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

! heen less hdTmOuiOus-thclf
statesmen less emnentther soldiers less efficient than
voursi II not then why this waraniable
why this untounded assumption II 1t be sn you not
otherwise involved than by your connexion with its in
reduction with It's existence your have nothing TO do
As owners OF the commercial marne you the im-
poers OF Africans; you sold them IN the South you are
parties to compact which recognises them property
throughout the United States and to their owners
lights which, but Tor the confederation, would have been
local Show, then, your repentance, II you feel any ior
having contributed to the increase OF this property, by
observing the obligations imposed by the circumstances
OF the upon you, and the rights recognised IN te
fundamental, paramount law OF our Union The consul
luton did not create the Institution oil domestic slavery
part OF the object for which II was formed 10
determine what should be property, but an important por
uon OF It's duty to generaze and protect ihe rights Oh GU
iuty have arisen all the intermediate acts IN relation To
slave property yet al this late period OF the practice under
constitution senators assert that slavery is so purely
local that if master pass with his slave into the limits
of State Territory where such property Is not ecog
Missed by local law the slave by that becomes free
This is in keeping with the legislation OF those States in
which the legal and constitutional obligations TO
Ter fugitive slaves have been nullihed IL is IN keeping
with the repeated declaration here, made with the condo
scendng OF sovereign granting favor that there
intention 10 interfere with slavery as II exists IN the
States, but that its further extension cannot be permitted
Do senators forget that this government is but the
AGENT the creature OF the States derives Its powers
from them, not they their rights institutions from il
Slavery existed the States before the formation of the
constitutional needed noguarany within their lims-its
recognition beyond this part of the perfec,
union, as its protection against all enemies whomsoever
is part OF the common defence for which that consiu
ton adopted. There is not prominent fea-
ture in the federal compact than the prohibition the
States to interfere with But il a citizen of
Maryland cannot pass through Pennsylvania Ohio,
MS way to Kentucky Missouri without submitting his
property to the tests of those States through which he
merely travelling, the right free among the
States has practical value The right uninterrupted
transit is not varied by the character OF the poperythe
power is the same, whether the question arise upon
slave or bale OF goods: There is no discretionary
power; and total prohibition would be less offensive
han an nvidious distinction, claiming to spring from
moral superiority Each State Is responsible for its
lnsttutions-the sovereignty and co-equay of all the
States forbid the idea of moral responsibility the part
Of one for the acts of another. If slavery be sin,
It is not yours. 1t does not rest upon your action for
It's origin, or your consent for its existence. II is
common law right to property IN the service OF man
it traces back TO the earliest government of which we
have any knowledge, either among Jews or Genes.
Its origin was Divine decree-the curse upon the grace
less son of Noah. Slavery was regulated by the laws
given through Moses the Jews Slaves to be OF
the heather, and with their offspring to descend by in
hertance: thus in the man particulars, being Identical
with the institution as it exists among us 1t was fore
tsd of the of Noah that Japhe should be greatly
extended that he should dwell in the tents OF Shem and
Canaan should be his servant Wonderfully has the
prophecy been fulfilled and here in country is
the most striking example. When the Spaniards discov-
cred America they found in the possession of the " In
ians" many tribes ensaved, but the of Shem
not doomed to bondage-they were restless discOn
Their places supplied by the of Ham, brought
the broad Atlantic for this purpose they TO
their destiny and useful and conented Over the
greater part of the continent Japhe sits in the tents
of Shem and in extensive regions Canaan his servant
Let those who possess the best opportunity to judge the
who have grown up the presence of slave nstitu
tons they in the United States say their hap
pness and usefulness do not prove their present cond
ton to be the accomplishment of al wise decree.
have for end the preparation OF that Tor civil
| liberty and social enjoyment.
Compare the slaves the southern States with
ly imported Africans, as seen IN the West lndies and
who can fail to be struck with the immense Improvement
har hofha lIpcfu
ly considered Compare our slaves with the free blacks
of the northern States and you hnd the one contented
improving their moral condition the other miserable,
impoverished, oathsome from the deiormy and disease
which follow after penury and vice; covering the
ords of the criminal COURTS and filling the penlientares
Mark the hostility to CASTE the social degradation which
excludes the able from employment OF profit trust and
leaves the helpless TO want and neglect Then turn to
the condition OF this in the States OF the South and
view them in the relation of slaves There hostility
exists against themthe master is the natural protector
of his slave and public opinion, common feeling, mere
interest would not allow him to neglect his wants.
Those who urge that exclusion of slavery from the Ter
rtores does not exclude the stakeholder because he
may dispose OF his property before emigration, show
such inability to comprehend the attachment which
generally subsss between master and his slaves that
will only offer them interest motive for the care
to the aged and to the infant, attention to the SICK and
adequate provision to ALL Such the difference between
the condition of the free and slave blacks, under crcum
stances favorable emancipation Does it warrant
the desire the part of any friend OF that dependent
to hasten upon them responsibilities. for which they
have shown themselves so unequal? If any shall be-
eve that the sorrow the suffering, the crime which they
witness among the free blacks OF the North have result
ed from their degradation by comparison with the white
race around them to such answer, does the condition
of ST. Domingo, of jamaica give CHER evidence Or
do the recent atrocities Martinique encourage better
hopes? Sir, this problem is which must bring its
own soluton leave natural to their full effect
and when the time shall arrive al which emancipation is
proper those interested will be most anxious TO eff
Iect it. But the obligation is mutual, must the
action be lon and 1t is quite within the range OF posi-
by, that the masters may desire it, when their slaves
will object the when the serfs of Russia reu-
sed to be liberated by their landlords Leave the country
to the south and west open, and speculation may
in the distant future slavery pressed by cheaper labor
to tropical regions, where less exerton being required
support their previous preparation will enable
them 10 live IN independent communities. They must
first be separated from the white man, be relieved from
the condition OF degradation which will always attach TO
them whilst in contact with superior race, and they
must be elevated by association and instruction. or, in
stead of blessing liberty would be their greatest
Under these considerations, cannot the policy pro-
posed to conne them to the present limits OF the slave
States, having point either OF humanity sound
policy to recommend it, that it do otherwise than
perpetuate slavery beyond its natural the
States where it now exists
| When the colonies made common cause against the
parent country and conquered their independence
State claimed the right to interfere with the domestic a
ldrs of anoher each was recognised sovereign within
its limits and all disposed to respect the rights and
feelings OF each Had been otherwise confederation
would never have been formed This is changed and,
OF the very government whose interference with the do
mesc affairs OF the colonies led to the Revolution