Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-08-05


ly from the cavities of their tombs. Had that
condition not been accedcd to by the nine
non-slaveholding States, the curse might not
now extend beyond its original five States j
but we set the ball in motion and like a lcpro-
sy, il has contaminated still other paris Just
as you wink at its encroachments, and submit
to its demands, so long will it continue to
take issue in our councils, and swallow up
the land. II were better had South Carolina
and Georgia never been enrolled among their
sister planets. The huge globe of our con-
icderacy might not perhaps, have revolvcd
in its social orbit with dimensions quite so
expanded; but, the blot of direct sacrilegc
and piracy would not now rcproach us for
onr faithlessness to the creed of our ancestors
which in their early struggles, they had seal
cd with their blood. Now look around us.
What do we behold This damning blight,
like pestieniial vapour, stealing from the
boundaries of the South, 10 the very remotcst
limits of our civilization.
Great God are we not fearful lest the an
ger of offended Omnipotencc may strike us
out of the roll of nations for our ingraiiinde
What incense smokes upon our altars, to ap-
peasc the wrath of the Most High, for our
moral enormities Piracy and Murder! The
feiid odor of blood, scorchng under the rays
of a burning sun. while chains fetter the arms
of the serf at his labors Surely, sir, the
heart must be made of stone, which does not
burst with Indignation, when it reflects upon
this subject. You threaten us with the dis
solution of the Union, if we attempt 10 stay
the terrible slri,lrs of this invading monster.
Would il not be better that our conicderacy
were swept from the face of the earth, than
| be doomed TO an inevitable decree, ten thou
sand times more destructive! Would il not
| be better that the Union should shake TO its
foundations, and every stone that props the
might fabric, crumblr into ruins, than allow
the rod of this destroying angel longer 10 pol
lutte the land with its sway! Wha, said that
great man Randolph upon the subject-.hc
disciple of Thomas Jeilcrson-in the Legis.
lainre of Virginia Did he not, sir, in the
midst of hundred fierce antagonists, stand
up fearlessly in the Legislative halls of that
old commonwealth, and denounce the African
Slave traffic as the most damnabe Ia enormi!y
and his language, like molten fire penetrated
the strong heart The shaft struck the tar
ret it was leveled at, and took effect.
We are told occasionally, that in those por-
tons of our country, where slavery exists,
white labor cannot be had or, tha, no white
man can Withstand the climate. Sir, if there
be such land within the confines of this
Union. we have no business ihere-none OF
us. If it be fit only for the black man, lei
him have it, and retain it as his own If II
will even grow reptile, let him have it; foI
as you class him with brute, he will not re-
fuse to herd with the brute. II will be com
para,ve freedom, and with that inspiring
sound to cheer his tolls, fear not, sir, that he
will fail to acquire his own livelihood. Freet
of his manacles. he has the use of his hands
that is all he asks-all ask for him.
This territory comes TO us free-I will no
debate now, for my convictions are fixed tina
it was wrcsted from Mexico only by shee
force and fraud; and that, i'll any court
Justice in this known world, judgment wou
be entered against us for theft, aggravated b.
cxtorlion but it came TO us free, neverthe
less. and free it should remain. Very wei
II this be one of those countries, where whit
, labor cannot thrive, set it apart the black
, and say also, if we cannot live lhpre will
/, out slavery, do not let us go there at all :
q Avoid the land, sir, as you would coniagio
i let it grow over with weeds, and sink 10
ever from the recollection of man, raih'
;r than il should reproach us with the wrong.
. am sometimes called a fanatic-l may
:, arain but, sir, whatever words fall from m
Inns upon this floor, are the sentiments oil n
rs heart.
I'll have nothing TO do with your mode
compromises. | want the old ordinance
% 's7. There sir, my path is clear. | would
.e Dor with those aged patriarchs whose preceT
| endeavor to follow. would emerge fro
y the haze which is gathering around me, al
=. look upward-upward until could see Su
=: There, sir, | can freely gaze, because no ar'
ho trary mpedimenis obstruct the vision
~, w that company, | meet old friends, who
- names recognize by their deeds-sold''
- of freedom, whose locks, wet with the watt
-, of the Jordan, they have passed through
''o remind me of my duty, and incite me, by
'e' scars washed white upon their bosoms,
eu' stand firm and undaunted amid the shock
Ter battles.
an, WASHINGTON, July 26, ls4s
on. Mr.. JOHNSON replied. Sir, what is
,ye reason Senators from the free States dies
,rs, tc keep up agitation, and avoid the issue
ing this bill 1t is because, sir, these men
ent actuated by ambitious asprings, selfishI
the i may even include baser motives
our not because they are prompted by the K
as feelings of benevolence charity, or the p'
,oes promptngsof christianity. And how do
the know this Because, sir, ere the provis
sir, of this compromise had become public
two fore a single northern gentleman upon
Duld floor had become aware that it would
racy prove acceptable to the South,-the cry '