Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-10-04

affirmative, that il NAV be extended! Ye
il is now proposed. in some of the Stat
Legislatures, and in this Capitol. to d.
precisely the same thing in regard to th'
Territory Of Oregon. which was done BY
Great Britain to her transatlantic posses
sions; not merely to legalize slavery there
but to prohibit its inhabitants from pro
hibiting it, Though three thousand miles
west Of Great Britain. she had certain
constitutional rights over US. and could
affect our destiny. Though the inhabit'
ants of Oregon are three thousand miles
west Of US, yet we have certain constitu'
tonal rights over them. and can affect their
destiny. Great Britain annulled our laws
for prohibiting slavery; we propose to
annual an existing law of Oregon prohi-
biting slavery. lfthe execrations ofman-
kind are too feeble and too few to punish
Great Britain for her wickedness. what
scope, what fullness, what eternity OF
execration and ana,hema. will he suffi-
cient retribution upon US, il we volunteer to
copy her example! 1t was in the eigh-
teenth century, when the mother country
thus made merchandise of human beings
"a time when liberty was forbidden
word in the languages Of Europe. 1t is
is the nineteenth century. that we propose
to re-enact, and on an ampler scale. the
same execrable villany-a time when
liberty is the rallying cry Of all Christen-
dom. So great has been the progress Of
liberal ideas within the last century, that
what was venial at its beginning is unpar-
donable at its close. To drive cof1les Of
slaves from here to Oregon, in the middle
Of the nineteenth century, is more in
famous than it was to bring cargoes Of
slaves from Africa here. in the middle Of
the eighteenth. Yet such is the period
that men would select to perpetnate and
to increase the horrors Of this traffic.
Sir. how often, on this floor. have in
dignan, circumstances been addressed to
the North, for agitatDg the subject of sla-
very! How often have we a: the North
been told that we were melting insurrec-
ton. fomenting a servile war, putting the
black mans knife TO the white man, 3 throat.
The air Of this Hall has been filled, its
walls have been as it were sculptured, by
southern eloquence, with images Of de-
vastated towns, of murdered men and
ravished women; and as defence against
the iniquities Of the institution, they have
universally put in the plea that the calami-
~ was eniailed upon them by the mother
that it made part Of the world
they were born into, and, therefore, they
could not help it. have always been dis
posed to allow its full weight TO this palla-
ton. But if they now insist upon per-
petrating against the whole Western world.
which happens at present to be under our
control. the same wrongs which. in darker
days, Great Britain perpetrated against
them, they will forfeit every claim to SYM
pathy. Sir. here is test. Let not south
ern men, who would now force slavery
upon new regions, ever deny that their
slavery at home is chosen voluntary,
beloved CRIME.
But let US look, sir. at the moral charac
ter Of slavery. 1t is proposed not merely
to continue this institution where it now
exists, but to extend it to the Pacific Ocean
Ito spread it over the vast slopes Of the
Rocky Mountains, Sir, the conduct of
govern ments, like the conduct Of individ-
uals. is subject to the laws and the retri !
buttons of Providence. If, therefore,
there is any ingredient Of wrong in this
institution, we ought not to adopt it, or to
permit it, even though it should pour
wealth in golden showers over the whole
surface of the land. In speaking Of the
Cu0IdCtcI VI SidNcIts SUs 1 uICdu ~
utter no word for the purpose Of wounding /
the feelings of any man. On the other /
hand, mean not to wound the cause Of
truth by abstaining from the utterance Of
a word which | ought to speak.
The institution Of slavery is agains;
natural right. Jurists, from the time Of
observation-disclosures, from the time OF Cicero |
poets. from the time Of Ilomer-de-
clare it to be wrong. The writer's on
moral or ethical science-the expounders !
Of the law of nations and Of God-de-
nounce slavery as an invasion Of the rights
Of man. They find no warrant for it in
The eternal principles of justice and equity;
and in that great division which they set
orth between right and wrong. they ar
range slavery in the catalogue Of Crime.
All the noblest instincts Of human nature /
rebel against it. Whatever has been |
taught by sage, or sung by poet. in favor
Of freedom. is a virtual condemnation Of
slavery. Whenever we applaud the great /
champions of liberty. who, by the sacrifice
Of life in the cause Of freedom, have won
the homage of the world and an immor-
tality Of fame, we record the testimony OF
our heart against slavery. Wherever
patriotism and philanthropy have g!owed
Observation-Disclosures piety and devout
religious sentiment have burned most /
there has been the most decided
Of the universal rights of man.
Sir. let US analyze this subject; and see |
i slavery be not the most compact, and
and condensed system Of
wrong, which the depravity Of man has
ever invented. Slavery is said to have had
its origin in war. 1t is claimed that the
cap,or had right to take the life of his
captive; and that it he spared that life he
made it HIS own, and thus acquired right
10 control it. deny the right Of the cap I
tor to the life Of his captive; and even if
this were conceded. deny bis right to the |
life Of the captive's offspring. But this
relation between captor and captive pre-
cludes the idea Of peace; for no peace can
be made where there is no free agency.