The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-02-26

/
ieriority Is 10 be traced to a congenital incapaci-
W, or TO the depression and low culture of
many generations. IL is greatpreblem. have
not time for it. II is too intricate and vast.
Nor, determined either way, would it have any
material connexion with the main question
have in hand, or directly bear on any measures
now in the contemplation Of this Committee. /
have been but stepping aside little way in the
gentleman's track. 'ri
(Here follows a discussion Of West India
Emancipation, which we have already publish
ed.)
The gentleman said, "rhe superstition that
the States would exclude from all the Terrific
ries OF the United States an institution which
prevailed SO generally among them, seems inn
probable in itself, and those who maintain il
may well be required TO furnish the evidence
There Is not, sir, in the whole constitution any
one clause, which, either directly or indirectly,
iavors the idea that slavery was to be limited 10
the States where ii then existed, or 10 be exclu
ded from any part of the territory Of the Uni.
ted States" page D. | think, Mr.. Chairman,
that the Constitution, had it been faithfully exc
cuted, agreeably 10 the sense of the Convention
which framed and Of the people who adopted il,
contains enough safeguards against such a
wrong, and that, construed in its true meaning
and spirit 1t Could never have been used to ex-
tend the benefits (if they were SUCH of the
original mpromises-compromises bad enou OH
any way, TO the free States-to new parties not
embraced in the original partnership. The
gentleman, il seems, thinks otherwise, and, I'M
fortunately, he has recent constructions in his
favor. The past has come and gone. We NAV
have opportunity TO look at the question fur
Their, when further usurpations, as / esteem
them, shall be attempted upon the liberties which
II was expected 10 secure 10 the freemen who
ratified it, Enlightened by the dismal expe-
rience We have had, | own | could row wish
that the Constitution had uttered more posi-
tive and explicit prohibitions, though | have
little belief that even they would have at all
ayailed against such INSCRIPTIONS influences
as have been in action TO nnllify it in all cases
in which slavery was concerned But that no
further precautions were taken, is no matter of
surprise The gentleman must read the debates
OF the Convention which framed that instru-
ment, and OF the State Conventions that ratified
IL, with very different eyes from mine. if n.
does not see that the Statesmen Of that day ex-
Pected that the dscontinuance of the slave trade,
after twenty years, for which they made provi-
sions, and the discontinuance of slavery itself
would be pretty near simultaneous events.
such, l think, was the general expectation that
prevailed every where, except IN South Caro-
lima and Georgia, which, it must be owned,
chung TO the evil with tenacious fondness.
I w. tue tree OF CONSTITUTION which
fathers planted, bore a natural fruit, saluta-
~ and PalatabIe. A noxious branch was graft
ed upon (which grew rankly, and overshadowed
and poisoned the rest, ga widowed ear, blasting
its wholesome brother" Prune that off, and
again in benihcent abundance, it will yield
fruit "for the healing Of the nations"
The gentleman said further, cone half of
the States have slaves, the other half have
none" page s. and from that statement he ar
81. -.
Territory, an equitable arrangement would be
to give half of it up to slavery, and let liberty
live in the rest. Sir, do not agree TO that
fractional statement. IL facts which have pre-
scented TO the attention of the COMMITTEES are
sustained, then il follows that not one half, but
one hf,ieth part Of the people Of this COnfedera-
cy are interested, as proPretors, in an institu-
ton which is essentially and irreconcileaby
hostile to the highest interests Of the other FORTY
niue iftieths and which demands TO WELD all
the power of the Government, and extend the
borders OF its own domain, for the purpose Of
sustaining and PerPetuating that instrulnen mt for
depressing the great majority.
J. The gentleman said again, in connexion with
this topic, at is obvious that, by transferring
part of the slaves from the old States to the
new, You would not increase their numbers
page y Sir, IL my little reading in political
economy has not misled me, this is by no means
vs.
by removing population from comparatively
narrow bounds, you provide for an increase Of
its numbers; and particular considerations might
be added in the present instance, to show fur
ther that that result would follow. | anticipate
the reply that may be made to this. /, NAV be
said, Very well; increase the amount of human
life, and you add to the sum of human happi-
ness. But, in the first place, this is direct
abandonment of the other position. And in
sarond I will unt sk.t. "A
happiness, under all circumstances Of social
condition. is enlarged with that Of life. Vir-
ginans, at least, are not apt to forget the saving
, of their great compatriot, "Gve me liberty, or
, give me death" If that sentiment be lust
then il should equally be said, Give me liberty,
, or curse me not with existence.
: Much Of the interest lately manifested for the
emancipation of the colored race, the gentleman
referred to ''the action of Anti-Slavery OF Abo-
litiOn societies." page 81 lie is aware that they
are no institutions OF recent origin, but co-evaI
, with the existence of our government. hold
I in my hand copy Of memorial addressed TO
, the Congress of the United States, in February
/ 1890, by the "Pennsylvana Society for promo
ting the Abolition OF Slavery The name OF
4 no less considerable person than the sage Ben.
{ jamin Franklin is subscribed TO that memorial
as President. think DR.. Franklin knew som.
? things as well as the men Of this more confident
some comprehension of that Constitution which
he helped 10 frame, aud set his authority
against that of Boston writer, who considered
it questionable whether the Abolition movemen nj
. is reconceable with duty under the Constitu-
r ton" Among the illustrious names on the
: roll Of that society is found that of La Fayette,
whom the gentleman from North Carolina QUO
/. ted complimenting "the good Sense of the
American people, which enabled them wisely
= 4 IN satfls all datnastic diffarances The
La Fsyette who said to Clarkson, as that phi.
!, lanthropist reports in letter written not long
! before his death, "I would never have drawn
my sword In the cause of America, if l coulC
. have conceived that thereby | was founding 4
!, land of slavery
The gentleman from North Carolina present
. ed a classification of Abolitionists Of the pres
e ent day. / am not satisfied with ii, either FOL
o precision or completeness, and will bespeak hi
Q patience while propose different.
= There are in the first place, the Abolitionists
II strictly and commonly so called. Their specific
+ distinction, as body, is, that they urge adisso
i luton Of the Federal Constitution, and Of thu
J. Union. With the gentleman on the other sid'
II who expressed his sentiments not long ago
q they hold TO the "sacred right Of revolution
|, He called it ''the most sacred Of all rights
; They attach to it a similar sanctity, thong
N they would not prosecute the object in the wa.
l. which | suppose he would think legitimate
nj They are, generally at least, non-resistants an
K most Of them even refrain from voting, iron
n scruples against giving even that support to
At Government which they regard as implicated II
D. so much wrong. With late President of tn
, College Of South Carolina, they have "calcnla
IN ted the value Of the Union" and, as they do tn
a. sum, the Union turns out to cost too much
m Among them persons of the greatest Purit
e. of life, and the most unselfish philanthropy