The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-03
THE UBLIC.
SPEECH

n r. 4 III
OF
MIR. j. r.. CHANDLER, OF PENN,
On tie admission Of California dehpered
in tile House of Representatives. Of the
United States, March %, 1850.
Mr.. CHANDLER addressed the Chair as follows
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: The approved method Of com
mencing speech on the questions now before the
committee, has come to be assurance that the
undertaking is departure from fixed resolution,
enforced by sense Of duty 10 the orator his
stituens. For myself, sir. am free to confess that,
from the day on which the question commit
ted. had resolved to offer my opinions upon the
measure.
! am satisfied that enough had been said some
weeks ago in this House to show, not only the gen.
eral merits Of the question now before the commit
tee, but also the feelings of sections and individuals
on this important subject Having obtained the
floor after so much time expended in the effort,
naturally feel that have reached the field after the
battle has been fought, and therefore must content
myself with such use Of my position as circum-
stances will allow.
But, sir, despair of attracting as feel cannot
resoard, attention. | believe that some speakers
have distinguished themselves by bold and extrav-
agant doctrines, much more than they have helped
their cause, assisted the country by their advo-
cacy; and think 1t my duty to present moderate
views, and to advocate them in moderate tone. !
am unable, Mr. Chairman, TO take sides with those
who might represent the old women that ask for
peaceful dissolution of the Union. I feel for the
weakness that suggests the appeal and the de-
pendence which might compel its advocacy. am
no less unable to approve the calls for disunion
which come from the young men, who mistake the
momentary applause which surprising act ELECTS,
for the substantial fame which finally rewards him
who pursues the even tenor OF course that insures
national peace and national union.
1t is pleasant, undoubtedly, to enjoy the epheme
raj distinction which ultraism earns-to hear the
passe ger in the street designate the man who had
uttered the severest thing against the truth, had
IT,, .kAl -
paradox;
:" 1t is brave TO be admired-to see
The crowd, with pointing finger, cry that's he.
shall not even give expression to my own feel
ipgs, unless incidentally, on the abstract question
| of southern slavery, nor presume to approach an
other species of bondage in which the mind is
sometimes held by that terrible chain single idea.
The great difficulty necessarily encountered by
those who would obtain the floor delay in
prepared remarks, which renders portion Of the
gument untimely; and the physical exertons neces
sary to make ones self heard in this chamber Of
magnificent reverberation too often dissipates the
few ideas that have not become obsolete by delay.
bad prepared an argument upon the question of adj
mitting California independent State, and the
propriety of allowing the other territorial posses
sions TO remain under the present rule; but fire.
quently has the ground been trodden since un-
dertook to obtain the floor, and so elaborate have
been the arguments, that shall less weary the
committee, am persuaded, by leaving the consti-
tutiona question to other hands, and taking up for
consideration some of the remarks which have fallen
incidentally from the speakers who have preceded
me-remarks which seemed at the time TO meet
with applause side, while they excited
constituent on the other. have listened to every
speech that has been made to this committee on the
question before US, and bear testimony the
earncstness and ability which have marked most
of the efforts on both sides. Your own, Mr. Chair
man, (Mr. TooMBs,) seemed to me to be distin-
guished for clear argument and correct deductions
though might doubt the premises But hope i
shall be excused If say, that the fabric which has
been presented on the southern side of the House
will not bear close inspection the material il not
what the whole would intimate, and have drawn
a thread here and there from web and wool, and
purpose TO submit each to a minute investigation.
The discussion of the question OF admitting Cali
fornia has almost naturally brought up the veIa-
tous question of slavery, and brought out an ex-
preston of feeling from the North against that
institution, and inspired in the South the custom
airy laudation, and given rise TO rather more than
the usual eremiads upon the injuries TO which the
South has been subjected by the North-wrongs,
il IL asserted, OF an uncomfortable character and
/ incalculable extent. ] was struck with the amen-
tations OF the honorable gentleman from North
Carolina, (Mr. CuSenAN,) who opened this dis
cussion, and who certainly distinguished himself
by the freedom Of his complaints and the holiness of
the remedies proposed.
Sir, the honorable gentleman spoke of the de-
cayed commerce Of North Carolins, as IL her quays
| and shores had once bristed with the OF the
navigation OF the world, and her bcllied
every wind that disturbed the ocean. looked up,
| sir, 10 see wnctner yre ana venice would not be
cited as illustrations OF the terrible changes in the
wasted commerce Of that good old State, which,
according TO the idea that the gentleman conveyed,
has ceased TO be great among nations, and prin-
cess among provinces"
North Carolina sir, Il doubt not has had changes;
her peculiar posi- ion exposes her 10 them, and will
expose her 90 them while she depends upon exact
/ ly the same institution which serves the more
southern States with different climate different
soil, and different produce. But, sir, the change
Of which the honorable gentleman complains does
not come from any aggressive acts Of the North.
/ No action Of the North has had anything 10 do
with her situation. II 10 her own want Of action
or rather il tpas her own want Of action. The in
stitution which she cherisbes with much affec-
tion and defends with much zeal, is proving its
own want Of adaptation TO large portion Of the
State; and il s only as she 10 getting clear Of the
] evil that she feels rccuperative power.
4 The cry Of the South, so often and so confidently
repeated this floor, IL groundess, causeless sir,
entirely; no wrong has been meditated, none in
/ hcted-nope even cited here, with the single
ception of the refusal neglect Of of the
\ free States 10 provide for fulhlment Of that
clause of the Constitution Of the United States
which requires the restoration Of fugitives from
/ labor. That subject has been handled elsewhere
with much ability, that il IL unnecessary for me
/ 10 refer 10 the constitutional argument. While il
cannot be denied that the restoration Of fugitive
slaves fleeing 10 Of the free States 10 neither
secured noe encouraged by law, it may be allowed
to TO make few remarks upon the causes
which changed the practice that certainly did
list, at least IN Pennsylvania. The demand for the
fugitive called into action class of men, Who for
tilted with a constable's commission, made IL a
matter Of special business TO detect and restore 10
slavery the Ascending servant; and the law lent
its sanction and its aid to the practice At
length the danger of detection taught the fugitive
caution, and the professional "slave finder" found
his occupation less profitable; but, in the mean
time, his profession must sustain his stomach; he
lean his trade for support, and If he could
not catch and restore 10 his master the fugitive
slave, he must catch and try 10 send into slavery
the free black; and this was frequently attempted,
and was is believed, often successful. The soil.
tary hut Of the negro, each side Of the Delaware
invaded by the king Of the kidnappers, and a
marketable being drawn thence 70 meet demand,
not from shareholders, but slave dealers; aud whe-
thcr suspieions did or did not draw the feon into
respectable private dwellings, he presented himself
where there we're black servants, and boldly
dragged them away before some magistrate, where
there we're at hand witnesses enough to swear to
the identity of the prisoner some runaway slave.
This was not always successful, nor do ] mean TO
say that the prisoner was not always Fugitive
from labor" but the course pursued, and the char