the new shape of a
question, submitted TO the jurisdiction of
coDscieBc and reason.
The opinions | have expressed, in regard
10 the permanencc of domestic slavery, are
not only the present opinions Of the North,
and the ancient opinions Of your people, but
they were, within very resent period. the
opinions of the best minds of the South.
Not many years since, several Of your States
were almost persuaded to rid themselves of
this great burden, and many of you now assign
the heated zeal and Incorporate action of
Northern fanatics, as a reason why they did
not 60 on in the good work they had begun.
i fear this is butte true, and if so, they, whose
rash interference mas occasioned so deplora-
bic result, must share with you the respou-
siblitv of the continuance of this evil.
But generous men will admit that there is
some provocation for this zeal, in this noto-
rious facts, somewhat boastfully alluded to
by the gentleman from Alabama. that, small
as your,population is, you have virtually ruled
the nation, and monopolized the great Offices
in every department OF the Government; and
the further fact, that, by direct appropriation,
defacaiion, and the Florida Wharf.-The real
motive of which was the defence of your
peculiar institution you have drawn
from the national treasury uncoun,ed millions
beyond what your population, your proper
wants. your contributions TO the public re-
sources, would entitle you TO.
God forbid that / should recapitulate these }
causes Of complaint for the purpose of justi- !
flying, still less Of promoting, a fanaticism
which heartily condemn and if viii not be .
out Of place if hear say a word upon the on
gin and character of the anti-slavery party
The feeling upon which it is built originated .
in the Southern monopoly of office to which .
j have alluded; in the supposed hostility of
the South to a course of policy first forced
upon US by that section, but now indispensable
TO "ur prosperity, in conscientious belief
that slavery is, both morally and economically,
a wrong and an evil. The excitement thus
produced has been aggravated and inhamed
by the denial of the right of petition, by the
abuses of The Florida war, by the fierce denun-
cations ofNorthern men and Northern inter-
FL IL