Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-03-12
SALEM, OHIO, FRIDAY, MARCH u, 1877.


ish on this point, that they are ready to strike
down the higher right of a community to 60
vern themselves, in order 10 maintain the abb
solute right of individuals in all circumstan-
ccs, to govern themselves!
MIR. President, the resolutions that / have
proposed, present, in exact terms, these great
truths. | propose to present them TO the SEN
ate | propose TO have a vote upon them aud
| trust there is no gentleman here who will
refuse a direct vote upon these propositions.
tits mainly that we should know the state Of
things. 1t is due to our constituents that we
insist upon it; and | for one, will insist upon
it, that the sense Of this body Shall be taken;
the body which represents the States in their
capacity as communities, and the members of
which are to be their special guardians. 1t
is due 10 them, sir, that there should be a
fair expression of what is the sense of this
body. Upon that expression much depends.
1t is the only stand which we can have. 1t
Is the only position which we can take, which
will uphold US with anything like i%ndepen-
dence-which will give US any chance at all
to maintain an equality in this Union, on
those great principles 10 which ! have had
reference. Override these principles, and we
are nothing! Preserve them, and we will
ever be a respectable portion Of the commu-
nifty.
Sir, here let me say a word as to the COM
promise line. | have always considered it as
a great error-lighly injurious to the South,
because it surrendered, for mere Temporary
purposes, those high principles of the Con
~stitution upon which | think we ought TO
stand. | am against any compromise line.
Yet, | would have been willing to have con-
tinued the compromise line. One Of the re-
solutions in the House, 10 that effect, was Of
fered at my suggestion. | said 10 a friend
there, (Mr. Burt 'Let US not be disturbers
of this Union. As abhorrent to my feelings
as is that compromise line, let it be adhered
TO in good faith and if the other portions of
the Union are willing TO stand by it, let us
not refuse TO stand by it. 1t has kept peace
for some time, and in the circumstances, per-
haps it would be better to keep peace as 1t
is" But, sir, it was voted down by an over
whelning majority. 1t was renewed by a
gentleman Fl, IN a non-slaveholding State, and
again voted down by an overwhelming ma
jori;y.
Well, l see my way in the Constitution.
| cannot in the compromise. A compromise
is but an act of Congress. 1t may be over
ruled at any time. 1t gives us no security.
But the Constitution is stable. 1t is a rock.
On it can stand. tits a principle on which
we can meet our friends from the non-slave-
holding States. 1t is firm ground on which
they can better stand in opposition to fanali,
cism, than on the shifting sands of comprom.
Use.
Let us be done with compromise. Let us
60 back and stand upon the Constitution
Well, sir, what if the decision of this body
shall deny TO us this high Constitutions
riplt N.hioh IL, ~ NJ an;ptn, 10 no -1o,r sac
any in the instrument itself-the more defin.
ed and stable indeed, because deduced from
the entire body of the instrument, and the ma.
ture of the subject to which it relates? VIVA
then! That is a question which will no
undertake to decide. 1t is a question for oul
constituents-the slaveholding States. A
solemn and a great question. Mr.. President
And if the decision should be adverse at this
time, | trust and do believe that they will
take under solemn consideration what they
ought 10 do. ] give no advice. 1t would be
hazardous and dangerous Cor me to do so.-
But | may speak as an individual member Of
that section Of the Union. There | drew my
first breath. There are all my hopes. | au
a planter-a cotton planter. ] am a southern
man, and a slaveholder-a kind and a merci.
full one, | trust-and none the worse for be.
ing a Shareholder. | say, for one, ! would
rather meet any extremity upon earth, than
give up one inch of our eguality-one inch
of what belongs to us as members of this
great Republic! What! acknowledge inle.
riority! The surrender of life is nothing &c
sinking down into acknowledged %inferIori.
ty!
| have examined this subject largely, wide
ly. ] think | see the future, if we do moi
stand up now: and, in my humble opinion,
the condition of Ireland is merciful and hap
py-the condition of Hindostan is peace and
happiness-the condition of Jamaica is pros
porous and happy, to what the Southern States
will be, if now they Weld \ 4