The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-20

considerations of duty. if knew was to be over
whemea IL is better that an humble individual should
PERISH II IN his struggle he should arouse the attention
OF the people TO The dangers which threaten them Sir.
stand upon me wachlt9wer OF liberty. where my faith
y's constitution. Like Burke, when speaking Of the
controversy with the American colonies stand not here
TO demonstrate points of law but quiet agitation Let
the storm howl on-let the baements rock If they will
let faction toss, and roar, and hur her npotent arrows
Of detracion and will laugh them to scorn for did
not take up my position without counting the II
had courted momenary elevation, or personal eclat
might have cried loudest among slavery agalors, and
rode high upon the whrwind if could not have di-
rected the storm But have chosen to do my duty and
TO meet the responsibilities incident 10 my position and
in my vacant and solitary hours shall feel that gratii
cation which consciousness OF recttude and iirn,
discharge OF duty aone can give and which the world
cannot take away have never favored the institution
of slavery IFS extension, either Immediately
moely and whoever charges nsinuates the REVERSE
originates base and deliberate, andunless he is igno-
rant of my sentiments-a wifu calumny. Equally
true IS that any has proposed to egsate for the
extension of slavery IL has often been asserted, know
ng lis lasy, and persisted in, doubtless, under that
questionable axiom in moras that falsehood persevered
is equivalent 10 the truth My habits, thoughts feel
against slavery but would nat interfere in what is
concern OF mne, 10 Obtain greater evil and good.
The South have simply asked that they may be LETT TO
their sovereign rights States and to such rights in the
territory the legal tribunals may decide are theirs
der the constitution They do rot ask any legislation in
iavor~of slavery, Its extension diffusion, but protest
against its agitation in the federal government or any
legislation by Congress upon the subjects and this
South right, and for shall stand by them and
sustain hem, let who will cry and clanor, come what
may so long as ey STAND upon ground SO clearly rea-
sonabe and constitutional this 1t is urged another
reason for essans against slavery in this territory, BY
my colleague that unless DO, II may shock the tender
susceptblilies of Mexico eainy shall not callinques
ton the force of this very sing uar authority but, not pro-
posing TO draw lessons of political economy public
ais from that nation just now, Will simply suggest 'hat1i
she has any surplus beneyoeHce she had better invest IA
the elevation OF her sem-blrbarous people ana ier
cruel and degrading sy stem OF peondge Let her pluck
OUT the beam in her own eye before she dscouses con
corning the mote IN And merry England, too, with
her starving people pershng fo bread, viii doubtless
bewail it. An eminent British poet has eXuhngly sung
that slaves cannot breathe England and II he had
added that millions of he's Riscalied feemen, to say
nothing OF groaning and oppressed Ireland, found the
process OF respiration difficult BY of her system of
murderous inequality, ne would have given practi-
cal and Interesting but melancholy truth at the expense OF
poetic beauty
But why press, in all times and upon all occasions, this
process OF restriction My colleague admits that the
laws OF that territory as came TO us prohibited slave
ry; which he says abolished by the decree of her
President; again. by act of Congress, and yet again
by the constitution Most lawyers the free and many
in the slave States hold that the laws prohibiting slavery
iegsiaon and colleague has often argued and in
sisted. have already shown that there was no inten-
ton desire TO legslae for their change by the
South Besides, he admits that slave labor is not de-
nanded there, white labor excluded either by eli
mate, SOIL productions and yet he and those no act
with him, will consent to the passage of no bill unless it
excludes slavery again. which they argue is excluded
by three laws of man. and three Of Heavens and they in
sst which is the fact that the people there far
they have spoken opposed TO having the institu
ton among them. Was ever absurdiiy carried further,
or pertinacously enforced But | asked, if
slavery is already excluded by law, and prohibited by
natural impediments, why object to the restriction? |
object TO IL because oaehaf OF the States OF this Union
have solennly protested agains, il, and believe will be
sentence OF condemnation against them, and have SUI
hcent regard for their wishes to abstain from an act so
offensive them, bringing practical gooi and OBJ
ect too because the true principles of self venment
The whole truth may well be told Politicians have
Invested their whole capital in this ProuiSosm, and al
paed and the stock sadly deprecated they hope to
keep ii alive until they can sell out without suffering
total loss
But 90 we not all see that il better to meet this agta
ton than hereafterat the door sl than the hearth
stone ~ Sir, | understand too well the purposes for
which this agitation originated and IS prosecuted an1 the
law which governs all kindred questions, to give hee to
the professions, however often thai they are
merely endeavorng prevent by law the further exten
sion of slavery, thought admit that many who act with
them sincere their professions, and by means IN
clude them in the remarks extend to others. would
before its poisonous roots have sunk deeper in the
sod of liberty, It's upas branches spread wider You
may this day organize every inch OF territory held by the
United States and cngrait upon 1t the restriction; TO-
the leaders in this same interest viii! clamor on
they have already commenced tor It's abolition In the
District of Coumba and this being accomplished, they
will openly and directly assai the rights OF sovereign
States which they have heretofore done by ndlTecton
and their innocent dupes will be borne along with them:
Whoever knew the ferocity OF tiger tanned by taste OF
blood or fanatic or delnagosue, nypocre salts
fed by yielding to his demand! And, although there are
many who have intention of proceeding to such
exlremites they will be subject 10 the laws which con-
troll such questions ard be swept along with the general
current But few years since this disturbing and tero-
cous spirit OF abolition reared its hydrahead i'll the halls
of national legislature, but was met by manly re-
ssance and put down. Again, restless the unclcan
spirit OF old 1t returns with others more wicked than IL
self to render, unless speedily put to flight the last stale
worse than the first.
NV coeahe has told us, in conclusion, as he has
often before, what New York will do concerning TINS
iuestion-hat she will not consent to the extension OF
slavery and that by act OF his can 1t be done Whlle
acknowledge his right to his opinions and specuaiions
upon The subject of what will be the OF New York.
shall claim al least equal privilege OF expressing nay
own of what she will not do also. The gilt OF prophecy
is not mne and only Judge OF the future by the
past and the present. and tho general laws which control
human agencies and, however much the reverse may
be desired by desperate politicians IN my Judgment
New York though occasionally swayed from her great
purposes by the mutations of political parties and the
efforts of combined factions, will content herself with
that which belongs TO her, and treat with becoming
respect the rights OF her sister States She has abnnd-
amt elements within herself to employ her choicest
energies aud she will devote them TO the still Aghr
Improvement oil her internal condition, and to
elevate yet more her three millions OF happy people
Though the OF her political prosperity may ocea-
slonay spas, beneath cloud the obscuration Will be
but mofnenary, and the eclipse not total She viii soon
shine forth her meridian spendor dliusing among ner
ences OF light hope, and joyhe proudes star % the
constellation of political glory She will leave all pGefc
sectional agtitons to the Vaccinations oil the weak ana
wicked and those who traffic IN the disturbance OF ine
public peace Her will stand again, as they stooI III
the dark days OF our revolutionary struggle N INC ae.