The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-26


them penniless upon community where they de-
spised and oppressed, and IN a climate TO which, BY
constitution, they are unsuied We have seen you
unite with our foreign enemies to defame u.s. and join
those who for commercial purposes have wared ainst
slavery the OF our supremacy In the cotton
ket of the world But have not seen the good you
have DONE any other effect You have wrought than TO
dsrust among the whites, and toproluce
sy for increased rgor the slaves What then you
propose You speak OF emancipation, but YOU know that
immediate emancipation is impracticable that if the
States would consent the treasury OF the federal govern
men would not approximate the purpose. More than
this YOU know that without slaves cotton could not be
produced supply your factories and that ruin and want
would stalk over your own villages, where now wealth
and plenty reign What prompts to your agtatons2 MOI
instructive opposition TO involuntary servitude,
shown by your readiness to give validity 10 the Mexican
laws over California and New Mexico and thus continue
the peon SYSTEM far harsh and repulsve my mind
than domestic slavery liable TO the same abuses but
without the controlling restraint which interest and the re-
laion OF permanent dependence create in the of the
slave. Is II love for the African! No! his civil dsa-
by. his social exclusion the laws passed by some of
the slave States TO prevent him, if free, from settling
within their limits, show beyond the possibility OF doubt
that II springs from affection for the slave Is it the
moral convection that there cannot be property per-
sons No you imported Africans and sold them as
chaels in the slave markets, and you constantly OBJ
Jechng TO their representation as persons IN the councils
Of the federal government Is II because has been
said in this debate, slavery is burden the govern
ment diminishing It's power in peace and In war? Ii So
let the exports OF the country answer what section OF the
Union contributes most to supply treasury let the
history of reply, to the number and sonduc
Of The troops which the slavehoding States have given
to the of the country Those must show
that this position is wholly untenabe. The only concu
is that you prompted by the lust of power and
irrational hostility TO your brethren OF the South.
say irrational. because an injury inflicted upon us would
surely eco upon and because the OF the South
may proudly challenge the citation of instance when
they have opposed the interest of the North, because it
such, been recusant to any OF the compromises OF
under our constitution.
Whilst northern men contend that the slave States
shall not be extended by participation IN any acquired
territories, they should remember, and blush TO remen-
ber that Oregon acquired by treaty which coded
large southern territory, and that southern men have
BEEN throughout those who have led IN the efforts to
secure exclusive possession Of Oregon: Floyd, Benton
and Linn stopped not To balance political power,
paused from their abors to secure Oregon to the settle
ment and OF people, because ITS climate and
productions indicated the future erection of slave
States. have claimed for southern men that they have
faithfully adhered To all compromises. Is there which
has been fully kept by the opposite party The ordinance
OF 1857, which may be considered compact by subse
guent acquiescence OF the States contained provision
for the restoration OF fugitive slaves that being the only
consideration given 10 the South IL has been ilagrany
violated In establishing the ratio OF representation, the
South compromised by deducuny two-irhs OF the
persons held 10 service, and the North has been from
that time to this endeavoring to get rid OF the compro
mise, Without a shadow OF propnety, the admission
OF Missouri State OF the Union opposed because
of her domestic institutions; the slave States TO secure
harmony, conceded that slavery should be excluded from
all the remaining part OF the territory which was north
of 36e 30 but now, when other territory acquired the
North assert all to be free territory, and refuse 10 de-
clare the territory south OF 800 80 to be open to the intro
ducton of slaves as good faith would require, if their
assertion enable and the territory in fact not equal
ly open to the property OF all the people OF the United
States But, nlamed by former contests you
The mask is o-the purpose is avowed that there shall
be further extension OF "the slave power. The ques.
ton is before SIT struggle for political power and
we must meet at the threshold Concession has been
but the precursor of further aggression and the spirit OF
compromise has diminished your relative power IN
creased. The sacrifices which the South has in other
times made to the fraternity and tranquility OF the Unon
are cited prece dents against her rights. To
promise to waive the application not to render the
principles which right rests, and surely gives
claim to further concession Ii has been said that
are contending for an abstraction thing of practical
importance If So then why is it obsnaely resisted
Do you wish to gain another and broader precedent for
future The of this debate juslihes the sup
position, and demands caution on our part If to contend
for principle, the practical effect OF which may be remote
is abstraction then, sir, the war OF the Revolution,
and the of 1879, far the South concerned,
were both fought for distractions In the colonial
diton the southern States especially fosered by
Great Britain, and their prosperity was rapidly increasing
at the of hostties against the mother
country The acts of unjust and oppressive legislation
were applied to the northern colonies Sympathy, fra
ternal feeling, and devotion to principle, brought the
South to your side in your first step to resistance Again.
in the of 1872 it your seamen, not ours, who
impressed; and again, from devotion to principle and
the obligations OF our alliance the South stood foremost
in that conflict The blood of her stained the battle
fields from Niagara to New Orleans her exports, main
dependence for her support, cut off and distress
came to every hamlet and cottage; yet she murmured
not, rallied not raised not the standard OF opposition
against the government whilst engaged in foreign
have said that the South has, all occasions, been
prompted by sincere desire for domestic tranquility,
and an ardent love for the Union The conduct of her
sons this occasion has | think, sustained her past
character To prevent further agitation to peace,
to perpetuae our Union, am willing to go far my
principles will allow. To compromise, il is necessary
that both parties should, to extent yield To pre-
vent continuance OF the agitaton is necessary that the
conditions of the compromise should be express that
nothing should be left to doubtful construction Finally,
the value of any compromise may make must depend
on the feelings of those for whom is made, and to
whom it is ntrusted If the spirit of compromise has
departed from people, is idle to propose its forms
ii the principles OF the constitution to be dsregarded
by sustaining majority the days OF the conedera
ton are numbered. The men who have encountered
past wars for the maintenance OF princple will never
consent TO be branded with inierory-pronounced, be-
cause of the domestic institutions unworthy OF further
better that should part peaceaby, and avoid staining
the battle of the revolution with the blood OF civil
war Abraham said 10 his nephew Lot, when strife arose
among their people, $50 thou to the right hand and |
will 60 the left and let there be peace between u.s.
II the folly, and ianatcsn, and pride, and hate, and
corruption OF the day to destroy the peace and pros
pery of the Union, let the sections part like the patri-
archs of DID, and let peace and goodwill subsst among
their descendants Let no wounds be inflicted which
time may not heal Let the flag OF our Union be folded
up entire the thirteen stripes recording the original size
OF our family by the unholy struggles of civil
war; its constellation to remain undmmed and speaking
to those who after of the growth and prosperity
OF the family whilst 1t remained united. Unmutated let
il lie among the archives of the republic future
day, when wiser counses shall prevail, when men
have been sobeed in the school of adversely again to be