Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1850-03-12
From tho Hon. II. 8. Dickinson.
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meeting Of the Democratic republican electors ot
the city Of New York, 10 be held at Tammany
Hall, on Saturday evening next, tor the purpose
of taking counsel upon the present crisis, and
adopting such measures. as may tend topresetve
to them and their ~posterity the blessings of our
great and glorious Union. ] will rot withhold
from you the qualification | have experienced
since Learning that The. sterling Democracy Of
that great city were about to take measures so
cminently worthy ofthe proudest State. in the
con(ederacy, and SO imperative!y demanded by
the temper of the times; and should most gladly
unite with them IN thiss tlieir high aud molly effort,
to restore ~fraternal relations between an es-
trangcd brotherhood bur imperative public duties
sill deny me that pleasure.
have long contemplated with gloomy solicit
tude the lerocious demon Of secttunalistn, which,
like the unclean spirit Of old, has been walking up
and down our land. Bat 1 aver, in the fear oil
God, that ! have never known a moment when
the patient toTbearanCe of The wise, the charity
Of the Christian, and the 4irnness of the patriot,
we're mole urgently demanded than now, by every
consideration that should elevate and influence
civilized men.
The States Of this Union were declared, ~ the
instrument which sigHalized their emancipation
from the british Crown, TO be g free and %indePcn'
dent = and without abaling or merging their
complete sovereignty, they agreed, by u %solemn'y
executed and well defined compact, 10 unite to-
gether, for certain great and common purposes,
upon terms OF perfect equality. All had inherited
IFUUl d OtllIuu ancestry llC llStltutIOu ~ SIdNc-
ry a portion have since abolished it Of their own
vUlition, in their own time and manner, without
olficious external promptings, and others retain ii
still, and, even were they so disposed, could MOI
suddenly cast it III without violating The best
instincts of humanity, and doing irTeparabte in
justice both 10 themselves aud us. While, in re.
gard to the subject Of domestic slavery, we may
with propriety indulge,ss a sentiment The feeling
common to all free States, We should remember
hat the southern States continue an institution
Which they did not create-an institution which
we knew they held and proposed to continue,
when we joined hands under a common compact
IAN institution tllatwe. comparatively speaking,
have but recently abolished, and that, too, more
by the operation Of our soil, climate, and produc.
tions than by reason OF our superior morality or
! bcnevolCnce.
1t is now theirs, and not ours. lifts influences
are pernicicus aud deinoralizin@, it degrades
them, moi us, in the scale of social aud political
being. II it is sinful, we may console ourselves
with The TT Election that it will be laid Mt their
[and not our) door in tie last great day Of ac-,
counts.
In the mysterious disprDsafions of Divine Pro
whence, we all see aud know, Notwithstanding
the metaphysical sub.lelies Of the spccnlatIng
cthn"logist, that the negro race was constituted
so dlssir1ilar 10 our own, in its moral aud plIy~I
cal orgauiZAtinn, thar doth lle senses would tc-
volt at an attempt t01ss ociate them together upon
terms OF social equality. They cannot in our
midst be elevated TO our Condition; and any at.
tempt to achieve this. triumph over the laws Of
| Heaven must Terminate in degrading us below
theirs. We have heardmuth and often about The
dignity Of free labor; and doubtless most from
these " ho care least about the subject. But he
i: remembered that il is not mere slave labor that
is degrading to the sense of the white man, bat
| negro labor, whether in freedom or in bondage;
for no While labuIcr will consent to toll side by
side with the blacks, either North or South, upon
terms Of equality. Let him, therefore, who does
not intend to invite amongst us the emanCipatcd
and fugitive negroes Ofthe South, SO that The VIC
ious may fill our prisons, the decrepid overrun
our aims. houses, and the residue compete with
and degrade our worthy white laborers aid their
families, permit the slave States to coudnct their
domestic affairs in their own way and upon their
own responsibility.
Though | by no means hold the action Of the
South upon the sectional contest which is so
mad!y raging, free from criticism, it is neither
my right nor my purpose TO arTaign them upon this
occasion but determination is at all times
profitable for individuals or communities, ard we
shall see more clearlytbe mote in their eyes after
we have taken tho beam from our own. Il we
have in any degree contributed to provoke exist
ing sectional irritations, IT, is the highest dictate
of patriotism to make ample and manly reparaiiun.
For no al eyed abuse BY them, and with, ut con
;ributing TO the Lightly or advancement of a sin
ule human being, we have withdrawn, by force
of law, a courtesy Which had been extended
them { ON the foundation of the governInent-per-
hitting them, while visiting US upon business OF
pleasure, to bring with them, and retain for a
brief period, the household servants which the
habits of their lives have made necessary to the
comfort of their families. Relying upon their
honor and domestic justice, as they did upon ours.
we stipulated, by the plain terms of the %constitu-
ton, TO deliver up to them tugitiveS from service
who should fee within our borders; and yet some
northern States have -inlerpOsed embarrassing
c%nactments, to thwaftsthe Gulti'ment of this con-
stitutional pledge. Presses have been establish
ed in our midst, to hurl fire and desolation among
them, and incendfaries have provided around their
borders, unwhipt OF justice, to incite their slaves
to lnsurrection5 rebellion and murder.
The southern people have been goaded to a
state of excitement and alarm. They have seen
not only demagogues and fanatics, but large DO
dies Of men in the free States, uniting in one
grand .steeple.chase for 6boliIion honors, aud
awarding the mark of merit to him who could cry
longest and loudest against the curse of slavery
and the aggressive South. The contest is une-
quail, %unmanly, and unchristian. The institu-
tiuns Of the South are extremely sensitive, and
our blows tell upon them with fearful effect,
while theirs, should they direct them against us,
fall harmless at our feet.
The individual who should introduce within
the social circle, political or religious opinions
offensive to a portion of those assembled, would be
held guilty of violating the plainest rules ofpropri-
ely, and be rightfully excluded from social com
munion; aud yet, when this great family of
StatesEmeet together, a portion are constantly re-
minded by the sovereign voices of others, that
they uphold an institution whichis hateful among
men, and sinful in the sight of God.
How long could The ordinary business rela-
tions of.life continue between individuals, how.
ever profitable or desirable, where one party
should constantly load the other with reproaches
for delinqueucies j phis domestic relations, real or
imaginary !? How long could that holy union,
which was ordained of Heaven. and lies at the
foundation of our social structure, continue, in
spirit or IN form, with such a canker gnawing at
the root offs felicity {?
Itis at all times easy to furnish lip service 10
the cause of patriotism aud those now among
the most dangerous enemies of the Union, are
the frst In nrnnlni ~ tint 5fhnr nf ALL nthnrn ,,.;il