The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-21

ductionto aid in comforting honor who has de-
The senator from Louisana me greatly
II he supposes that object Father Mathew because
he refuses to Ietac i'll considered expressions, ut
tered by him years ago My objections are OF more re-
cent date He has very lately written letters the South
OF such character as 10 Governor Lumpkln TO
recommend through the public papers, that all invitations
Mr. BUTLER Will my friend from Alabama allow
me TO call upon the senator from Georgia 10 make
some explanation OF this malteri
|. Mr. BERRlEN. Will the senator from South Caro-
lima say upon what particular point he wishes state
Mr. BUTLER have made the statement that Judge
Lumpkn president oil OF the temperance societies OF
Georgia, had written 10 Father Mathew TO come to
Georgia and lecture; and similar invitation, know,
has been made by societies in South Carolina.
know that Judge Lumpkin had some difficulty upon the
subject but the precise nature Of the difficulty may not
have stated correctly That is the point which wish
the senator from Georgia to correct, SO that my friend
Nj BERRiES With the PERMISSION Of he senator
from Alabama, ! will answer the inquiry Do I'M
Mr. CLEMENS assented
Mr. BERRlEN. Mr., President, / will say, before
from taking any part in this discussion, under strong
conviction that It was improper. Yet was strongly
tempted when the OF one OF the citizens Of my own
State, one of the most esmabe in that State, was
brought into the discussion, under circumstances which
thought subjected him TO misapprehension, 10 speak 80
far to relieve him from any possibility OF an improper
ished by the gentleman to whom have referedone OF
the Judges OF the Supreme Cour-several temperance
societies the rest that of which he is president
had addressed to the reverend gentleman an invitation to
visit that State for the promotion OF the cause OF temper
ance. Subsequently an answer was received, probably
acquiescing in that invitation subsequently, to that
time the circumstance occurred to which the honorable
senator from New Hampshire Mr. HALEl has referred
In consequence OF the refusal OF Father Mathew 70
accept the invitation Of the society OF Boston pub
LEGATION was made disclosing the fact that Father Ma
thew, in connection with Mr.. OConnell. had some
years before, while in Ireland. united in an address to
hs irish Of the United States sn]Gnng upon hs% the
the United States by every consideration which they
held valuable whether regarded time eternity to
in the United States In the opinion Of Judge Lumpkin
expressed in that paper. Father Mathew had perfect
liberty to entertain any opinions upon the subject oil
the temperance societies Of Georgia and other southern
States inviting him among them for the promotion OF the
of temperance. But they saw in that paper the
their counirymen in the United States, associatng them
selves together and by public address to their country
men in the United States, inviting them to make war
upon the institutions OF this country. Judge Lumpkin,
who is mild as amiable, and benevolent man as
any who exists, felt that, under the circumstances, he
could not as the president OF the temperance society OF
in foreign country. had undertaken to disturb the in
sutons of portion OF the people OF the United States
and he therefore recalled the invitation.
Mr. CLEMENS The facts are precisely as under
stood them and whatever respect may have for him as
temperance advocate, cannot AMI will not forget that
he is also an abolition agitato, and as such entitled to
The senator from New York has spoken of his inter-
ference with the subject of slavery recommendation
and the senator from New Hampshire adds that Father
Mathew is not enough OF aboltonist tor him. Both
senator's claim that this oicous nermeddlng with the
property and the rights of others is very praisewohy
exhibition OF Christian charity and sympathy for the
wrongs OF the slave. never doubted, sir that such
were the opinions OF those gentlemen. Their acts for
years past have been too unequyoca to admit Of miscon
structon know that the cruees Of the slave holder
and the sufierngs OF the down-rodden African, have
formed the chief staple of all their discourses Let me
tell them that il would be well to look little at home
There at your doors objects Of charity enough
without hunting Tor slaves upon whom TO besiow
II. There are al this very moment, in all your
great Cities thousands of homeless weches destitute OF
that coored by crime There hordes OF wretch
ed females tong by day and BY night for miserable
pance which only adds to the horrors OF starvation by
Of little children 10 whom beggaIy has descended in
herltance, and for whom State prison is welcome
asylum. Misery In all its forms-povery in all lis
rags-sickness and starvation around you and yet,
with miserable hypocrisy, you must travel away to the
South, and waste your symPathes upon population
who are better clothed better fed who work less and
live happily, than four-hfths OF yourselves You
compel poor factory girl TO perform amount OF labor
which is not exacted from healthy and robust by the
planters Of the Souih-separae her from her friends
and relations-allow one to visit her without a
uriften pass from an overseer, and all the while
thank God that you free from the curse OF African
slavery. Nay, more; you assume TO be OF better and
purer You unbushingly assert all occasions,
that while the pistol and the Bowie knife give law 10 the
South you in the constant observance OF moral and
religious precepts Sir admit with regret that there are
occasional scenes OF violence among u.s. and that
times forget the value OF human life but offences
have alwaysa touch of manness in them. There are
no petty larcenies-no ouirages upon unprotected fe-
males-no midnight assassinations for money When
soop TO initiate the brute creation, take the lion
not the hyena, for model But, while make the ad
mission that we not altogether free from crime, let
ask how he The NJ
York alone furnishes State prison convcts than the
whole fifteen southern States together You tear down
burn up converts, inhabited by few helpless
get up professions in honor OF brutal prize fighter
and raise riots az the bidding OF worthless player, in
which OF lives sacrificed without dreaming
that there thing in all this unbecomng the descend
ants OF the pilgrim fathers Look at home say correct
your own inquites relieve your sufferers, and them
bat not jill them you may prate OF the crime and misery
which slavery engenders.
regret, Mr. President that this debate his sprung up
regret still more the il has taken not, however
from prudential consideratons-not because, the
ator from Kentucky has minated, il is mprudent 10 dis
matters relation 10 saveTy-bu because this ques
ton must be met in another form, and was willing
TO let il sumber till then. But may as well now say
that the time for prudential action is past The disease
is desperate one, and requires desperate remedies.
For one, sir yield no inch OF ground-no, not one
hairs breadth. Whenever this anti slavery sentiment
shows ITSELF whatever form Il may assume, am ready
do battle against it, The time for half has
gone by. You must lei US alone, take the conse-
quences.
Mr.. MASON Mr. President, the senator from New
York Mr. SEWARD has left under no msapprehension
TO his opinion upon this question understand that that
senator having heard from the senator from Alabama, who