The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-02-26
SPEECH OF Mr.. WILSON, OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY l6, 1919.

Mr.. CHAIRMAN: | deem il unnecessary to
make any apology to the Committee for breaking
the silence which have studiously imposed on
myself since taking my seat in this Congress. |
propose to speak of Slavery, deemlng it the CUES
ton, not merely of this country, but OF the whole
Christian world-emphatically the question OF the
age, and its discussion upon this floor fit and pro-
per, in reference to its influences and bearing
upon our national affairs.
The honorable gentleman from Alabama, Mr.
Hilliard, the other day, spoke truly in regard to
the effects OF slavery in the Southern states OF
this Union-that they are isolated, cut of from
the sympathy of the Christian states Of the world
by reason OF that peculiar domestic institution. |
concur entirely with the honorable gentleman in
that opinion, and award to him high credit for
his honest, frank, manly avowal of that truth up
or this floor. | rejoice, sir, that the truth is
known to Southern gentlemen, and proclaimed
here by one of their number, OF large experience
aud acknow lodged ability
1t has been said by some one, s'that man is but
the child of circumstances. The remark is true,
and therefore tits not surprising that gentlemen,
when they rise here, should entertain and ex-
press different and even diverse views upon the
subject Of slavery. know, can feel and realize,
that such must be the case. 1t is not surprising
to me that gentlemen who have first seen the
light OF day at the South-who have first opened
their eyes to the realities OF life under the auspc
es OF that insttution-who were early taught to
command, and that it was their right TO be obey
ed-who had but to say to a certain class OF ind-
viduals around them, "come,' and they would
come, "go," and they would go; | can very we'll
realize and understand how it is that gentlemen
accustomed from their childhood to command, be-
ing nurtured in this way up TO the condition of
manhood, should entertain entirely different
OOiniOnS ytbic ( md ho hav
been brought up as | have been, entertain. In
the Northern states of this Union, we are taught
from childhood TO look upon labor as the condi-
ton OF llte-to think from the outset that we are
born to labor. The child is instructed, and made
to know, that if he wants anything done, within
the compass of his own ability, he must do it for
himself He is encouraged to effort, and compel
led, II need be, to make it. Labor becomes hab-
1t. These circumstances and conditions, which
surround the child in early lite, have their influ-
ences upon the opinions and judgments of the
man in after lite.
have SAID, sir that in the free labor states of
this Union, even the little children are required
to labor according to their intellectual ability and
physical strength. Even from its cradle tits put
to work. 1t is aroused from its morning slumbers,
TO be greeted by the smiles O! its kind mother,
and is encouraged to make the effort to do for it.
self what it may be able to do. 1t Is not, to be
sure, furnished with the heavy tools, the drills
and hammers, picks and gads, of the miner, and
sent to sink shafts in trap rock or limestone, in
search of copper ore it is not furnished with a
spade and windlass, rope and tub, and sent away
to sink its shafts in clay diggings, in search of
lead mineral. No, sir; but its morning bath and
wardrobe attended to, and its breakfast finished it
has Its working tools, consisting OF some simple
books, carefully arranged IN little satchel,
wrought all over with pictures OF birds ard but
terties and flowers, in gay colors, wrought by
the hand OF kind sister, Thus equipped, it is
sent away to the village school, 10 work-to work.
1t begins to sink it's shaft down into its own in.
tellect-it sinks on and on, deeper and deeper
Encouraged by its success, it perseveres until by
and by it brings up to view, and for the use of
mankind, treasure infinitely more valuable than
the gold from the mines Of Mexico or Peru or
Californa-gems more brilliant than ever spark
led upon the brow OF Queens, or blazed in the
halls OF royalty. These were some OF the inAu-
ences operating upon those whose condition i'm
posed upon them the necessity OF Iaborng for
themselves
1t shall be my purpose, during the little time
allotted to me by the rules OF this House, to speak
on the subject OF slavery, as connected with the
political affairs OF the country, regarding it mere
ly in political view, without attempting to dis
cuss the question generally, in its moral aspects.
Upon this subject desire to premise. few things
in order that may be fully understood
In the first place, must say that do not as
sent, to the fullest extent, to the charge which
was sometimes made against the South, with re-
ference to the amount OF physical suffering which
they inflicted upon the African race. do not
believe that the slaves of the Southern states are
commonly subjected to those extreme physical
suferngs, so often affirmed by the opposers of
slavery; but, on the contrary, believe there is
great deal OF just and humane sympathy felt by
the master for the slave, in most cases, WHEREBY
er the institution OF slavery prevailed in this
country.
But there is another point upon which rest
my chief objection to the institution and that is,
that the condition of the slave is absolutely and
irretrievably fixed. There are no means Of i'm
provement left to the slave; he had no power
no hope OF moral elevation. Now, in the North
ern states there is no man poor that he is with
out this hope, either for himself or his children
1t is often the case in the Northern states that he
son or the daughter of the poorest man in the dis
rict stand at the head OF the Glass; and come home
from school with 'sthe reward OF merit" from their
teacher. The poor laborers of the North are con.
stantly cheered with the hope OF Improvement
and advancement in their children. But the la
boring slave population OF the country are cheer.
ed with no such hope.
Now, the great question before the country is
whether It be expedent for Congress to extend
this institution of slavery into the Territories re-