The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-19

1 = -.
ousy and dstrust Of the northern policy and disaf
fection to the Constitution were more widely diff
fused. UnhaPPiiy, before the passions naturally
connected with the late conflict between northern
and southern interests had time 10 settle down. the
slave emancipation movement commenced IN Eng
land. The contagion crossed the Atlantic Win
electric speed, and the abolition movement soon
began to attract attention at the North. II is not
! my purpose to trace, in detail, the causes which
have contributed TO extend the influence OF that
movement; nor to inquire from what natural con
nexion aud instincts the religion and literature OF
that section have lent their powerful co-opera tion
but there Is one point connected with the growth OF
the abolition sentiment at the North which can
not pass over without particular notice. For the
reasons have already stated, II may well be con-
ceiyed that the movements and designs OF the Abo-
litioniss of the North should tend TO confirm and
add new converts 10 the theory, that southern inter-
ects never be secure under the existing Consti-
| tuition OF the Union. The CONSCIOUSNESS wAa, 4hAt the
mode ofresstsnce resorted the Representatives
of the South in Congress rather calculated 10
inHameand strengthen the abolition movement than
defeat its progress. thuppened in this case, ns in
all others OF great excitement, and where great
| interests are involved, that those who we're most
Jealous and were disposed to adopt the greatest
tremes, controlled the more moderate and judi
cious. Assuming il al clear proposition, that
| Congress had constitutional power to abolish
slavery in the District OF Colombia, southern gen
tcrnen, in resisting the abolition movement made
their first stand in opposition TO the right OF peti
tion: This was, in my Judgment, a mistaken pol
icy in those who desired repress agitation, to
defeat the designs Of the abolitonist5. The right
of petition. upon all subjects, in popular estna-
| ton, has traditonary sacredness. which renders
it dangerous TO question deny it in any but the
! clearest OF abuse nsspplication Hence
1 il was that thousands al the North, "a gentleman
/ near Gays tens of thousands,) who had never
4 before countenanced the schenies OF the abolition
lists, became their allies and coadjutors in defence
of what they regarded as a sacred light; and when
further irrtated and excited by the continued OPP
position of the South, by an ensy and natural ad-
vance they became hearty operators in all their
views. BY this large accession 10 the ranks of the
original promoters of the abolition movement, they
were in sufficient force, in some OF the States, To
materially influence the results OF elections and
! the consequence has been, that the politicians in
| the ranks of the two great parties, ever eagle
eyed, and ready avail themselves of the support
! OF every ally, in their attempts to proptiate
the favor OF the abolitionsts, impaired import
ance and energy TO their policy, which could new
er, under other circumstances, have been allowed.
From that time forth, at the South, as well as at
the North, any alliance with opposition to- the
cause of abolition by the other OF the two
parties, came to be carefully noted, and has been
the fruitful source of agitation in all elections.
But the anti-slavery movement at the North had
acquired sufficient force to be felt in the election
OF the successor to General jackson. Mr.. Van Bu-
il is well known, wac borne into power upon
the overwhelming tide of his predecessor popu-
lority; did the agiations upon this subject,
North or South. have any material influence in the
decision OF the election of lS40 by which MIR. Van
Buren, drawn from power; but still, the senti-
ments of both himself and his successful opponent
were carefully scrutinized. MIR. Van Buren, it will
be recollected, expressed, in the of the
vass, decided opposition 10 the policy and pur-
poses Of the Abolinonists; and dd his competi-
tor, General Harrison. Nor Ia II probable that the
! anti slavery movement would have acquired any
mischievous ascendency, beyond the occasional alb
ducton Of slaves from their masters the borders
of the slave and free States and in the distractions
sometimes thrown in the way of the recapture OF
fugitives, but Tor extraordinary series Of events
winch rapidly followed each other, upon the unfor
trna,e demise Of General Harrison. BY that ssd
a a(te hi5n Ia
the Executive administration of the country irll
into the hands of gentleman from Virginia, mr..
