The Madisonian. (Canton, Miss.) 1850-1855, 1850-11-28

their being placed u bn-
yeyed and sold in lby
in reality preve Of
this description the
District as NJ gsclar
ing slaves Rmstan-
ces, the acF Fccedent
FIR the ali "a tho Dis>
trict.
The limits 3 not permit me
10 detail 9th Which have justly
caused alarb 5e,nent 10 the South;
for, however your WI people may,
from nm anx 1allay excitement, seek
70 excuse the measures. there are few
whose breasts are MOI filed with 4 dread
ofthe dangers which from these quarters
lower ia The horizen OF the future. In my
opinion il would be weak, timid and disas-
trous policy TO shut our eyes 10 these dan
gers-it is the part of wisdom TO meet them.
Let US then survey cur position and thato
our opponents.
There is nothing " encourage the hope
that there will be any respite from agrees
ion. Never has hostility TO slavery been
more distinctly marked or more openly as
serted. Shades Of difference in opinion
may distinguish northern statesmen, but all
unite In stern opposition to the extension Of
slavery, and in declarations Of their fixed
determination TO confine it TO It's present
limits, and forever 10 close the public terri
tory against US.
The North has but just triu Pied in
every claim she has asserted, and yet at
this moment Of our humiliation, their peo-
pie, less patient than we, are in a blaze OF
excitement at every attempt 10 execute the
bill 10 secure the return Of fugitive slaves.
This plain compliance with one Of the
~clearest iniunclions ofthe Constitution is
not only "disregarded, but conventions Of
both political parties, formal meetings Of
the people, and deliberate addresses Of dis
iinguished men, openly take ground, that
being against the public senaafent OF the
people Of the North, il should not be execu-
ted and persons Of all classes, with a pill
ancy Of conscience which characterizes
abolition philosophy, adapt their moral
code and their constitutional duties, to
their preiUdices and their interests.
Such then, is the triumphant attitude Of
anti. slayery. II 10Y controls the entire
Government. No questions arise in which
ii does not inteFmingle.-And whenever
il exhibits itself, it controls all other sub
iects. Every great interest in this Gov.
eminent IS now directed and managed by
ii. Ii has broken and sundered the strong
ties which bound together the religious
denominations North and South. 1t has
even now severed the bonds which for
sixty years have united parties, and in the
place, il has sown the seeds Of hostility
and hatred. II now stands the stern, I'M
Welding despot, consigning 10 the bed OF
Procrustes every subject whose fitness is
questioned.
What is to be the fate Of the institution
OF domestic slavery under such Govern
ment2 this great interest, with which the
civilization aud refinement ofman on earth
Is connected-upon which SO much Of the
trade and commerce between Europe and
America depends-which employs the La
Dor Of millions and distributes the comforts
Of civilization to so many families-this
great social interest upon which aIe found
ed the prosperity, the happiness, and the
very existence Of the people Of fourteen
States Of this URion2 What rs TO be the
fate of this Institutions If lett TO the ten
act mercies D! the Federal Government,
lis fate IS doomed. With the prejudices
OF The age against it, it requires tor its kind
development a fostering Gov ernment over
ii. II could scarcely subsist without such
proiections How then can il exist, much
less flourish and prosper, under a Govern
ment hostile to ito A Government organ
lied upon principles Of hostility and oppo-
sitiun to the institution IL II proper? Is
il philosophical Is Il not absurd, 10 entrust
che prosperity, the protection, and even the
existence Of a great and delicate interest
to a political power having its origin in and
drawing lis yigor from the very element Of
hostility 10 this INTEREST,"
10 state the proposition clearly The
Government Of the United States is now
hostile 10 slavery. It will hereafter be Sc
lected with reference to its hostility TO this
interest, and lis activity in The use Of the
means Of doing il injury. Ifthis great and
vital interest then, remains subject to the
government and control Of It's enemy, ii
must perish! Sooner Or later, | repeat, il
must perish. 10 save il, TO preserve it
from destruction, or at least from d sickly,
lingering, distempered and precarious ex-
isteHce, it must be protected by guarantees
more available than the present Constilu-
ZION furnishes, or il must be wrested from
the control Of a power which is hostile to
h and which seeks its destruction. II
must, like every ofher great interest, be
placed III charge Of its friends.
Id speaking Of the destruction OF slavery
ID the Southern States, | would not be un-
derstood as supposing that summary abo-
lilion could be effected even by all the pow
er OF the non .slaveholding States, unless
they could succeed in exterminaiing the
white race ii tie South; but refer 10 the
disastrous and fatal consequences, that
would beiall an institution, which when
properly regulated and protected by a fos-
.lering Government IS the most benifceDt
and advantageous system Of labor that has
ever existed, from interfeTences, agilations,
disturbances, and Injurious regulations,
carrying id their train poverty, desolation
and eventual ruin ID the Southern States.