The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-02
For the National Era.
TO THE HON. DANIEL WEBSTER.

| thlnK Sbowed IN my Iast Iettcr that slavery
is very slightly, If at all, affected by climate Of
soil. The history Of the world confirms the rea
soning. II is enough to say that the worst grad
of serfdom now exists in {" the everlasting SHOWS
of Siberian Russia | stated, that 40 far from
| natnre's law having forbid slavery in Mexico and
California that they were, of all countries in tn,
| world most suited to slavery. The "Asiatit
features" Of the country, thought, were this
best for slavery, rs Asia has ever been fuller Of
Despotism than Europe. Nothing struck me
with 30 much force, in passing through Mexico
as the fact that the physical features Of the coun
try warred against middle class of small land.
holders who are the best depositaries Of freedom
The very necessity Of irrigation requires large
capital and single ownership. Hence the ten
dcncy is towards master and slave or landlord and
tenant, almost inevtaby--the most unfavorable
case for free institutions But IL the tllable land
invites to slavery, equally 80 do the barren hills,
whose only wealth Is mineral mines. Surely IL
any business would make slave-labor profitable in
the world, mining is that business And yet, in
the face of these facts you obstinstely insist that
the law Of God forbids slavery there Once
more, your reasoning 10 ~ bad a. your facts !
You "will not re6nact the law of God!D be-
long to that fanstioal class who believe that the
business Of law makers 10 to resnaot the laws Of
God and NATURE, and nothing else. Pray, sir,
II that sort Of laws Is not to be resnacted, what
sort ISL Only those which are at war with God
and Nature1 II there are any gentlemen"
North or South, whose sensibilities are likely to
be wounded by the re6nsctment Of the laws Of
God or Nature, those would take care TO wound
because they would deserve to be wounded, as all
crime deserves punishment understand, then,
that the substance of ell this Is, that you refuse
to reclaim your stolen "thunder!p YOU BACK OUT
PROM The WmsoT PRovIso! You speak Of
some men, who, when they change, themselves,
contend that the world around had changed
These are the shallow subterfuges Of weak minds.
Not so with the heroic genius With him, his
tory has changed It's valleys have changed its
hills are not the same "A plague on all cow
ards, say ~ "Is there no virtue extant2p al
will not give you reason upon computation -
" WILL NOT RE-ESAcr THE LAW or GoDi"
You are quite happy in your vindcation OF
the South from Northern aggression. But look
in vain TO find word Of complaint on the part
Of the North against the South At this, I am
not surprised The North has proven herself
quite tame in her submission TO insults, and to
blows! have already attended TO this; shall
not 20 over the same ground
suppose the large class Of merchants and man
ufacturers Of Massachusetts whom you repre-
sent, applaud your course. The point Of honor
with them Is, to "put money In their purse ~
Nobody expected them to show any spirit Of man
liness--any resistance to wrong-any demand for
rights.
But Massachusetts, has not lost the breed Of
noble bloodsn There Is remnant OF the old Pu-
ritan stock, who do not worship only the belly
men who put principle before gold-men who
rightly comprehend the rights OF man, and have
the iron will and the indestructible energy to
achieve their final vindicstion!
II had been well II you had passed them In 81
lenee. II were well for Daniel Webster, even,
that neither now nor hereafter, the comparison
should be drawn between him and them Such
men ms Garrison, and Mann, and Philips, and
Adams, and host Of others, need no apologize
commiserstion from any one! History will win.
dictate them from the censures even OF Daniel
Websteri Certainly shall not become their
defender. Speculation Is one thing-fact an
other. I have nos undertaken 10 say who has
done the good bat take issue with ycu, about
the existence OF Il. SO far from the condition OF
the slave having been made worse, since 1888,
the period which Mr. Calhoun lays down a. the
beginning Of abolition agitston, the condition Of
the slave In the South has steadily Improved.
They are now better clothed, better led, better
housed, and better treated In all respects. Every
traveller confirms this statement OF one Who lives
among slaves. A. yoa pass along the extreme
Southern Mississippi, you see long rows o. CON-
Portable cottages, which bear unmistaksable evi-
dspoe, from their newnsss, Of having bsen built
sinos the period Of aagitstion ." You ask, II
persors can now talk and write In Virginia, ~ In
1882, upon the subject Of slavery YES. Never
before, In any period Of our history, were the
press and the stump 10 free to slave discussion ms
now. Look, SIR, at the National Era; would 1t
have been tolerated in 1887 No, sir. The