The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-06-26
From the Cleveland True Democrat.
MIR. BENTON'S POSITION.


Ct OF me right OF man holding property in man.
mere Is no use CLOSING over any OF his views,
70 give him greater popularity in the Free
states, on the one hand, or of exaggerating his
anti slavery action. on the other, to strengthen
or weaken his influence at the South Nor is
there any motive to mistake or mis- state his true
position.
And what is that? We can give our under
standing OF it, and what we suppose to be the
correct view.
Mr.. Benton viii do all he can against slavery
in the slave States, provided he can retain, with
such action, his power.
There are now two classes of public actors in
me Sonth-the propagsndists of slavery,-and
those who hold to the doctrine OF non interior
ence The first includes the violent and active
perpetualists The second embraces Quietsts,
believers in mans right to hold property in man,
AID Emancipaionists OF every degree. The
The first hate Mr. Benton, and will make war
upon him with furious vigor The second
VIII rally in his detence-not that all Of that
class are satished-but that his is the only course
winch, seemingly, promises to attain the end
which each thinks the best.
As we regard the matter, it would have been
Tar nobler in the Senator and far better for the
South, as well as for the Union, il he had struck
| his bio" Tor Emancipation and rallied round him
at once, an earnest, honest Emancipation party
on slave soil But brave as he is, he had not
courage enough for that Great as is the work
he has done and is doing, he has not virtue
enough 10 take this true ground! He scowls
upon the master-buiders of the antIs slavery
cause-proclaims himself an owner of slaves
the only member Of Congress who owns them at
the Capitol, and denounces, or decres all who
would lessen the value, or leopard he security of
chattel property; avows it TO be private wrong
and public abuse, to distress an individual. or
disturb State on the question; boasts that he
mas not done it, nay, that he secured the slave
provision in the Missouri Constitution and calls
upon the country for the sake OF Europe, and Tor
the freeman struggling there, not to agiate this
question, if they would have ours called, or con-
sldered the Model Republic; and declares, as he
references the founders OF our Republic, and
worships their work, the Union and the Constitu-
ton, that he will not disgrace the Senate, or
himself by engaging in slavery or dsunion dis
custom
All this is palpably unjust, and ridiculously
erroneous, as it strikes US, and should not 60 IN
corrected by any lover of the freemen of the
past, or any struggler for Freedom in the pres
ent.
The world owes all it is, and has, to vrtuous
agitation, and he who is not blind will see. that
whatever of positive principle exists among us,
as regards Freedom, springs wholly IRON this
| cause. Ten years ago, and it was worth man s
social position almost, to speak out against sla-
very in the Free States! Ten years ago, and the
Press OF the whole land, with few exceptions
dared not discuss the subject! Fifteen years
ago. and it was though treason, or denounced as
fanaticism, in any member OF Congress- to assert,
and defend the right OF petition. Yet, now, all
parties enjoy, and act out, these rights, and no
/ party could live in the Free States, that would
resist them. Who should scowl, then, upon the
men who have produced this mighty change p
4 Who'd cry or denounce the means which have
brought 1t about' Be he who he may, he wres-
ties against the only spirit which has given. or
can give, vigor TO our manhood or vitality t. our
Union.
The South, too owes whatever of anti.savery
feeling 1t has, mainly to this very agitation This
is denied often in the Free States; ottener in the
Slave. But the fact is so, and we have vet to
meet the first liberal minded stakeholder per-
/ petualist or not who has not acknowledged il
frankly. How can it be otherwise The South
lay in deep sleep; by habit, education and inter-
est, she was taught to believe slavery right; by
success, she was early induced to strengthen
! that insttutioD;-it was held everywhere a "pri-
vate wrong to disturb, and "pubIic abuse'' to
break up this sleep, or a personal disgrace" to
attempt 1t. The first blast was rude because
only such blast would rouse slumberer or on
locker. 1t was followed by blows ruder still be :
cause the whole OF society needed them as grain
does the fail, to uncase its sel6shness and free
lis spirit. And where are we now , What now
is the prospect, even as regards the South? WHY.
Emancipation is boldly discussed at the Capitol of
the Nation; in Virginia; in Maryland; in Ken.
lucky; in Missouri; IN East Tennessee and w est
North Carolina! Tell us, then, that the anti.
slavery agitation is private wrong, public
abuse, personal disgrace! Talk 10 us about the
injury II has done North or South! That man
is beside himself, and mad, who in the face of
these facts, holds such view! 1t is false in ali
and every particular.
But Mr. Benton 'honors the wisdom, modestv.
decorum, dignity, and moderation OF our fathers
l"Iaugtt," he says, ''to admire the founders of
our Government 10 my early youth, reverence
them now; taught to value their work then.
worshipit now" So do we. So do all RIGHT
hearted and right minded Americans. But what
was that work In what spirit was it made /?
For what end '-Before the revolutionary war
had broken out, one sentiment spervaded North
and South, against slavery and the slave trade,
Washington and Jefferson, Virginia and Georgia.
affirming that liberty could not be aoon, or con.
t,nued, without Kidding the country Of these
terrible coils. When the Declaration Of hide.
pendence was made, this sentiment was solemnly
embodied in 1t, in the grand averment that
tye, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness spos
the inalienable rights of man. Alter that In
dependence was won, and acknowledged by the
nations; the constitution was framed in accord