The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-29
WHOLE NO. 1911.

the United States. We wish to bold her TO that
contract Texas is reported az having one HIN
dred and Gehyyjoar millions Of acres Of vacant and
inappropriate land One of her honorable
members Mr.. Kaufman thinks that too high An
estimate. Grant that it is 80 reduce II as you
please there is still large residue beyond the
payment Of her debt
object to the payment Of that debt, on account
| Of its character. IL is her revolutionary debt.
We have not yet paid our own. The payment Of
that will be a standing invitation to revolt in the
provinces of neghbcring Government, urging
them TO cut loose from their present connection,
and fight their way into this Union, and all their
expenses will be paid. What other proof will
be sslA1 tho- 49, - t~-~ t-is- zsiS PIE -Ago-
se-.O..efy ,4,, lvAass( ~, n 90 y, qrSss -
] offer any such premium on rebellion.
SONN 0NNenVlon.
! jects in this bill | have few moments for a
brief alusion to other bjects deemed proper for
general discussion. Additional security is de-
handed for the recapture offugitive saves because
of alleged injustice and hostility at the North.
Allow me 10 give you one cause not yet assigned,
for the existence of that feeling You may be
startled when tell you most decidedly that men
from the South, in attempts 10 take those who ara
not slaves responsible than all others for
| its existence Understand, that | do not charge
this upon Southern men as a body. ! believe
every man here, and ninety nine hundredths of
your constituents, would reprobate and punish il
as severely as any one else Still there are men
who seek to do it and they have aroused that
| feeling Some have doubted whether this is ever
attempted; but docs not every lawyer know that
the existing law grew out Of a case Of this kind
In 1891, the Governor Of Pennsylvania demanded
Of the Governor of Virginia the surrender Of
three men indicted In Pennsylvania for kidnap-
ping a negro, and carrying him TO Virginia. The
demand was refused aud the matter was in
troversy between those States and the General
G6roa Sfsent till Ia Hss' e,ssses. " ne passage Of
the present law. February l2, 1893 tPaeyFs
Rep, vol 16, p. 56l.) Such cases have often 90
CURED An attempt OF th;f 4iGa Las been made
since we have been in session II is reported In
the Baltimore Sun, February9 believe it hap
pened just at the time when an honorable member
was giving us severe lecture for the existence Of
Northern prejudice.
"SuSPIcIoN OF KIDNAPPiNa.-Wm II Lamb
din, captain and owner of the schooner General
Jackson, of Wilmington, Delaware, was brought
before the Mayor, at Norfolk on Wednesday, for
having attempted to sell three free negroes, COM
prising the crew of his vessel He sailed from
Philadelphia last month, on an oyster expedition,
as he alleged, and arrived at Norfolk on Tues
day. On his arrival he represented to the poor
fellows that the popular prejudice there was very
| strong, and the laws very strict against negroes
| from the North, and advised them to remain ON
board. He then came ashore and offered TO sell
them to several persons at great sacrifice Some
of the persons applied TO went on board the
schooner to examine the negroes, who, on dscov-
ering the object of their visit, protested loudly
against the right Of ownership on the part of the
captain, declaring that they were free gentle
men from Philadelphia. These, in connection
with several other suspicious circumstances, led
toVthe arrest Of Captain Lambdin, who was for
nialy committed for further examination
As reasoning man, what do you expect will
be the result Of such attempts Sir, man ap-
pears in Northern city or town, and claims as a
slave one who is known to be free. He may, as
in this case, be foiled in his design; or he may
succeed and carry his victim to slavery. In Ell
ther case the tidings will be borne on the wings
of the wind the lightning will tell of it; and
"the thunder, that deep and dreadful organ-pipe
will bass the trsspass to the worldn That negro
may be worthless creature, the scourge Of the
society which he infests, but he Is freeman
You may snatch Girard, or Astor, or Law
renee, from their boarded wealth, and it will not
create mere excitement than VIII On you have seized
the lowest and meanest hireling In the land. His
very misery
own plead like angels trumpet-tongued against
| The deep damnation OF his taking o6."
The next month, or the next year, another man
appears in pursuit of real fugitive. Who will
| show the distinction between the second and the
hrst2 The people will ask for Northern secu-
rity, trial by jury. The provision of the Con-
stitution and the law stand now as they were
made by our fathers We have never asked for
their repeal. trust the bill (Mason'S) first in
troduced and amended in the Senate will not be
pressed. Such are present indications. II can do
no good it will be only as the cbaff on the
tain, and as rolling thing before a whirlwind"
III additional security Is asked for the execution Of
that clause must insist security for the exc
cution of one other, that the citizens Of each
State shall be entitled to all the privileges and
immunities of the several Statesn art 4, sec.
! q When you haul up old lronsides, and careen
her for caulking you must not apply all the labor
to one side Of her keel
cannot see why there should be such perpet-
| ual threats Of dissolution over that subject nor
over any subject have no power In my COM
mission for any such work. | presume it is so
with others. Congress was In session when the
Constitution and Union were formed, but the
people did not trust Congress with that work
they selected another body Of men for the bust
ness. III the people wish this Government dis
solved, they will elect their own agents TO exc
cute their purpose IL we do not redeem our
character, doubt whether we shall have the ap-
pointment. Those threats Of dissolution have
lost their moral power by ncessant repetition for
thirty years. They have not been reserved for
great occasions, but have been brought into SER
vice in every little sectional skirmish.
] rejoice that the free States have never made
such threats. They have had provocation through
the action Of the Government against their own
wishes. They have had 1t in the incessant and
wasting changes Of the tariff laws. They had II
In the embargo which proved paralysis of their
whole commercial interests. The wrecks of that
disastrous measure are floating over New Eng
land, settling down In pauper houses, on their
way TO Pauper graves. The changes against the
wishes Of the North have sunk well nigh enough
We have perpetually yielded, and still hear the
inoesssnt cry Of dissolution. The time may
come when outworn patience will say, We have
heard that long enough. Here are two broth
ers-the Siamese twins-held together by a bond
Of flesh, No human sagacity can foretell the re-
suit Of separation. It may be prosperity, or 1t
may be instant death. The only security Is in
maintaining the union which Providence has or
dained. In order to this, there must be brotherly
kindness and charity; but the one is perpstusly
threatening to sunder the bond II his own behests
are not obeyed The time may come when self
respect will compel the tainted brother to bay,
have never threatened you I wish to live In
union and harmony. have never given you just
provocation, and have no design to do 1t. IL you
are determined on dissolution, take the responsi-
bility, and bide your time. Take the responsible
lily OF the act and the consequences Of that act,
and do II when you viii, tomorrow or to-day, for
II this is bravsdo, have had enough II threat
ening, have had too much.
have heard with regret the wariike Language
introduced into these debates. With entire
respect to others, must say, that whether coming
from North or South, this seems out Of pldce, and
out Of taste for the free discussions OF free and
peaceful Republic.
lfthe General Government shall make demands
upon my people for any constitutional purpose,
those drafts will be promptly honored But as
Stats, Vermont makes no preparation for war