Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-08-08

than statutes. Nor thing be IN
trodnced into a State and become custom therein,
less citizens by consent admit and respect H.
And such consent and all authority arising from Is may
be Withdrawn any time before the custom shall have
been recognized by the constituted authorities OF that
Enthusiastically ii be in violation of natural law and
the inherent rights of man. Indeed custom which
violates natural Justice, be rightully established
Where such customs have exsted 1t has been by the
exercise of arbitrary power upon Its objects Abstract
w. they might rghtfuy have been resisted by one
before they adopted by the State, and thus made
part of its laws. They tolerated. not because they
might have been rghtiuly resisted, but because
they upheld by public oponion, and no one had the
inclination the power to resist them against that
opinion, and enforce natural law and justice. In the
manners MANY offences against the law exist IN all
States and 90 unpunished-no because the law might
and ought be enforced but because vtiated
public opinion is arrayed against it, and oleraes its NO.
ation and person has the inclination or the power
enforce it. OF this character the institution OF
slavery in those States where it introduced and
listed without being first authorized by positive enact
ment before the authorities thereof indirectly egalized
it by assuming protect and control it.
BY this slavery established, and by this au
hority does it exist. 1t first introduced and
continued by the consent of the citizens Its
existence depended entirely upon that consent or the
want of inclination ability of any OF those citizens to
resist the public will, until became CUSTOM and en-
tered into the of the society of those States
and finally became Indirectly egaized by the authori-
ties thereof assuming protect regulate, and control
titus incorporating it into their municipal laws. Sla
very then is the creature Of the law, and cannot legal
y exist without positive enactment to establish In the
fist instances recognize and adopt it, after has
been introduced by general acquesccnce Without this,
II is only tolerated. in ri0dOn OF natural law, by pub
lie opinion strong be resisted Is it not also evi
dent if that public opinion is strong enough to introduce
slavery into State, territory, or community, not only
without law but in violation of natural law that
would also he strong enough do in violation of pos
tive enactments and that such enactments would he
like many others in this country dead letter upon the
statute-booksl
Then one of these positions is true in reference these
territories either that the Constitution takes slavery
there, and if it is OF our power, 10y legislation
to prohibit itor the Mexican laws are in force there
whereby now absolutely excludedor else there Is
municipal law establish and maintain slavery there,
leaving in force the laws of nature which recognize the
inherent right OF all men to liberty Whichever position is
true the people ask change it indicates their wish
to have it continued and shall be satisfied carry
that wish. am fully convinced that the Mexican laws
are in force. The gentleman from North Carolina
thinks they are notthat the Constitution guarantees
his right take thither his slaves. He says she don't
care fig for the Mexican laws" she don't fear
them" Very well, then, let him show his faith by his
works; let him meet me upon this common ground
Give governments to these territories without the prov
So taking care not to repeal thereby either expressly
by implication any laws the subject of slavery
which may be in existence therein, and submit this
whole controversy the arbitrament OF that tribunal
provided for by the Constitutionthe Supreme Court
OF the United States The trainers oil tins instrument
were men conyersant with human nature, oil deep
thought, and great prudence. They brought to their
slant exerton in the struggle for liberty. They knew
the value of that liberty for they had paid Its price in
their suierngs and their blood. Their bosoms burned
with the patriotic desire transmit to the latest pos
tery and they earnestly sought eradicate from this
Constitution by which they hoped to accomplish that
noble object, all seeds of its dissolution and decay In
deed, often have studied its ample but guarded and
cautious provisions have felt that they must have been
mbued with supcrhuman wisdom and forecast. They
seem to have ioreseen that who should come after
them would dispute about the proper construction oil Its
powerSabout rights and duties under 1T and they
provided tribunal high above the storms of political
passion and STRIFE whose arbitrament they obligated
us to submit these disputes and to abide its decision
Are you OF the South willing to abide by the obligation!
Are you willing submit the decision OF that ribu-
nal! If you not, let hear no more boastng OF
your attachment to the Constitution, and OF your will
ngnes adhere its provisions, for this Is OF its
requirements. l. the Court shall decide that the Con-
stlnOn yOur right take thther your slaves
take them for indeed legislation prevent you
but if it decide that the Mexican laws continued in
force and prohibit you from doing, that you cannot
do so, without positive law to authorize you then ac-
quiesce and allow the of these territories
to he administered according to the wishes OF the gov
erned and DO not seek, by violation oil that great prn-
cple of republican liberty force upon them Instl-
tuition they abhor. RccOlect that one OF the OPP
pressions which impeed fathers to sever from the
British government was, that it had forced tins nstitu
ton upon them against their urgent remonstrances. Re-
collect that this is the that the southern people
have given for its existence among them, and to
show that they responsible for 1t. Yet some oil
them seek like force IL upon lee-
bic colonies without consulting their wishes England
did 1t for her interest regardless oil that oil her col
onies; they are following in her footsteps.
Sir, wish to again. for moment to this agi-
taton upon the subject of slavery at the North, winch
occasions much complaint at the South. Why should
the people of the South complain of this, they be-
eve in the truth Of that great political maxim put forth
by the immortal Jefferson that error may he tolerated
so long truth is left free to combat It'll they also
believe that this institution, of them assert
civil, moral, and religious blessing blessing alike to
the master ant the save2 This will, If true, only be
the apparent the it is agitated and discussed
Truth is like the diamond the it is polished the
brighter il will glow Besides, sir, cannot suppress
this any other agitation if would. As well
might we attempt TO dam up the mighty Mississippi
For moment might check its onward torrent, but
only for moment until it should gather sufficient head
to break away feeble barrier when it would pour It's
accumulated flood with redoubled fury upon the plains
below These attempts arbitrarily check this agita
on have given il its present strength and violence,
the continued efforts TO do so will but augment thai
strength. Sir, would not stop it If we could, be
cause the South have right complain of it so Ions
it spends itself in discussion among ourselves, (else
where responsible for it'd and bccause, i
should curta the liberty of speech and of the press
upon this subject should soon be called upon TO place
bulwark of liberties would be swept away and not
yestge left Its only safety consists in maintaining
unimpaired and inyioate.
n Sir, in conclusion, let say have listened witt
pain to the constanyreiteraed threat to dissolve thl
Union, unless these questions shall be settled to SUI
the representatives of great, intelligent, and patrioti
people should pursue towards each other Ii only
TO rritate and to wound it cannot bring together.
/ love this Union for ITSELF but OF secqr
ing and preserving what hold dearer than aught els
" on cartlthe liberties OF the American people; an
when shall fail TO these, not only for the peopl
e of my section but of oil sections my affection for it Wi
5 cease If we of the North arc not to be allowed