Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-03-19

Territory. And | warn gentlemen of the South
not 10 deceive themselves upon this subject,
by relying on the past action Of the North IN
this great question. There will be no more
concessions upon the part of the North
The people have taken this subject into their
own hands and never, since the organiza-
ton Of the Government, was there n deeper
interest awakened in regard to it than at this
time. And. sir, after the present session,
you will have from our section Of the Union
no more corrupt politicians upon this floor.
who will be found trucking to this gigantic
slave power. The gentleman from South
Carolina, Mr.. BURT, when he said the 9TH
er day that there was a rapidly growing feel
ing at the North against slavery, was entire
ly right. The time was, when northern po-
~liticians were upon this floor aiding you even
in gagging their constituents; but that
time has gone by forever. If you codnt up
on aid from this class of men, you count with
out your host. | will not say that your old
allies, for political purposes, may not again
combine with you 10 promote this slave in
terest; If they do, and that purpose is known
at home, very few of them will ever be able
to find their way into this Hall. You will
have men hereafter from tho free States upon
this floor whose faces will be set as a flint
dHdlllcb az lultiItI tNpdlSlOu VI SldNtIN. VI
the further increase of the slave power of this
Union.
| know this is a very exciting question,
and one which appeals upon both sides to the
strongest feelings of our nature and in Civ
ing a candid expression of my views, | may
endang,r the social relations which exist be-
tween me and certain gentlemen whose opin-
ions upon this subject are the very extremes
OE NV OWD Ruf NO h avn arrived ~ n crisis
in the history of this institution of slavery,
and 1t is due to ourselves and our common
country that there be no concealment of our
views with regard to it. Let the feelings Of
the different sections of this country be made
known, so that in the future action of this
Government concerning slavery, we may
know what are TO be the consequences. In
presenting my own views, | shall endeavor
to present the views of the section Of country
| represent. | need not say ! hold sla-
very TO be wrong in itself, and a fragrant out
rage upon the rights of humanity. And, sir,
if our human nature can be taught upon this
subject, then have | been taught these opin-
ions by those whom their day were among the
most distinguished men in the slaveholding
section of.this Union. adopt the Statement
contained in our Declaration of Independence
in the sense in which it was understood BY
its author: 81 hold these truths to be self
evident that all men are created equal; tina
they are endowed by their Creator with Ger
tain inalienable rights; and that, among these
are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
These were sentiments of universal accept
ance at the formation of the Government
But they are now not only denied in practice
but even their principles are gravely con,ro
verted.
There is one other matter to which ! wis
TO refer before | take my seat. An effort i
making here TO give a new character to thi
war. Certain gentlemen of the norther
Democracy tell us the war is not to be prose
cuted for the extension of slavery, but for tn
conquest Of free territory, to counlerbalanc
that which we acquired by the annexation o
Texas. | am much mistaken in the peopl
of the free States if they are willing to pro
secute the war for this object. 1t is true tn
annexation Of Texas has awakened a yer
deep anti-slavery feeling at the North. The
regard it as a triumph of the slave power
And in truth ii never had any very SINGER
friends there, even among those who gave i
their support. 1t was sustained upon part
considerations; and these having subsidet
the measure is now left to be Judged of upo
its merits; and this sober second thought
of the people is not very favorable to the p,
litical prospects Of those northern politician
who aided in bringing this misfortune upo
the country. Now, it is to be supposed, a
a matter of course, that gentlemen here wi
attempt to avoid these consequences whiC
. have already overtaken them, as the recel
elections show. To effect this, nothing wou
more naturally suggest itself than to consu
= this northern feeling against slavery. B
u they cannot separate themselves from {
! war; and thus it is that gentlemen are no
, endeavorlng to raise the impression that Il
u war is a northern measure; the ~antagonis
of slavery, and the means by which the b
ance of power between the free and slave i
> terests Of the Union is to be restored. Tn
u balance Of power the people of the free Stat
u might desire TO see restored ; but | do not |
Il lleve they will consent to a second robbie
. OF Mexican territory to accomplish it. b
what assurance have we that this ~territol
: when acquired, will be free! This is a gu,
ton that deserves to be very carefully CO
%sldered, for we have already sufficiently Gu
ed our race by the extension of our %territor
= and understand that the public opinion
the free States is irrevocably made up, Il
IL will consent to the admission of no m,
oio'o toiiltoIy intO lHlS Union. Dut can y
preserve this conquered territory free frc
a. the pollution of slavery? | think we ous
10 to have learned enough by this time of
- desperate energy and lawlessness of slave
81 to know that it will o~verIeap any barrier Il
u you may interpose to lis progress, and spre
). itself over every square mile of this terrific
y you may conquer. From the location of t
country, its climate and productions, it nj
II necessarily be settled by a Southern popu
ton, who will carry with them into the co,
II try their slaves, and then, basing themsel,
70 upon that doctrine already advocated on 4
'Ie floor, that the Territories of the Union h;
% a right to govern themselves by their o.
g laws, and TO shape their own internal pol
u according to their own will, slavery will
at established in due form. What then will
IN come of our remedyl We may talk, 10
IS sure, of the unconstitutionality of these p
IS ceediugs; and what will thai avail US
Of will be like whistling down the wind.