Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1850-06-07
Speech OF THE HON. JAMES L. ORR,

I'NAN'
--.--.a-------------------
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
On the Sldrery Question, delivered in the House
Of Representatives; Nay 8, 1850.
The House being in Committee of the Whole
on the Union, on the Presidents Message trans
mitting the Constitution of California;
Mr. Orr said
MFR. Chairman I pronose, in the brief hour
allotted to me, to examine and present what
conceive to be Northern sentiment upon the
subject eff slavery, and the inevitable results of
that sentiment.
believe, Sin, there is much misunderstanding,
both at the North and the South, us to the ex-
tent and character of that feeling. / know the
misapprehcnsion that exists in that part
of thecountry which / have the honor
to represent and desire to lay before my con
sttuents and the people of the South the re-
suit Of my observation since / have been n
member of this House, so that they may be
prepared to judge of the pre- ,e, means of meet
ing, countera citing and repelling that scnti-
ment
The first evidence of abolition sentiment in
the Northern States to which refer, is to be
found in the numerous abolition societies organ
iscd in every part of that section of the Union,
composed Of large numbers of all classes and
seAes.--Thosc soeiotieo moot OF etatod poriode,
for the avowed purpose of advancing their po-
litical and moral tenets; they appoint their en-
issaries, who traverse the country, and who, by
their ISLANDERS, poison the minds ofthe masses
of the people as to the true character of the in
stitltion of Nlavery-They have established
newspapers and periodicals, which are circula-
ted in great profusion not only in the non-slave
holding States, but are thrown broadcast over
ll,xS S.,,,t ,,.IDt IL, r.
planting the thorn of discomfort i'll the bosoms
of our now happy slaves, and melting them to
the perpetration of the bloody scenes of St
Domingo. These auxilaries of the American
-Anti-slavery Society, not content with gener-
al combinatio against the institutions of the
South, form component part OF the American
and Foreign Anti.slavery Society, in which
they uuite with the zealots of foreign countries
in an unjust crusade against their brethren of
the Soutl,. Nest cf the avowed abolitionists
have, however, the merit of frankness at least.
They seek to emancipate our slaves it is true
but concede that it cannot be done consistently
with the Constitution; they therefore declare
an uncompromising war against the Constitu-
tion and the Union; while others, who intend to
effect the same end have not the candor to
own,it. and hypocritically profess an attach
ment to the Constitution which they are really
seeking 10 destroy.
sentiment in the Northern States is, the pro-
motion of certain gentlemen to seats in the 9th
er wing of this Capitol. allude, sir, first to
the election OF VIM H. Seward. 1t might be
that this faction as the aboltionists have been
denominated, could through their societies and
conventions, create some attention, and excite
the contempt of sensible moderate men, for
their fanaticism; bnt | would inquire, how
comes it to pass that, Insignificant as tits said
to be, it is enabled 70 elect from the great State
ofNew York--the Empire State--a man to
represent it in the Senate the United States
whose greatest distinction has been his unti-
ring advocacy Of the doctrines of abolitionl
Does it not show that the major part of the
people Of that State sympathize deeply with,
their Senator in his nefarious principles! Look
at the recent election by the Legislature of
2 Ohio-a State in numbers second only to New
York--ofS.sP. Chase, to represent that State
in the Senate of the Uaitet, States He has
been amongst the most jealous of his infat-
mated compeers: even VIM. III. Seward was
not more SO, in the advocacy ofradical obol-
ton, and the Legislature of Ohio, knowing his
sentiments, and representing the people of
that State, have hcnored him with one of the
highest official stations on earth. Others, too,
have been elected tothatbody, who owe their
promotion to pledges given their constituents,
that they would oppose the admission ofany
more slave States or slave territory into the
Union, and favor the application ofthe Wilmot
Proyiso that true scion from ar abolition
stock--to tho territories acquired sfom Mexico
One would suppose that when Senator ayow-
ed that. acting asa Senator, he recognized
higher Obligation than Iiis oath to support the
Consultation of the United States-an obliga-
ton whiehrequires him to violate and set aside
the provisions ofthat sacred instrument---the
Legislature Of his State, then III session would
have promptly branded such q declaration with