Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-07-20
I HE B U GLE
SEWlRD'S SPEECH ON THE COaPR0MISR

- HANhA ON AhL JUMl
Ex-GovERNoR SEWARD, on the Cd inst.
made a powerful Speech in the Senate
against Cloys Omnibus Scheme, in which
he uttered many bold and nlanly sentiments
The gist Of his arguments was, that the
Compromise is unnecessary, not fair and
equal mi it's terms, humiiating to all the par
ties, and IL adopted, will of necessity be ut
terly Intellectual. We can find room for
only few striking passages:
MIR. PnEsIDENT--If an alien in our land
should chance TO enter here during these
high debates, he would ask whether Califor-
ma was stranger and an enemy, or an un-
Dldden and unwelcome intruder, or iugi-
ave, powerless and portionless, and there
lore importunate, or an oppressor and
sconrge OF mankind and therefore hateful
ana dangerous. We should be obliged TO
answer, No! California yielded to persua-
sion rather than to conquest. She has re-
nounced her Lineage, language and ancient
loyalty. Sine has brought us TO the banks of
streams which How over precious sands, and
al the base OF mountains which yield mas
slve gold. She delivers into our hands the
Key that unlocks the long coveted treasures
OF the Eastern world California refuses
only TO let us buy aud sell each other within
her domain, so rich in all the elements of
Legitimate commerce. She invites us TO
forego an unjust, injurious and inglorious
dominion over a caste, and to extend the
sway of peace, of arts and of freedom over
nations beyond the seas still slumbering un-
der the mingled reign of barbarian super-
stItion and unalleyiated despOtism. The
very head and front of her offending hath
this extent.
Why, then, should Cali
fornia he kept waiting while we make a cir
cuit throughout the entire orbit of Slavery?
California neither brought the States into
confederation, nor constructed the Consti-
tutlon-she neither planted Slavery in the
Slave States, nor uprooted il in the Free
States. She is not found by the side of Tex
as invading New-Mexico, nor allied with
New-Mexico in resisting Texas.
She is guiltless equally of buying and
selling, of holding and emancipating, of re-
claiming, and of harboring slaves anywhere.
she has neither vote nor speech here nor
elsewhere where this angry strife can be
composed. She has severed at blow and
forever, the loose political connection, the
only connection she ever had with Utah and
New-Mexico. The slave States indeed in
sist on right to colonize new territories
with caste. But all agree that the commu-
nifty in any such territory may establish
Constitution prohibiting caste. California,
a'ready colonized, has done this already, and
her maturity is not well questioned, although
II has been as rapid and as bewildering as
the presentation of a midsummer nights
dream. There is, therefore, neither COM
munity nor even congruity between the ad-
mission of California and the conditions de-
manded. 1t is binding Eros to Anteros,
confiding youth to querulous and wrangling
age the struggling hind to ravening hounds.
The bill before US seems adapted to ena-
ble Senators TO speak on one side and to
vote ON the other; TO comply with instruc-
fions and TO evade them; to vote for the line
OF 80 = 3V aud to vote against it; to sup
port the Wilinot Proviso, and yet TO defeat
ats application to the only territories open to
its Introduction. l solct-if stronger Ian
guage were courteous, might demand
from the majority here, subdivision of the
bill, to enable me 10 vote eftectually for what
! approve, without voting equally for what
my own judgment, concurring with instruc-
tons, condemns, and thus to place myself
where should invite all others TO place
under exact and full RESPONSE
bility to their States and the People
New-Mexico, pressed by the encroach-
ments Of Texas, and by the jealousy of the
Slave States, implores from US protection of |
her Territory, and of her Constitution |
This bill of Compromise, compromises her |
claims by dividing her Territory right and |
leit, boldly assigning part to undisgused |
Slavery, and the rest insidously to exposed |
Freedom. Sir, if concur in giving any
Government to New-Mexico, it must be as
good one as she has already. Although |
the Drama Of our conquest in Mexico falls |
INTO successive acts, conducted by different |
performers II is, nevertheless. one whole |
and IL this bill shall mass. tbot |
so far as New-Mexico Il cor.
cerned, will be the conquest of Free Re |
public, and the conversion of il in whole or |
in part TO Slave State.
What is New-Mexico, that she should be |
thus wronged? An unotiending rival pros
trate at our feet. pray you, Senators, for
the sake, If not of justice, at least of mag
to exercise your power over herby
sparing her, to punish her by iorgving her
the crime Of loving Liberty too well. Her