The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-09-23


of patriotism and an ardent love of political liberty
Every schoolboy knows It, Yet after ALL IN my opinon'
the evils OF the institution than counterbaance IT'S
advantages. But that which, in my opinion, more than
anything else, Union is constituted, seems to
counerbaance these advantages whatever they Toay be-
is It's tendency TO the evil of such an agitation as now
disnrbs the nation Men who go from the North to the
South, and the institution of slavery as Is, see how
happy this class of the population are and look upon 1t
II really exists domestic institution, creating
relation dear the slave well the master can very
readily believe that it may be suffered to prevail and to
extend without any real danger to the government itself
But there are those amongst us who seze upon any SUB
iect by which they crafty their ambition, or thirst Tor
power and office. and with utter disregard OF conse-
qaences to the country They are wiling to run ,, the
hazard OF destroying the Union rather than ia IN their
selfish objects How do they accomplish 1T venture
to say that twenty years ago man OF any character
could have been found IN the United States VINO would
| have placed himself in the position IN which an ex-
President now stands Ten ago, so lar as that par
tcula IS concerned. he would not have taken that
position and certainly no time during the life of Gen
Jackson n this, BY friend or opponent of his, am
sure will not be contradcted by single senator on tins
floor Twenty years ago, repeat, SO far from desiring
the free States would have considered it Insult an in
dignity, to have had it offered 10 him But there he Is;
cool calculating, observing, fond OF popularity no mat
ter how acquired, selfish to poyerb IN the midst OF
this supposed, if Not real enthusiasm OF hostility to
slavery discerning its present condition. and believing IN
its future spread and goaded on too by political reyenge
he is willing 10 take position which, twenty years ago
he would have spurned with apparent contempt and
scorn.
then, 10 frlenQS arOtlnu me lTDm
who suppose, doubt that have gone too far in say
ing that domestic instruction at the South would not be
put down by the arm of thousands OF the men OF the
free States that am speaking OF that which IS being de-
monstraed every day
Mr.. President need ask if such spirit now RACES
against the institutions of the South that, unless 1t shall
subsde it is likely to defeat the guarantees OF the con-
stituhon Sir, the who started it were but hand
full few years ago. they number thousands IT was
then said that security under the constitution, was
as great was under the administration of Washing
ton aOuhpd this and and fOretOlu dam
GER and time has proved that their fears and propheses
were too well founded.
understand the senator from New York Mr. DIX as
admitting that the authority of Congress to prohibit slave
ry which he finds in the clause OF the constitution en-
powering them pass all needful rules and regulations
respecting the territory of the United States, terminates
when the territorial condition terminates No such thing
Ii the right exists at ALL right to impose the resrc-
ton fundamental article OF government to be en-
forced, well in the territorial condition, in the con-
dton of a State Mr. President, does such power ex-
list That is, think, to be answered BY the answer to
this question Was not the purpose 81 me government
times and all hngs Was it proposed to vest in the
Congress of the United States the authority TO subject
some States to restrictions and to leave others unre-
srcted' And was it proposed to accomplish II by vest
ing in Congress unlimited power over the whole ques
ton If the power impose this restriction is TO be
found in the article of the constitution to which have
referred it is there without any Limitation. Whatever
Congress shall deem to be nee1fnl they may exact as
condition TO fetter the territory until 1t comes into the
Union 1t has that extent OF il has none Now, there
are other relations besides the relation Of master and
servant known to society The relations OF parent and
child husband and wife, master and apprentice, are rea
toas Just in the the relation OF master and
slave. The father has right during minority, to the
service of his child the master during the existence OF
an apprenticeship has right TO the service OF hs ap
by the necessity of each case Nova the relation OF
master and servant be prohibited by regulation OF
Congress- upon the ground that it is needfu what Is TO
restrain them from saying that shall into the
territories OF the United States with his wife, child or
apprentices the power exists, it must be general and
UNIVERSAL without limitation. and embracing all the rea
tons OF life Will anybody pretend that Congress could
make such regulation that! The question answers
There Is anns 5,sSy of be
citizens of the South for that purpose then, to some
other inequality Congress has an unlimited discretion
the whole tn, the exS's a. A. tem
now believe the institution to be highly useful one, not
only for the purposes of social lite but for political ends
Ii is with Them perhaps fixed and settled conviction
that republican government can hest be maintained
among people where that institution prevails. How
are those to deal with the subject who think that such
an opinion is erroneous and ddngerous How are they
to guard against the introduction OF that institution into
this territory thus subjected TO their exclusive and un
limited government Can they do i only by saying that
the citizen of the South cannot go there with his slaves
The way accomplish it would be to declare the
citizens of the South shall not go there at all Sir de-
sire 70 know il the power exists why cannot De snd
from Massachusetts Mr. DAvIsl REFERRED OF the prohi
bilion OF improper books, immoral prachces gambling,
dealing in lottery tickets, &c, in which he
supposed clear that the power existed to prohibit
there must be power 10 prevent, everything likely to
have an immoral tendency. But what Is more immoral,
in the estimation of the free States than the institution
of slavery? With at the Morrill, gambling Is a
virtue in comparison with il. No books that the pen
of man ever wrote other subjects, however licen-
ous and demorazing, can, in their Judgment equal IN
enomity the sin of slavery. 1t is subversive they al
ege, of civil freedom itself, inconsistent with liberty,
and at war with the fundamental truths OF decara
ton of independence, that all born equal, and
endowed with the nalienable rights OF life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness. 1t strikes, they maintain at
privileges given to man by his Creators and that as we
owe higher obedience God than TO anything human, ii
is our highest duty to that these privileges not
trampled upon by man. Well then sir, keep out this
IMMORAL communicating STAKEHOLDER from your domain
keep out this corruptng citizen do not suffer MN to
ntrude within the limits of your territoydo not suffer
him to poute the good and pure man of the North he
may induce your northern to believe that slavery is
a bessng-that it is not inconsistent with the Declare
ton of ndependence-hat il is much ordinance Of
God founding the opinion upon the past history OF
the world, is the truth that men created equal.
The best way, them to prevent the Introduction and
adjustment OF slavery within your Territories, is to
clude the stakeholder 1t is "needlu and proper that
he should be excluded and have the authority to pass
all rules and regulations needfu" estimation,
there, the next thing that may be resorted TO in Or
der 10 keep out the institution OF slavery, is to prohibit
any man from speaking, writing, printing anything IN
favor OF such institution. But the constitution may
be said to be in the way; by that, free discussion per-
mtted That is but il free discussion only under
the constitution But the power claimed is, by the con-
stituon unlimited 1t stands, therefore, unaffected by
any of its other provisions whether they rights
impose mitaons under that power there are no rights
which does not itself glve-no limitations which II
does not itself impose Freedom OF Speech therefore,
of the press, It may restrain if it deems neelfu rule