The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-13

have turned out as was not expected, and that ex-
pectation has not been realized and therefore
some degree OF disappointment and surprise has
resulted, In other words, it is obvious that the
question which has so long harassed the country,
and at some times very seriously alarmed the
minds of wise and good men, has come upon for
fresh discussion, the question Of slavery in these
United States.
Now, sir, propose, perhaps at the expense of
some detail and consequent detention Of the Senate
to review historically this question of slavery,
ance, and partly, perhaps mostly, in consequence
OF the manner in which 1t has been discussed in
and the other portion of the country, has been
source Of SO much alienation and unkind feeling be-
tween the different portions of the Union.
We all know, sir, that slavery has existed in the
world from time immemorial. There was slavery,
in the earliest periods of history, in the Oriental
nations. There was slavery among the Jews; the
junction against it. There was slavery among the
Greeks; and the ingenious philosophy Of the Greeks
found, or sought to find, justification for it exact
ly upon the grounds which have been assumed for
such justification in this country; that is natural
and original difference among the races Of man
kind, and the inferiority of the black or colored
race, TO the white. The Greeks justified their sys
tenn of slavery upon that ground precisely. They
held the African, and in some parts the Asiatic,
tribes to be inferior to the white race; but they did
not show, i think, by any close process of logic,
that, if this were true the intelligent and the
stronger had therefore right to subjugate the
weaker.
The more manly philosophy and Jurisprudence
of the Romans placed the justification of slavery on
entirely different grounds.
The Roman jurists, from the first and down to
the fall OF the empire, admitted that slavery was
against the natural law, by which, as they main
tanned, all men, of whatsoever cline, color, or ca
pacty, equal; but they justified slavery first,
upon the ground and authority of the law Of ma
ons, arguing, and arguing truly, that at that day
the conventional law Of nations admitted that cap
tves in war; whose lives, according to the notions
of the times, were at the absolute disposal of the
captors, might, in exchange for exemption from
death, be made slaves for life, and that such servi
ude might descend to their posterity. The jurists
of Rome also maintained that by the civil law there
might be servitude or slavery, personal and here
ditary; hrst by the voluntary act of an individual
who might sell himself into slavery second, by his
being received into state of slavery by his credi-
tors in satisfaction of debit and thirdly, by being
placed in state of serviude or slavery for crime
At the introduction of Christianity, the Roman
world was full of slaves, and suppose there is to
be found no injunction against that relation be-
tween man and man, in the teachings of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ, Of any of his Apostles The OBJ
ject of the instruction impaired to mankind by the
rify the soul, and improve the lives of individual
men. That object went directly to the first foun-
tain Of all political and all social relations of the hu-
man race, as well as of all true religious feeling,
the individual heart and mind of man.
Now, sir, upon the general nature, and character
and influence of slavery, there exists wide differ
ence between the Northern portion of this country
and the Southern. 1t is said on the side that,
II not the subject Of any injunction direct prohi
bition in the New Testament, slavery is wrong;
that it is founded merely in the right of the strong
est and that 1t is an oppression, like unjust wars,
like all those conflicts by which mighty nation
subjects weaker nation to its will and that slave
ry, in its nature whatever may be said of il in the
notifications which have taken place. is not in fact
according TO the meek spirit Of the Gospel. 1t is
not kindly affectioned; il does not seek anothers
md mn ita
free" These are sentiments that are cherished
and recently with greatly augmented force, among
the people of the Northern States II has taken
hold of the religious sentiment of that part of the
country as il has more less taken hold of the re-
gious feelings OF a considerable portion Of man
kind. The South, upon the other side, having been
accustomed TO this relation between the two races
all their lives, from their BIRTH having been taught
in general, to treat the subjects of this bondage
with care and kindness, and believe, in general,
feeling for them great care and kindness have not
taken this view of the subject which | have men
toned. There thousands Of religious men,
with consciences tender any of their brethren
at the North, who do not the unlawfulness Of
slavery; and there are more thousands perhaps
that, whatsoever they may think of it in its origin
and as matter depending upon natural right yet
take things as they are, and, finding slavery TO be
an established relation Of the society in which they
live, can sec way in which, let their opinions on
the abstract question be what they may il is in the
power Of the present generation to relieve them
selves from this relation. And, in this respect,
candor obhges me to say, that believe they are
just as conscientious, many Of them, and the re-
ligious people all of them they in the North
in holding different opinions
Why, sir, the honorable Senator from South Car
olna, the other day, alluded 10 the separation Of
that great religious community, the Methodist
Episcopal Church. That separation was brought
about by differences Of opinion upon this particu-
lar subject of slavery felt great concern as that
dispute went on, about the result, and was in
hopes that the difference Of opinion might be ad-
justed, because ! looked upon that religious de-
nomination as one of the great props of religion
and morals, throughout the whole country, from
Maine 10 Georgia. The result was against my
wishes and against my hopes. i have read all
their proceedings, and all their arguments, but
have yet been able TO come 10 the conclusion
that there was any real ground for that separations
in other words, that no good could be produced by
that separation. i must say think there was
some want Of candor and charity. Sir, when
question Of this kind takes hold Of the religious
sentiments of mankind, and comes to be discussed
in religious assemblies OF the clergy and laity,
there is always to be expected, or always TO be
feared, great degree OF excitement II is in the
nature OF man, manifested by his whole history
that religious disputes are apt 10 become warm, us
mems strength Of conviction s proportionatc 10
their views Of the magnitude Of the questions. In
all such disputes there will sometimes men be
found with whom every thing is absolute, abso-
lutcly wrong, absolutely right. They see the
right clearly; they think others ought 30 TO see
IL, and they are disposed TO establish a broad
hnc oil distinction between what IL right and
what is wrong. And they are not seldom will
ing 70 establish that line upon their own convic-
tons of truth, and justice; and arc willing TO mark
and guard that line, by placing along IL series of
dogmas, as lines Of boundary marked by posts
and stones. There men who with clear per-
ccptions, as they think, of their own duty do not
see how too hot pursuit Of one duty may involve
them in the violation OF others, or how too warm an
enhancement Of one truth may lead TO n disregard
Of other truths equally important. As heard it
stated strongly, not many days ago, these persons
arc disposed 10 mount upon some particular duty
az upon war horse, and TO drive furiously, and
upon, and over all other duties that may stand in
the way. There who, in times Of that
Sort andn disputes Of that Sort are OF opinion that
human duties may be ascertained with the exact
ness Of mathematics. They deal with morals
with mathematics, and they think what is right
may be distinguished from what is wrong with the
precision of an algebrac equation. They have,
therefore, none too much charity towards others
who differ from them. They are apt, too, 10 think
that nothing is good but what Is perfect, opd
that there no compromises or notifications
20 be made in submission 10 difference of opin-
ion, or in Difference 10 other mems judgment.
II their perspcacous vision enables them TO
detect spot on the face of the sun, they think
that good reason why the sun should be struck
down from heaven They prefer the chance of