The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-21
THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
SPEECH OF
Hon. r.. w. JOHNSON, ofArkansas,

Hon. II. WILKINSON, Of Arkansas,
In The House v Representatives, Friday, jane 7h.
The House having under consideration, as
in Committee of the Whole, the Presidents Mes
sage communicating the Constitution of California,
Mr.. JOHNSON said 100 ,baN5a s-@i u
Mn. CHAIRMAN THE same necessity is upon
me which impels others to address you. No
fondness for my own comfort and convenience
governs me in il, or should remain silent. Il
and Of devotion to the interests and rights of the
South, as well as To this Union. a.t s.aA 3Fl.
4 i advocate, MIR. Chairman, a union of the
people of the South, and aunity of the States Of
the South, for the defence and preservation of the
South. This, sir, is policy whichI never could
have dreamed of, until now that see what is
around and before me-. condemn, as have been
taught, by the writings of all past great states-
men, the division Of this country into sectional
parties. They have advised against it. But
am not to be deprived Of my reason by false
construction OF their advice nor is earnest
consideration of facts and surrounding circum-
stances to be nterdcted. They would not desire
it of their posterity, but would reply that they
too, had been preceded by wise and great men in
this world, and if they had followed counsels
other than those of their own reason, exercised
upon the circumstances of the times, there had
been no REVOLUTIONARY ndependence--no forma-
ton of new States-no liberty in America. Twill
not consent that open enemies, traitors, oy
misguided friends, shall give that construction to
the counsel of past great men, which shall dis
unite the South and yield them up certain prey.
ask, first, that you will regard the circunstan-
ces under which Washington uttered his emphatic
advice against sectional parties. Under the old
Confederation, II was found that our Government
was utterly deficent--that 1t had neither scope,
strength, nor unity-that il was divided up by
ealousies and sectional parties, and could not last
The very same mcongruous interests, rivalries,
and jealouses, existed then which exist now
They are no greater now than they were then, and
they existed between the North and South. But
the States were weak, and there was the highest
necessity for their union. The several States APP
peared in convention, and the sectional parties
were unyielding in their demands for equality in
rights and protection. The result was glorious
Constitution and just and happy Government.
Had il not been for that firm and determined Sec
tonal spirit, this would never have been made the
just and perfect Government that it was.
But it is now, in its growth, fast changing its
character ; and If we do not, as u section, resist
with the same unyieding firmness, it will soon be-
come oppression to, and destructive of the nil
nority. tsl @ sl eH ~ eeEa f4f
With the new Constitution, General w ashington
was installed and after eight years of eminent
service, uttered his farewell Address, which has
been so often referred to recently, and constantly
sought to be made the means of dsuniiing and de-
stroying the South. 1t was never uttered from his
lips as counseing to submit to wrong, or to
perversion of the principles and spirit in which
our Government was framed. If now living,
firmly believe he would Indignantly condemn the
sectionalism and injustice of the North.
Those who have quoted that address, will be
found to be such only have affiliated with the
aggressors and have partially or wholly aban-
doned the South In this struggle. Those Of them
who have been actuated by just and honorable
foolish fellow who grasps his friend in the midst
of the conflict, whilst his adversary is permitted
to stab him. ..fsat4ta'r-ih ssa ,H5HHg
Let those read it who have thus construed it.
1t directed against the agitation Of this and all
other sectional questions, and against alf-manner
Of injustice, and inculcated moderation and pure
justice. But that advice has been disregarded
and trampled under foot by the North. The Com
stituton ITSELF has been violated in the very letter
by whole States and communities of the North,
as in the matter of State laws and individual action
concerning fugitive slaves a1 hat
The national flag has proved to be no protection
to Southern man IS property, as in the Creole and
other cases. The Government itself, has lost 'af-
fnity for, and become hostile to the South, is
exemplifed in the fraudulent formation Of the Cal
ifornia Constitution, and many other instances.
The very States Of the North, with but solitary
exception, (and that exception exists only in
name,) stand upon this floor banded together by
solemn action Of their people and home govern
ments, with no common object but hostility to the
South; with no common principle but the exclu-
| sion of the South from every foot of our common
territory. Was this done in pursuance of the adj
vice Of Washingtona Is such like the inculca-
ton Of his Farewell Address? Will any one dis
pute the existence of this sectional party, which
numbers it's members without regard to politics,
commands heavy majority in this House, and
when all men concede that Dickinson of New
York, and few men of that class, for their pa
trotc support OF the Constitution in its spirit of
Justice TO all parts Of the Union, are upon the
floors Of Congress for the last time, and are bound
to die beneath the hostility of the relentless North
No one will dispute it. ag g,a
Are we TO submit to these things' And submit
humbly and quietlyi And be denounced as dis
unonists, because we protest. No sir. sii
This Government commends itself TO our sup
port only so long as lis just to and secures
our rights. 1t exists only by the consent of the
States, and is based upon the hearts and affcc-
tons ofthe people. Biting, cruel and insulting in
justice that shall open up to view, to be wrought
in the course OF quarter or half century, des-
tiny Of degradation-of poverty aud annihation,
is not the repast to which we were invited. II
,ciH sireep a,oay the affections Of the people and the
assent or the States. This Government will then
fall, and it ought to fall. alaa
Y As fear that this era rapidly approaches, will
proclaim the danger, and no apprehension for the
detection Of friends, or the Remuneration of enc
miles, or of consequences of any character personal
to myself, shall deter me from the task.
five would preserve our Government, we must
prevent injustice. Oppression and destruction
follow injustice. If we would prevent injustice,
we must unite at the South. 1t is easier to resist
incipient oppression, than it is to overthrow an
established tyranny. A s5 aas lsreEE,a
Calm and collected, sir, confident in the securi-
ty Of majority power sits upon this floor the
Northern representation. We of the South can
have little hope. The utmost they will do is to
adopt some measure that as it is commonly ex
pressed, will save "Southern honor" but it must,
however, covertly phrased, circumscribe our
limits, enfeeble poioer, and deprive us of the
means to defend our rights at future day. Re
monstrate, reason, appeal to them as we may,
upon any subject however trivial, which has re-
lation to slave property, unless we get IN answer
OF insult and reproach, we get no other answer
than the same fixed and memorable Northern vote.
Debate for utility in this hall is idle. Tins oat-
tie must be translatedto other parsto our states.
counties. and precincts. Il must there be made
the subject matter Of discussion and action. Inc
South must unite-must drive from power those
who will not unite to defend her cause--make the
La,,lo bo,,est al bon,e and we will be represented