The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-29


these differences exist there win be involuntary serv
tude Of to man. Your socialist is the true abo
ZIONIST. and he only fully understands his mission Sir
il is well that we should consider where these abolition
doctrines will lead u.s. the property holder of the North
may experience no Inconvenience from them yet; but
his time will or later Il must come There
derstand their mission, and know how 10 estimate the
force OF the machinery BY which the institutions OF prop
erty be shaken and disturbed But Il is said that
the public opinion OF the world u against us and there
fore II is useless TO argue this question OF slavery. What
il public opinion is against usf III be wrong, may we
not take issue with in The public opinion OF the world
is against republican government shall we abandon
therefore our institutions, shall not seek TO evo
utonze it, to some extent we have done by the force
of example and precept But is i true that the opn
ion OF the world is against slavery There is not al
civilized nation upon the gobecertainly oil conse
quence--whch has not tolerated slavery through the
greater period OF its existence. There is not nation OF
antiquity or OF medieval Europe in which slavery did
not exist From the earliest dawn OF human history up
the present period, majority OF mankind have recog
Al the time Of the decision in the Somerset case Lord
Mansfield said thar Lord Hardwicke had declared in i74s
that
..He did not conceive but that might still become
villain in gross, by contrasting himself such open court
DR.. Danning sand, in arguing the Somerset case;
Shiny learned brother, the sergeant other gentlemen
who argued the supposed subject Of freedom, will 70
through an operation my reading assures me wan 20 sum
Glen, Tor that purpose shall claim mem as properly
In the argument of that case it was admitted on all
hands that golfers in Scotland could be sold Tor ire
along with the mines But Great Britain herself recog-
missed African slavery in her colonies at that time ana up
to 1888 And now, sir, slavery is recognised IN me Rus
san the Austrian the Spanish dominions IN Brazil IN the
United Satesn short, in governments embracing ma
jory. Of the civilized world But shall pursue TINS
question OF human rights further have entered into
it thus far for the purpose Of showing that our rights
might be accorded to without giving Just cause OF Of
fence even to the most fastidious conscience have
been endeayorng to prove that these abstract principles,
which have led to attacks upon our social organizations
in the South il faithfully pursued, must cause the over.
maybe The public opinion Of the North or Of the world
whatever it may-our constitutional rights cannot and
ought to be affected by such considerations.
nominated in the bond, and entitled 10 the faith
full performance of all the spuatons in that contract II
obligations higher than the constitution forbid you to full
fl its stpuations, then you are bound in honor to say
consciences forbid us 10 execute what we have
gagged to do we have right. therefore, to hold you to
your engagements let then dissolve the contract, and
give and obtain mutual discharge
But, Mr. President, can this Union be preserved if
the South is TO be denied equal right to participate in
its advantagesl Can i last, if this warfare upon the
property and peace OF the South is TO continue Can il
endure, if the South, account ofits social oganza
ton, 10 be put under the ban OF the empire and
cuded from aparcpation in the right to acquire power
and Importance because of its alleged neriorityl Sir,
il requires but little knowledge OF human nature OF
the operations OF interest upon the human heart to
these questions. II cannot last, unless something
done to settle these differences, and compose the strife
which so unhappily agitates u.s. know il has been
said that dsunion s remedy Tor nothing; that there
be dissolution OF this Union; and he wh0 under
treason. Why, Mr. Presdenl, are not all these mere
figures OF rhetoric! Can any man seriously believe
that there causes for which he himself would
seek to dissolve this Union Is il supposed that men
sensible men--would be deferred from defending
their Indispensable rights and liberties by the fear Of
such epithsts Il the majority will not be deferred from
throwing down the constitutional deences OF the weak,
by the fear OF dissolution OF the Union, why should
the oppressed be restrained by that fear from defending
their rightsl Suppose majority in this government
were TO establish despotsm-an autOcrat al the other
end Of the ayenue-are there not States East West,
North, and South, that, under such circumstances,
would feel it TO be their duty to separate from such
should ss
here without regard to the limitations OF the const-
tuition, plundering and depressing the weaker sec.
not that minority be bound by every consideration
OF honor and sef-prescrvallon to dissolve their con-
nexon with such a nnion--peaceably II they could,
orcbly il they musl Could be treason in such case
to take sides with your native Slater Is there man
here, whose heart, in such event. would not prompt
him to stand BY his mother long before he could take
SIR i virginia should s ever think her duty y to u separate
from this confederacy-and may God forever avert the
necessity for such step-l should not hesitate TO
whom my allegiance is due. Should she give the word
Of command, shall know her voice amidst thousand.
and follow wherever she may lead may be anxious
to the consequences but never doubt but that Il is
my duty to obey. II is to the sovereign body OF her
people that my allegiance due, and is for them to
bind or loose the tie which unltes me TO or separates me
from any government to which am subject at present
owe duties to this government because, by the assent
oil Virginia. is Tor certain purposes the government OF
trgnia but she who bound me can loose me, when she
chooses TO sever the tie
But, Mr. President, this is an unwelcome topic have
been hurried into by the announcement OF doctrines
contrary TO all that learned in youihto all the opin
ions OF my manhood-and contrary 10 the sentiments
which would transmit TO those who shall after
me- that could not forbear seizng this occasion pro-
test against them Mr. President, there classes
OF the friends OF Unon-the who dangers which
threaten it, and give warning OF their existence that they
may be averted; and another who will acknowledge
the existence OF danger capable OF destroying the
Union, and thus ul those who conduct the government
into false, and il may be fatal security. II will be for
postery to determine who the best friends OF the
Union will preserve, II can-the public peace and the
higher than the Union event. prize the indispensable
rights and liberties OF my native State Short OF these
last, would make any sacrifice to save the former
am friend OF peace; my heart is naturally 10
s'ie There Is no one who contempla with sat
siaction than do the spectacle OF peace-peace which
egns IN sunshine almost unbroken by shadow through
out the boundaries OF this mighty confedcracy. But
when see so little appreciation OF the true magnitude OF
the dangers which threaten u.s. cannot but feel anxious
and apprehensve Its not my purpose alarm, but il is
my duty to warn those with whom counselling, that
there is danger; and, although hope for safe exit do
not very well see my way out OF IT,
ms, sir, Is question which take no pleasure nag
aung; would avoid il, II could do so consistently
with duty never speak upon it, il can help III but
AVOID II cannot IL meets wherever 20, in what
ever business undertake, il presents itself ms the SUBJ
lect that VIII be uppermos Il s like the plague OF dark
ness that rested the land OF Egypt Ii pervades the
world without; il fills the home within m wells The
obscures the cheerful light OF the domestic e il dark
faces which have never known before The shadow of