The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-13
CONGRESSIONAL.
UNION AND FREEDOM, WITHOUT COMPROMISE,


sPEEcH OF mR. CHASE,
OF OHIO
On Mr. GAYS Comp.om Resolutions deluersd in The
Se'sats, March 20, 1850.
The Senate having under consideration the resolutions
Mr. CHASE said RISE Mr. President, with unaffected
ddence, to offer to the Senate my views of the impor.
tan questions presented by the resolutions of the honor
able senator from Kentucky
Coming from the private walks of life, without the
advantage OF previous public position, and without
perence in legislative debate, speak from eminence
which will entle me 10 command attention claim for
what say that consideration only which is due TO sim
ceny OF belief, to drecness OF purpose and to what
ever force OF argument may be able 10 bring to the sup
Il has been said, Mr. President. and said in tone Of
complaint, by southern gentlemen. that this government
Is rapidly becoming mere government OF the majority
becoming great consolidated democracy Now, sir, il
oy this DC meant that this government OF has be-
Gomez or Is 70 become, the government OF the American
people. administered in conformity with the will OF
principle is carried is likely to be carried into prac
hca application in its administration and legislation
see in the fact il fact be, ground of complaint but
rather ground OF congranlation and satisfaction Why
sir, what is this democratic principle Equality of nat
raj rights, guaranteed and secured to all by the laws OF
JUST popular government For one, desire to that
principle applied to every subject OF legislation,
what that subject may beo the great question involved
in the resolutions now before the Senate and to every
other question.
But our responsibilities are limited by our powers and
however clear may be that bound by allegiance
to democratic principle to condemn, to mitigate, to abolish
slavery wherever can constutionaliy do So it is
equally clear that we not bound, and that we have
no right, to interfere with slavery by legislation beyond
the sphere OF our constitutional powers.
We have power to legislate the subject OF sla
very IN the States We have power to prevent its extern
sion and to prohibit its existence within the sphere Of
the exclusive jurisdiction OF the general government
Our duty therefore, abstain from interference with
N in the States 1t is also duty to prohibit its exe
sion into national territories, and its continuance where
we are consutionally responsible for its existence.
pose OF showing that sustained in it by the very
highest authority, propose to review, somewhat at
large, the history OF this government in its relations
slavery,
II was said yesterday BY the honorable senator from
Virginia IMr HuNTERl that the South had no cause Of
complaint against the North in regard to slavery until
the year 1920. the dale OF the Missouri compromise
However that may be- we must 60 further back in te
4 we wish to trace the controversy between slavery and
freedom IN his country TO It's source We must go two
hundred years further back II was in 1920 that Dutch
ship ascended the James rver bringing the first slaves
INTO Virginia In that same year the Mayfower brought
the Pilgrim founders Of New England to Plymouth Rock
planted in New England The contest between the de-
spotc prncplethe element and guaranty OF slavery
and the democratic principe-the element and guaranty
OF liberty-commenced.
But slavery was not established in Virginia without
remonstrance and resistance The coonists complained
vehemeny Of the introduction Of slaves, and resorted
various expedients OF prevention But the desire OF The
mother country 10 benefit the navigator and stimulate
production led the British government disregard every
complaint and 10 negative all colonial leg sla0n against
the slave trade Slaves continued 10 be imported The
traffic extended TO other colonies until length slavery
obtained foohold IN every OF them AT the break
ing out OF the revolution slaves were held in every col
ony, from Massachusetts to Georgia
Well, sir, how slavery regarded at that period
In September, i77i the rst Congress OF the colonies
mel ~ Phadslphla Had the opposition to slavery
for its extinction which had been generally cherished
become extinct decisive answer to this inquiry
may be found in an extract from singuary able expo
rights "a RrIflsh aarad hv
Jefferson, and laid before the convention of Virginia
which assembled in August I774, for the purpose OF APP
pointing delegates 10 the proposed Congress will read
this extract:
"7he abolition Of domestic slavery is THE GREATEST oRrcr
Of desire IN these colonies, where II unhappily intro
~ ~ s Ds % me ea,sn
i'm por,aons from Africa. Yet repeated attempts 10
effect by probioion. and by imposing duties which
might amount 70 prohibon have been hitherto deieaied
by MS MaJess negative thus preerrng the immediate
Of the American saies and the rights human nature
deeply wounded by this Infamous practice."-(Am. Ar
chives, 4,h SER, vol !, p 696)
The Congress, which soon after assembled, shared
these sentiments Among its frs, acts was the framing
OF the celebrated Articles of Association which COM
posed the Non-lmportaon, Non Exploration. and Non
Consumption Agreement will read the second Of those
articles;
That we will neither port nor purchase any save
imported after the hrst day OF December after which
neither be concerned in IL ourselves will we hire
vessels, sell commodities manufactures, those
~
p. 9i4)
There was another article in this agreement, which
will read:
cart H. And do further agree and resolve that we
will have no trade, commerce. dealings, or intercourse
whatever wIh any colony or province IN North America
whioh shall not aecede 70 or which shah hereafter violate
this association. but will hold them unworthy Of the
rights OF freemen, and as inimca TO the liberties Of this
county, Jam Archives, i,h ser, vol l. p. sl5.)
Well, sir, this solemn coyenant-thus pledging every
colony and every citizen TO entire abandonment and
OF the slave tradewas signed by every del
egaie in Congress- southern and northern Public renti
ment on this subject then unanimous, or next TO |
unanimous throughout the country Among these sign
ers find the names OF Rodney, Mexican, and Read OF |
~ Lee OF Virginia; Hooper and Hewes, OF North Caro-
Ina; and Middleton, Ruuedge, and Lynch, OF South |
Carolina all OF whom subsequently subscribed the Dec
aration Of Independence We also find the names Of /
George Washington and Patrick Henry.
Nov, Mr. President, let Il be remembered that these
Articles OF Association entered into a measure for OBJ
aiming redress OF grievances from the people and gov
eminent OF Great Britain, and 10 the faithful observance
Of which, in all their stpuIations, the delegates OF The
colonies pledged themselves and their constituencies,
under the sacred ties OF virtue, honor and love of coun
y"let Il be remembered, say, that these articles con-
stitued the first bond OF American Union. The Union
hus constituted was. 10 be sure, imperfect, partial, in
complete; but still Union, Union OF the Colonies
and OF the People for the great objects set forth in the
the list oil agreed in these Articles the
iscontnuance OF the slave trade, with view to the u
nate extinction of slavery itself say with view 10
he ultimate extinction OF slavery, and have authority
Tor saying ask attention 10 extract from the pro
seedlings OF a town meeting at Danbury, Connecticut,
held on 10th OF December, l775:
with singular pleasure notice the second article