Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-07-20
SPEECH OF THADDEUS STEVENS.

another mastery speech ON the Great Cues
ton now before the country--the question
of Freedom and Slavery. The Speech
long, and our space limited, but we mus
make room for few extracts.
Gentlemen on this floor and 10 the Senat
+ have, repeatedly, during this discussion, as
serted that slavery was o moral, political, ant
personal blessing; that the slave was freI
from care, coDtcnted, happy, ft, and sleek
? Comparisons have been instituted between
slaves and laboring fiecmen, much TO the ad
vantage of the condition Of slavery. In.
stances are cited where the slave, after hay
ing tried freedom, had voluntarily returned
to resume bis yoke. Well, IL this be so, LEI
US give oil chance TO enjoy this blessing.
Let the slaves, who choose, 20 free; and the
free, who choose, become slaves IL these
| gentlemen believe there is a word of truth
in what they preach, the STAKEHOLDER need
be under no apprehension that he will ever
lack bondsmcn. Their slaves would re-
main, and many freemen would seek nd
mission into this happy condition. Let
tnem be active IN propagatug their princi-
pies. We will not complain If they estab-
lish societies in the South for that purpose
abolition societies TO abolish freedom. Nor
will we rob the muils TO search for incendia-
ry publications in iivor of slavery, even il
they contain seductive pictures, and cuts of
those implements of happiness, handouts,
iron yohes, aud -o'-niue-tails.
II these Southern gentlemen and their
Northern sycophants are sincere and cor
rect, then | must admit thnt they have Just
cause of cotnplaint--the only real aggress-
ion which the North ever inflicted on them.
For il cannot he denied that for two centu-
ries the North has mainly contributed to Sc
cure TO particular race the whole adyan-
tages of this blisslul condition of slavery
and, at the same time, have imposed on the
white race the cares, the troubles the lean
anxioties of ieedom. This is a monopoly
inconsistent with republican principles, and
should be corrected. If it will save the
Union, let these gentlemen introduce n
compromise" by which these races may
change conditions; by which the oppressed
master may slide into that happy state
where he can stretch his sleek limbs on the
sunny ground without fear Of dcranging his
toilet; where he will have 10 care for to-
morrow; another will be bound to find him
slmeat and drink, food and raiment, and pro-
vide for the infirmities and helplessness OF
old age. Impose, if you please, upon the
other race, as compensation for their for
mer blessings, all those cares, and duties,
and anxieties
ii may be objected that the white man is
not fitted to enjoy that condition like the
black man. Certainly, at first, ii will be so.
But let not that discourage him. lie may
soon become so.
| will not go into discussion as to the
original equality and identity of the human
race. j am not learned in those things, nor,
unfortunately, in any other. But | appeal
TO the learned men of this House, the gen.
tleman from Alabama, (Mr. IIilliard,) from
Massachusetts, (hlr. NANNY from Vermont,
Mr. hleacham,l TO say if the chronological
researches of the past and present age
whether drawn from the physiology or the
phiology of tribes aud nations of men--do
not all corrobornte the recorded fact that
lie hath made of one blood all nations of
men !" and that their present great variety in
color, form, and intellect, is the effect of
climate, habits, food, and education. Let
not the white man, therefore, despair ON ac-
count of his color Homer informs us that
the moment man becomes slave, he loses
half the man and few short years of APP
premiership will expunge all the rest except
the iaint glimmerings of an immortal soul.
Take your stand, therefore, courageously in
the swamp, spade and mattock in hand and
uncovered, and half naked, toll beneath the
DfOllDE slils uOfllt W your Hut Ut nlHUI,
and sleep on the bare ground and go forth
in the morning unwashed TO your daily la
Dor, and few short years, or generation
or two at most, will give you color that
win pass muster in the most iasiidious and
pious slave market in Christendom. Your
shape, also, will gradually conform 10 your
condition. Your parched and swollen lips
will assume chronic and permanent thick
ness of the most approved style. Your feet,
unconfined by shoes, and accustomed 10
marshy soil, will shoot out behind and side
ways until they will assume the most delight |
fnl symmetry Of slavery Deprived of all
education, cut off from all ambitious aspi- |
rations, your mind would soon lose all fool |
sh and perplexing desires for freedom, and
the whole man would be sunk into most
happy and contented Indifference. And all
these faculties, features, and color would |
descend to your fortunate posterlty; for no
fact is better established than that the ac-
cidental or acquired qualities Of body and
mind are transmssible, and become here
ditary True, your descendants will be
black, stupid, and ugly. But they would
only be so many incontestable evidences of
their natural right and fitness for the enjoy
inent of this state of moral, political, and
personal happiness.
hulous otncIn, huilelo"S clSlEy HleH hIo
found defending this institution, aud prais-
ing its comforts and advantages. The same
spirit which induced them TO defend tyran- |
ny in the time of tho Charleses, and the
Jameses; to maintain the divine right OF
Kings; 10 inculcate the duty OF passive
obedience and dnon-resisiance; and TO anathe-
matize those who resisted the tyranny OF the
Lords annointed prompts them now to
take the side of the oppressor against the
oppressed. They find the same kind of ar
gument in the Scriptures to uphold slavery,
that they then found to justify the despotsm
of pronigate Kings. | shall not answer
their absurd and blasphemous position.-