Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-03-08
SPEECH or MN. CAI.zoyI, OF 5. C.,
ON THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
Delivered In the Semateof the .t States March 4 1880

ON THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
Delivered in the Ssnateo the Unitp States March 4h $780,
have, Senator's believed n the that agitation
o ne subject Of slavery woad If net presented by
ts bpaioh have e all proper occasions endeavoured to
attention of both OF The two great parties which d
disaster without The agitation has boon
!nsd to proceed with almost attempt resist it, until
that the Union il danger You have thus upon you
t greatest and the gravest question that
To give satisfactory answer to this mighty question: it is
70 have an accurate and OF
endangered Without such knowledge it impossible
nounee with certainty BY what means it can be saved
tho Of dangerous disease with any certainty, by
what remedy The pstent could be saved without similar
issase The arst question: then presented for considers
tun IN the propose to make, in order to OBJ
tain sh AnoSledge Whst Is it that has endangered the
Tuts question there behrt answer that the
mediate csA Is the almost universal discomfort which
ves all the States composing the Southern section of the
giOn TAl widely extended discomfort orr
GIN Recommended with the agitation Of the slavery question
and has been increasing since The next question going
step further back whOt has caused this widely du
Sod and almost universal discomfort?
Erat mistake to suppose, is by some, that ORR
nated with domagogne who excited the discomfort with
4he ambition of politicians who resorted
TO tRs means of retrieving their fortunes. On the
rayed against excitement and exercd to the utmost to keep
the people quiet The great of the people of the South
divided in the other Section into Wings and Demo-
c The leaders and the in the South very
Ous prevent excitement and preserve quiet because
it that the effects Of the former would necessarily
tend 70 weaken destroy the political tics which united
hsith their respective parties in the other section Those
who know the strength of party ties will readily appreciate
imee force which this exerted against agitation
STS IN u s II
pervades the section No cause far deeper and
@ MS sas sn s
What is the Of this discomfort 1t will be found in
the belief people ofthe Southern States prevalent
are consistently with honor and safety in the Union The
nsfs question be considered h" caused this be-
Ono of the u.s. undoubtly to be traced to the long
norh and the many aggresons which they have made
the rights Of the south during the time will
ate them at present. it will be done hereafter in its
per TRR place !. ,,o,s.. . ;. n,;
primary That is to be found in the fact
equilibrium between the two sectioGs in the government
II stood when the constitution was ratified and the
ment put in action has boon destroyed At that time there
was nearly perfect equilibrium between the two, which af-
forded ample to each to protect itself against the
erosion of the other but it stands section has
the s.%sG of controlling the M which
itself against its encroachment and oppression To place
pared brief statistical statement, showing the relative
Weght OF the two sections in the government under the first
census Of 1880 and the last census of lS40
According to the former the population of the United
States including Vermont Kentucky Tennessee which
bat not actually admitted, amounted 39282 OF
this number the Northern States had ST. $685. Und the
favor Of the former States The number of states neud
ing Vermont, Kentucky and Tennessee, sixteen of
which eight including Vermont; belonged the Northern
section and eight including Kentucky and Tennessee
the Southern making equal division Of the States be-
tween the two sections under the first There
small prepOndeance in the House of Representatives. and
fact that according to the provisions of the constitution
estimating federal numbers five slaves three but
it was too small to affect sensiby the perfect equilibrium
which, with that exception existed at the time Such was
the equality Of the two sections when the States composing
them agreed enter into Federal Union Since then the
hriufn has henn
the O sno d %hh the
33 49, making difference in round numbers, of 600
six making an addition of ten States In the mean time the
position of Delaware had become doubtful to which sec
Northern States will have thirteen and the Southern States
twelve making difference i'll the Senate of two Senators IN
the %sIe to S oft tPs Hou.
Representatives of which the Northern States had 1885, and
Rig difference of the former in the House of
Representatives of A. The difference the Senate of
members added to this gives the North in the electoral
college, majority of So Since the census of $780, four
States have been added to the Union Iowa. Wisconsin,
rida and Texas They leave the difference the Senate
it stood when the taken but add the side
OF the North in the House. making the present majority in
the House in its favor So in the electoral college
The result of the whole to give the Northern section
performance in every department of the Government and
the Federal Government majority of States majority
of their population estimated in federal numbers W6atev
section concentrates the two in itself possesses tho control
of the entire Government.
But just at the close sixth decade and the
commencement of the seventh Tbs to be aker
Of the in the House Of Representatives and thu
electoral college. The prospect ALSO that great ncreas
ring the period of the decade by the addition of States
Two territories, Oregon and Minnesota already in
and strenuous efforts making bring in three ad
donal States from the territory recently conquered from
Mexico which, successful will add three other States in
short time to tho Northern section making five States
increasing the present number Of its States from fifteen
rary there is not single territory progress the South
section and certainty that any additional State
br added during the decade The prospect then h tina
the two sections in the Senate should the efforts mad
to exclude the South from the newly acquired territories
ced will stand before the end of the decade twenty North
States to twelve Southern considering Delaware
~ and forty Northern Senators to twentyfour Southern
great increase of Senator's added to the great ncreas
Of members of the House of Representatives and electors
college the part of the North which take place
der the next decade will eectuay and deso
tho equilibrium which existed whom the government
menced
Had this destruction boon the operation of time withou
the interference of government the South would have had
to complain but such not the fact 1t
cd tho legislation of this government which apponte
as the common agent of ALL and charged with the protcco
of the interests and security of all The legislation by WhC
has been effected be cassed under three heads II
first is that series of by which the South has been
euded from the common territories belonging to all OF tn
States the mcmbers of the Federal Union which
had the effect of extending vastly the portion allotted tt
portion left the South The next consists in aSontnr ~
tenn of and disbursements by which undue
portion Of the burthen of taxation has been imposed upon
South and undue proportion of its proceeds appropriate
the North and the last is system of political
by which the original character Of the government has bee
radically changed propose to bestow upon each of thes
In the ordor they stand few remarks with the view
Of showing that it is owing the action of this governme
that the equilibrium two sections has been
stroyed whole powers of the system centcred in
sectional majority.
The first of the series acts by which the South was
prved of its due share of the Territories originated with tt
Oonfederacy which preceded the of this
mont 1t is to be found in the provision of tho ordinance