The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-26

| institution OF slavery IN the States
In the midst of the kind feelings which peryaded
| the hearts of all after the revolutionary struggle
| the ordinance of 1877 was adopted. But in the
great Missouri struggle the contest on the slavery
question commenced and has continued ever since.
At that time the admission OF slave States was re-
sisted. Mr.. Rufus King then took the ground that
| slavery not recognised by the Constitution;
that Congress had the power TO abolish slavery in
/ forts and dock yards, thereby converting those
| places, though they might be in the heart OF the
| slave States into hot beds OF abolition.
He then gave the history OF the great increase of
agitation this subject by Congress, in admitting
| Abolition petitions which now were received in
| both houses. Were not these petitions, he asked,
more dangerous to the Union than petitions for the
dissolution of the Unions The first received
and referred; the latter were derded and rejected
| as the illusions of madmen. In the House. reso-
| luton was at time nearly passed, which pro-
vided for the abolition of the slave trade in the Dis
| trict of Columbia, which, if passed, would have
abolished slavery here altogether. Another resou-
| ton, which received the votes of nearly all the
representatives of the free States provided that in
this District the slave should have the right to vote
on the question of his own freedom. From all this
he deduced that the South had much to fear from
those who for the future were To rule the destinies
of the nation.
As another evidence that the South had no secu-
rity, in the history of the past, for constitutional
protection, when the North shall have supreme
control of Congress, he repeated the history of the
legislation and action Of the free States defeat
the execution of the provision OF the Constitution
relative 10 the recapture OF fugitive slaves.
He alluded TO the fact that the southern States
might be driven to the levying of taxes upon the
ships and manufactures of the northern States.
He stated the circumstances attending the loss of
the slave property board the Creole, which was
run into one of the British West India Islands, and
became wholly lost to the owners and to the pro-
ceedngs attending the case of the Amistad. and
the total failure on the part OF the United States,
assert and maintain the rights of slave property
all as showing that slave property had become the
object of the most unrelenting and determined
hostility to the northern States What had they to
expect in tho future, when the free States shall
| stand two to one in the National Legislature!
He maintained the ground of the equality Of the
States and that every State, being equal member
of the Confederacy, was entitled to an equal par-
| cipaton in the common territory OF the Union
| But if the power be in Congress TO exclude any OF
the States, how direct the intlmatlon and effect
| of such exclusion. Every man knows that II the
States independent nations, and contederated
for the war, that each would have equal right in
the conquests But being denied this right because
they were in the Union, how forcible was the TACT
| that if they were not in the Union their rights
| would not be invaded.
| He read from several judicial decisions to show
that the right of the people to carry their property
to the territory of the Union strict, clear and
| defined constitutional right.
| From this question he turned to the effect which
| the emancipation of slaves has produced In those
| countries where slavery has been abolished He
adverted tabular work showing the trade, pop
1 ulaton and condition of the British West India
|
showed that since the abolition of slavery there the
population has decreased-the trade, products and
! wealth of the islands diminished, and the social
condition of the negroes reduced almost to state
| OF barbarity and savageness. Where, then, was
the object to be attained in the efforts of the abo
tionsts of slavery The institution OF slavery was
not the monstrous thing it was represented There
were affections and kind feelings existing between
the master and the slave which deprived slavery OF
| many of its hardships.
\ Negro slavery was not the only involuntary SER
| vtude known to society. Wherever there was
wages for labor there was involuntary servitude.
The Socialist was the only Abolitonist who under
| stood his mission. The Socialist went Tor perfect
equality; he for breaking down the institution
| of hard labor Labor for wages was involuntary
servitude, and wherever wages was paid Tor 1t, that
| wages was the price of involuntary servitude.
The northern people, however, considered 1t an
| evil, as a crime. The South denied it. The North
declared their consciences could not justify their
support of constitution which guaranteed to the
stakeholder certain rights. II their consciences
we're such, why do they not cease to violate the
compact. and come out boldly and say, eve en-
| tered into this compact unguardedly, we release
you from all obligations, let US dssolves Can this
Union be preserved when the Constitut.c1, so far
as il affords protection 70 one section, " disregard-
| ed? Can this Union be preserved when the States
| are gathered round the family board-those from
one section received with jeers, taunts and in
| suits; and when they are denied their equality Of
/ constitutional rights?
This Union, in the hands OF a reckless majority
of sectional majority-would be acurse instead Of
a blessing. The union of England and Irelapd
placed all legislative power in England, and Eng
land rules Ireland now with greater power, and
force. and oppression, with her statute book than
| she did when she held her by the sword
| 1t was said that disunion was remedy for no
| thing. This he denied. Suppose wild and reck-
less majority were 70 place an autocrat at the end
Of the avenue, would there be no States who would
rise and declare disunion should be had-peaceably
| if they could, forcibly if they must Suppose a
sectional majority were to turn their legislation to
| the oppression and degradation of the minority
would there be voice raised to declare disunon-
| peaceably if we can, forcibly if we musts
He was told that this was treason. Treason Ia
| whom and TO what? Treason to stand by his ma
tive State in defending her from unjust and oppres
sive aggressions, He owed allegiance TO Virginia
and through Virginia to the Union. Who should
doubt as to where his allegiance due when the
State which gave him birth should be opposed anc
attacked by any other powerf II the day should
come-which he prayed may never be-that he
should be called upon in such contest, he would
know where his allegiance due. He would
know the voice Of Virginia midst a thousand, ano
would obey her call, and whithersoever she led he
would follow.
Virginia was bound to this Union by the voice O
her people only. When they bind he is bound
when they separate, he is separated.
He loved this Union. He loved peace and har
mony. But he could not shut his eyes 10 the alarm
ing dangers ahead. The Senator from Massachu
sets had declared that he not looking out for
any fragment Of the wreck 10 which he nigh
should strive TO the vessel. The storm wal
about To break upon them, the ship would soon b.
tossed upon the waves. Should the crew be dis
contented, what would they do, Perhaps part o
them may say they to be deprived Of thei
share in the profits Of the voyage. Will you reac
the mutiny act 10 them' They refuse to man thu
yard or to furl sail; will you imprison them, anC
by force master them? You may master them, bu
how long will il be before the wind and the wave
shall master your
The difficulties Of the day can be settled, and set
tied permanently, but not by patched-up compro
misses. There must be something done 20 protec
the weaker from the stronger, when that weaker j
unable 10 protect itself.
For himself, he was willing to do whatever h
could consistently with the Constitution and right
! Of the State he represented; beyond that he cou
not, and no man could expect him TO GO.
Mr.. UPHAM moved, and the subject post
poncd till Friday next.
Mr.. FoOTE submitted the following, which lie
over one day, under thc..rules:
Resoired That the Secretary Of the Senate be III
, rected TO procure from the publisher, J. Ros
, Browne, for the Of the Senate, - copies
the "Report Of the Debates in the Convention
California, on the formation of the State Constitu
, ton, in September and October, lS49," provide
that the same be furnished at a rate not exccedin
the price which il shall be furnished 10 subsc