Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-09-16

employmens And hence we witness the great superiority
Of these interests in the free States Slavery eevates one
halt Of the population above all stimulus to labor and sinks
the other half below it.
But pass TO my sixth objection, that slavery is not
only civil and political evil, but morally wrong, and that
the people of the free States cannot be responsible for extend
ing into countries where it does not exist through the
agency or acquescence of the Federal Government OF which
they parties This is against their consciences would
be make them instrumental in pepetuatng what many
gard crime. This head could be much enlarged upon,
but il is not necessary.
The next objection is that to introduce slavery into Terri
tories free, which become States, will give them
undue political influence in the Government is said
that in respect to the representation makes no difference
whether the slave population is 10 lew States or many as
the number of representatives of slave population will be the
This is not practically because we find that what
may be the amount Of the slave population in State,
however small may be- all its members in the House oRepre
senatves represent the general interests OF slavery Not
only but the Senators OF the State represent the slave in
eres The greater number Of States in which slavery
prevails with the of slave populations the greater
the representation in both Houses Of Congress- and
the more preponderatng the slave power
The Senator from Kentucky (Mr. USDERwooD) has in
formed us that there are but thirty thousand shareholders
that State, Of population of eight hundred thousand and
yet he and all the members from the State represent the slave
interest
The inequality and injustice Of the present representation is
much greater than is generally supposed We told that
slaves property and yet The States where they exist have
twenty-five representatives the account of this property
South Carolina with free white population Of 2670OO has
seven representatives; and Connecticut with population Of
30 900, has four representatives In Connecticut which
had large traction, there representative for every
900; and in South Carolina tor fraction 900
Of the free white population. In New York there 5 one
representative for inhabitants so that South Carolina,
respects free white population has nearly double the repre-
sentaon Of New York. and than double tina: Of Con-
neccut. Why should this monsrous inequality be extended
to new States Does the constitution require it No. sir
this compromise only related the States in which slavery
then existed Besides the equivalent 10 the free States for
this concession to slave representation has failed II was
that taxation correspond with representation hen
the constitution adopted the from customs
tring and then supposed that the Federal Govern
ment would have to be supported by direct taxation But
that source OF has been resoed to but twice.
for year two each period and probably will never be
again. The South get the representation for their slaves but
avoid the taxation do wish complain Of this, but it
is why the twohirds principle Of representation
should not be extended.
Mr.. President, the eighth against the
extension Of slavery which is that it is ncongruous and
hostile element in system Of free popular government like
that of this Coneeacy and that should the slave power
que prepondeance in representation or its strength
would be likely to derange the action of the Government
and gradually change it into oigarchy Slavery is the
worst form of arstocracy it is exclusive monopoly
tees and is decidedly hostile to social equality than any
other form OF arsocracy any other principle that be
incorporated into the political sysem 1t divides society into
three strata Shareholders shareholders and slaves The
last have rights, civil political the nonsaveholders
appear to have political rights certainly no political iniu
and in the first or upper class there are as great not
greater distinctions than found in the whole population in
the free States. The Senaor from South Carolina (Mr
BUTLER) informed that that State eligible
to seat in the Legislature unless he owned five hundred
Of land and ten slaves None but Shareholders ihen
have any share in the government What then, be
the political rights Of the nn-saehoders Yet the Senator
from Virginia Mr. HUNTfR to think that slavery
favorable social equality It every way hostile it. Not
only the principle of sasery but its spirit is unendy to
liberty That great law Of the slave CODE of which the Sena
tor from Virginia Mr. Mason reminded us parfus segr
rentrem-whch interpret signifyng the natural right Of
to be born slaves of the elements OF freedom in
the ys,em of slavery l. it not from the influence Of this and
other principles Of the code Of slavery that
for the extraordinary doctrines which have been advanced
this debaie-hat the constitution contains the principle Of
slavery and carries with wherever it goes that the doc
ne that created free and equal dangerous erro
that liberty is not natural right but boon and high pv
lege be acquired that slavery exists without law essb
fishing and that requires positive enactments abolish it,
According TO these doctrines, slavery the natural state Of
Such princp strike at the root of our free popular
instutionsa the Declaration of independence What age
Of the world they belong to cannot say whether before
since the dark perhaps that OF the Stua they
to be Of the school of Sir Robert Filmer.
Mr. President pass to the next objection, that slavery
inerposes barrier TO all progress and hostile TO the spirit
Of the age. This requires no iIlusuaiinn.
My tenth objection 70 the introduction Of slavery into New
Mexico and California the condition of the adjoining
Mexican territory, which sparsey settled defenceess and
open 70 invasion intrusion Slavery, VIC arc told waits
room, and it is planted in those distant territories will
soon find its way further SOUTH into Mexico and
mote PERIOD shall have the of revolution
annexation and perhaps war; which have been witnessed the
last few years. Let suppose this imaginary danger
There will be danger Of encroachen and disturbance that
frontier under any circumstances but slavery goes there
the danger will be greatly increased.
Mr.. President, have gone through with the exain-
nation OF Of the for and against the extension
slavery into these territories The subject
hausted much more might he said, but do not wish be
tedious and we have had rather long session, must be-
gin to think about coming to close. will be perceived
that on the side, is question of interest," Of property
OF private rights only the other sde is question Of
principle Of right Of morality Of Justice Of conscience and
Of humanity On both sides there is question Of political
powers but on the power favorable to liberty the
other il is hostile TO il.
There are two topics more which mus, notice.
have not spoken OF the condition Of slavery exists in
this country, and would gladly avoid doing it, But IL this
institution as Is called 10 be introduced into countries
where II does not exist by the agency Of this Government
Is proper TO look into that question Slavery definite
dea either TO the rights pertaining the hand
the wrongs the other Domestic slavery well as DO
tica slavery has existed ns ages and in all countries hut
under very different circumstances and notifications II has
prevailed despoc governments and in popular systems Of
government existed in the republics OF Greece and Rome
and was among the causes the coupon which overthrow
those republics II long prevailed 10 all the States Of Europe
but IN the process Of time, has been ertngushed in all Of
them but Russia.
Slavery in rude and barbafous state Of society, an age
OF violence and war, not altogether unnatural instu
ton, or without some redeemng circumstances The slave
then received something in for suendeng up his lib
He oUad