| Tylcr,) Of whom do not care 10 rpeak, further
than 10 say, that before tue close OF his term oI
! Office, he entertained the project of annexing
! Texas TO the United States, either upon his own
| suggestion, or upon that OF those gentlemen from
/ the South who bad acquired his confidence. The
general though by no means universal sentiment
OF the slave States in favor Of the policy Of an
uexRton, n means OF ~ deserving that equilibrium
OF power between the free aud the slave States,
often adverted to in this debate And Of this idea
\ OF an equilibrium, let say that think muct.
more lavorsby than my friend from illinois, Mr..
sHIELus.) II had time should like TO elaborate
this peint; and would substitute equilibrium ior
c0npT omise the favorte theme Of many gentle
/ ngn with whom equilibrium finds no favor. We
| have heard great deal Of the compromise ot pnn-
clplcs, opinions, and interests, which led 10 the
adoption of the Constitution. Life itself, from the
cradle 90 the grave, has been said to be compro-
mise between good and evil. But when we speak
! Of gUycrnmcuts equilibrium is a better word Than
, despotc one, can stand, unless some approKma-
| ton to equilibrium of interests and influences,
powers and privileges, IL established aud observed
This is condition, also, ON which society and vol
untary associations of every iOnn depend. IL i
Of almost universal application in physIcs as well az
in morals An equilibrium of forces and Of contrary
tendencies Is supposed to be the principle upon
which the universe is upheld So rigorous IL nature,
in her law upon ths sul ect, thatsUmc philosophers
! have conjecturcd that single atom disp aced
4 would be sufficient TO wrccka world. The hsrccst
aud most angry forms in which nature exhibits
hcrscl is the consequence Of disturbance of that
equ poisc of the elements of which the natural word
/ ID composed. s., N government, and especially
in government OF moral forces and influences like
ours-in rcprcs, ntatiye government, with uniyer-
sal suiIrsgc--lct the just equilibrium oi Interests
and nnu,ncc5 be ustcrally disturbed; let ma
jority, without any direct interest, without rad-
uoDary reverence tor, or attuchmCnt To. our lnst-
tutions without national affinity or sympathy, ever
decidedly prepondcraic-the ballot box, instead oi
security, becomes an engine for the destruction u
the existing rights and Objects Of society; and dis
organization, sUcial and political, or government
of physical force, become the only acrn ,tiscs. IL
Il Tor the North look TO this il IL for the North.
a. well AZ the South TO calculate the value Of this
idea uf necessary equilibrium in governments.
But this is depression into which have been led,
by seeing my friend from Illinois (Mr. SHiELps)
before me- return To my narrative
Mr. President, when was tempted to digrcs-
sion, was rcmarking that the southern sentiment
was generally favorable to the project Of snucxing
Texas, bot that il not Ivy any means unani-
uIous. ID il we'll known that a very respectable
minority Of the South, ia view II the evils which
they foresAw the ~ the project would bring
upon the country, were decidedly and enormously
Opposcd 60 It.
But from the moment the policy Of President
Tyler and his Cabinet iu rtl5tion g. Texas became
public, Il forc5cen that in the ensuing contest
for the succession the project for annexing Texas
would become material issue between the rival
candidates. OF The Democratic party there were
az that time several leading gentlemen OF the
North who had their supporters and partisans fUr
the nomination; bu the lhyoritC and most prOni-
ncnt was Mr.. Van Burcn, who had been rather
tremendously thrust out Of power al the close OF
single tcrm and the neral expectation was that
he would be selected by his party. This gentle
man. when called upon for his views on the ques-
ton ul suncxing Texas, frankly DECLARED his op-
position, did about the same time the dstin.
guishcd Senator from Kentucky, (Mr. CLAY,) to
whom the Wings at that period looked with un-
common unanimity as their candidate. IL is not
! Tor me TO Onjccturc how il was, and by what
I management or influences, Mr.. Van Buren was
set aside by the Democratic convention which
seinblcd at Baltimore in iStt, and = distinguished
citizen Qf my own State was unexpectedly chosen