Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1848-08-16
EXTRACT FROM A SPEECH OF
RHr. Herrien of Georgia,
On the Bill to Establish q Government in
Oregon.

(; On the Bill to Establish Government II
Oregon.
The Senate having under consideration
the hill TO establish, the Territorial Govern
menl in Oregon
Mr.. Berrien said Mr.. President, from
the first moment when ! took my seal in
this chamber, up 10 that in which now
address you, have sIudiousIy abstaiued
from inlrudins upon the Senate the dis
tracing question which this bill forces
upon our consideration. ! have not per.
miued--thuse who hear me will bear wit
ness to the ruth of The declaralion--l
have not permitted my Conduct to be
governed by sectional considerations.
have seGulously endearored TO regulate it
by just regard to the interests of The
country, and of the whole countr,--to the
rights of the American people. unnhu
enced by local determinations. IL | am
driven from that position tc day--if in
vndicalion Of the rights Of portion Of
tina, people--my own immediate constilu
enis. who have honored. me with their
confdence-if in defence Of their rights
euler upon discussion from which |
have hitherto abstained, let those who hear
me bear in mind that This unwelcome task
is forced upon me by the advocates Of this
bill. On this question Of slavery, in every
aspect in which it eau be presented, our
posilion--lhe position of the united South
lis truly stated by the Senator from
South Carolina, (Mr. Calhoun.) We ask
you simply 20 let US aloue--leave US to
the enjoyment Of our domestic institutions.
in which we cannot discover the evils
which alright the imagiualions of others,
anI do nol punish US for adherins to them,
by denying ~ us he common rights Of
American citizens. You refuse this. The
bill before the Senale stamps the peculiar
institution which exists iu the community
ii which we live. as one " hich is beyond
the pale Of legislative proteclion--as one
which is so characterized by lis own in
lrinsic impurily as TO require you, in the
exercise of your legislative authority. TO
deny iothe citizens Of the Souh, TO those
Of every slaveholding State. right TO par
licipa'e IN The common benefits which be-
long to allihe citizens of The United States:
Under such circumstances We would he
wanling.in self respect, We would be faith
less TO the memory of our. fathers who
1I6ns, ItIIfilling all'lheir duties as MEN and
as citizens, aud who have gone TO their
resi- with unsiained regulations, if we
could sir here in silence.
The second class which.l have men.
Toned consists of those who are norror-
stricken by the contemplation of the evils
of slavery They are influenced By higher
considerations than those which enter into
the cold calculations of the Senator from
New York. They are free soil men; The
idea Of slavery is horrible toIhem. They
cannot tolerate the thought that this free
Government, should participate in any
measure which may sustain AN institution
so sieeped in iniqui,y; nay. that II should
abstain from any measure which may
destroy it.. Now, sir, if there be any
warrant for opinions like ,hese-if these
denunciations have any foundation in truth
aud juslice--if slavery, as i, exists in the
States of this Union, he what il is repre-
senled to be 10 some OF our public presses
--if the denunciaions which are uttered
here be at all consistent with the facl-ll
this domestic and cherished institution o
the South be hagrautIy unjust, violative oI
the principles of humanity, incompatible
with every dictate of religion, with every
emotion Of piety, what are we, who live
in the midst of il, who tolerate it, sustain
it, defend it-who have received it from
our fathers, and mean 10 transmit II TO our
childlen? What are we but outcast:
from every principle which is dear 10 mar
in his association with his fellows, anc
vet more sacred in his accountability to
| his God? If these things be true, then in
all those qualities which enuoule man
which enable him, Dec jurante, 10 fuih
his duties 10 God and his fellow men, We
must shrink from comparison with The
citizens of The non slaveholding States o.
This Uuion. Justice, humanity, the love o
God and our ncighbor. in all thossYirtue:
which belong to man, they are our supe
riors. Is there any man who hears mo
the citizen Of any free Stale, who vii
have the arrogance 10 claim this superI
ori,y for them or for himself! And yel
such a claim is the direct consequence o
these denuuciations. Sir, as the represen
lalive of a people among whom this lnsll
,ulion exists-k1owius them and honor
ing them, with no desire TO offend ary
man, but with something more than q
mere desire 10 fulfil my duty, and my whole
ds,y to them--l feel bound caluly bu
frankly TO say, aud 10 say here, that these
denuncialious of slavery as il exists among
them are the result Of all ignorance of The
institution, lis practical operation anc
effects, which could alone impart to Them
The confidence with which they are uttered
will not humble myself or them by en-
tering upon their vindication. but propose
au inquiry.
Is there any full grown man who hear!
me, who is endowed With the ordinary
share of intellect which God in his mercy
allots to his creatures, who does not know
that on this subjec, OF slavery, man
opiuons and feelings in relation TO it de
pend upon The place of his birIh. his edu
cation, his associations, the habits ant
feelings and institutions of the community
10 which he lives? Does any man dou5