Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-11-02
fhe Abolition of Slavery in the District Of
Columbia.

Our readers will see by referring to the
doings of Congress, that Gov. Seward offer
ed bill to abolish slavery in the District of
Columbia. The bill was opposed of course,
g. by such hrawling rowdies as Foote, Jefer-
son Davis, and Dawson who denounced
Gov. Seward in language worthy of them
selves. We deeply regret to see the vote of
this State given against the measure. Mr..
Winthrop even denounced it as an "indis-
Greet" measure. To this charge of the Mass
achusetts Senator, or rather the Senator of
Gov. Briggs, Gov. Seward made the follow
Ing just and noble reply:
And now for the Indiscretion, so far as it
depends upon time and circumstances.
think il wrong to hold men in bondage at
ai,y lime and under any circumstances.
think il right and Just, therefore, TO abolish
slavery wherever we have the power at any
time. ~ all times, under any circumstances.
Now, Sin. so far as the objection rests upon
,le ume when this measure is proposed, |
beg leave to say that if the present is not
The right time, then there must be or must
have been some other time, when it would
be or would have been right. That other
time must be n time that is already passed,
or u time yet TO come. Well, Sir, slavery
has existed here, under the sanction of Con-
gress, for 80 years undisturbed. The right
time then has not passed. 1t must, there
fore, he future time. Will gentlemen
oblige Inc and the country by telling us how
far down IN the future the right time lies
When will it come? Will il be the next
year, or at the end Of the next half century,
or of the next hundred years. When will
ii be discreet to bring before Congress and
the people the abolition of slavery in the
District of Columbia ? Sir, let not Sena-
tors delude themselves. l had the honor TO
submit TO the Senate some weeks ago prop
osition to admit New Mexico as State. 1t
was rejected then by vote unanimous, ex-
cept my own-those who were in favor of
the measure voting with its opponents be-
cause il was not the right time.
They said the Constitution had not been
officially received. 1t was not fit occasion.
The measure was offered as an amendment
TO the bill. Sir, the Constitution was official
ly received yesterday, and the Senators Of
the State were in waiting. But New Mexi-
co in the meantime had been organized as q
Territory. and her State Constitution is not
even honored with reference. There IS no
right time for New Mexico to enter the Uni
on as Free State. So, Sir, it will be with
the abolition of slavery in the District OF Co
,'nnbia. The right time, if il be not now,
AZ. "a. Hevcr come. Sir, each Senator must
judge for himself Judging for myself nm
sure the right time has come. Past the mid
die age of life, it has happened to me now,
for the first time. TO be legislator for Slaves.
believe il to be my duty TO restore them to
freedom. For the performance OF such
duty, the first time and the first occasion
al, tha r. .nl. npnnIp
who sent me here knew my opinions and
my principles on that subject II waived
this time and this occasion, such is the un-
certainty of humun life and of human events,
that no other may ever offer themselves to
me. could not return to the people who
sent me here, nor could j go before my
Maker, having been here, without having
humbly but firmly endeavored TO discharge
that great obligation.
Sir, cun spare one word of reply, not to
the wretched imputaton that seek by this
measure to dissolve the Union of these
States, but to the argument that the measure
itself tends to so disastrous n consumnation.
This Union is the feeblest and weakest ma
tional power that exists on earth, II, with
twenty million of freemen, it cannot bear the
shock of adding six hundred TO their num-
ber. The Union stands, as have demon
strated at large OH former occasions, not up
oil majority of voices in either or both
Houses of Congress upon any measure what
ever, but upon enduring physical, social and
political necessities, which will survive all
the questions of this day. and will survive all
after the extinction of slavery, not only III
the District of Columbia, but throughout the
world. Others may try to save It by con-
cessions to slavery, from imaginary perils.
shall still seek to perpetuate it 10y render,
ing its power benelicent to all classes ana
conditions of mankind"
The people of this State will be surprised
and mortified at the conduct of their Sena-
tors. Thirteen years ago, the lanented Jas.
c. Alvord, then Senator from Franklin,
aud one oil the most gifted young men oihls
age and time--in whose premature grave
were buried the highest hopes of the people
of his distrct--reported resolutions m favor
of the abolition of slavery in the District OF
Columbia which were nearly unanimously
adopted by both branches of the legislature
Robert G. Winthrop then presided over th'
House of Representatives. Since that tlm
year has hardly passed away that the peo
ple of this State have not declared IN faVo
of the abolition of slavery in the District
Yet MIR. Winthrop denounces the Senate
from New York for introducing the Inef
sure. 1t is what might be expected OF tn
man who appointed five Shareholders an
four non-slaveholders on the COMMITTEE