The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-02

CURED Of us 10 stife the convictions OF our con-
sciences, aud leave the poor negro 10 perish OF
str;pes and sores Mt the rich mans gate. For our
instruction is the parable recorded-let us not
initiate Dives. or dare his fate. | consider sla-
very crime in the sight of God; and believing
that all shall stand before His bar, to be judged
for the deeds done in the body no earthly consid-
Grafton will prevent nay opposing Its extension
But, gentlemen say the Union WIZ be dissolved
il we do not give up this free territory 10 slavery
What threat And what does 1t implyf ina,
George Washington and the men VINO sunered
and died to purchase liberty, as was supposed,
were merely endeavoring to throw off the British
woke that thew might in the sacred name Of lib
erty. copsien millions upon millions of their fell
low beings to hopeless bondage whips, chains,
and death. To infidels and atheists, make no
appeal; but to all those who pray that the VIII OF
God NAV be done on earth as il is done in heaven,
| do and kindly ask them if they believe that
slavery exists in heaven. How can you love God
whom YOU have not seen, and hate your brother
whom YOU have seen, and prove it by voting for
the extension of system which robs the mother
Of her children, and sewers all the hottest and
dearest Ties of our nature How Christian-like
the sentiment of the honorable gentleman from
North Carolina, Mr. SrANLY,l that he would
not represent n constituency who raised human
beings to SELL as the beasts OF the field are sold "
1t was noble thought, and uobly uttered nobler
far for the moral courage he manifested in giving
it utterance in this Hall And yet, sir. the ineyi-
table result of the extension of slavery is to pro-
vide market for slaves, and keep mp system
at which humanity shudders. Public meetings
and the press in the free States to great ext MT
are urging upon US to aid in perpetuating this
monstrous injustice, for fear the Union will be
dissolved. Am | to do this wrong because my
neghbor threatens injury to my property if re-
fusel IL do, sir, am a coward, unworthy to
represent free nen. We are told, also, that, un-
less we yield to this unrighteous claim, we shall
lose caste with our party Sir, il believed there
was a party in Connecticut which was thus un-
Just and craven, to which | belonged, | should
loathe the connection. But, sir, there is not
do not believe ten men can be found in Connec-
teut who will say they are in favor of the extern
sion Of slavery, and not pery many who will ex.
pect me to be frightened by idle threats of dis.
union. Connecticut furnished her full quota Of
the blood and treasure which purchased the lib.
erty of this country, and the sons of her early
patriots will not disgrace their sires by taking
counsel Of their fears, and yielding their judg-
ment to menaces. The men of Comecticut were
the first to engage in the unequal struggle OF
Bunker Hill, and, sir, they were the last to leave
the army. Their bones are to be found beneath
the sod Of every battlefield of the Revolution,
and their blood moistened every spot where hos
tile armies met; and, sir, some Of her distin-
guished sons<Rsye recently given sbRpdsnt eyi-
dence on the well-fought fields of Mexico, that
the courage and patriotism Of their fathers still
live in their descendants But, sir, Connecticut
hates slapery--the name and the thing; and al
though she will stand by the Constitution and
trench upon no rights secured to any section OF
this Union by that INSTRUMENT, yet will she not
surrender hers, and see humanity trampled in the
dust, through base fear Of threats made here or
elsewhere She speaks in this Hall by her repre-
sentatives and, although her members may differ
politically, we do not differ upon this question,
neither do we differ from our constituents. Could
ha. made to believe the reverse, | would resign
M Eat instantly, and leave this Hall; for, sir |
would not change my opinions and action on this
question. OF human liberty for any office in the
power Of man to bestow
A word more, sir, upon this subject of disunon
| have no fear Of 1t. Were individuals in the
slave States to attempt such proceeding, we
should have nothing to do but to let the people of
those States settle it among themselves, and
should entertain no fears Of the result The
friends Of Union would speedily triumph over its
enemies, and send men to this Hall who would
never again talk of disunion as remedyaor fan
cied evils.
The only effect of the proposed Convention al
Nashville, il ibid, will be to place the Democratic
party--thst noble party which has done so much
for the glory, honor, and interest Of this coun-
try-in the same condition which similar Con.
vention held in Hartford in 1918, placed the
Federal party of that day. 1t will prove q second
edition-that ia all! No harm will or can come
of it. Let not Northern men be alarmed or in.
iuenced in their action here by that humbug.
We nave IN this han, Sir, the portraits Of
Washington and Lafayette, apparently looking
down apon us. May we not fancy the latter
pointing to his beloved France, and with exulta
ton saying No slaves foot presses her soil the
first act of that Republic was to strike the shackel
from the limbs Of the bondman!" while the grea
and good Washington is witnessing our delibera
tions, and seeing the Union for which he suffered
and sacrificed so much threatened by his own be
loved Virginia, unless she can be permitted t.
convert territory (which even the miserable
semi bar barous Mexicans made free) into mar
ket for slave-breeders. But will not dwell upor
this unpleasant subject
have heard much, very much, said abou,
Northern aggression but have listened to hear
the specifications and looked to see the proofs in
vain Has the North refused to allow you to ex
tend your limits by the admission of nine new
slave Satisfactorily allowing you to increase
your slaves from few hundred thousands at the
adoption of the Constitution, to three million,
now Have we aggressed upon your rights by
allowing you the control of this Government fol-
half century, aud the quiet possession Of al
most all the offices of profit or honor in its gift
Have we aggressed by doing your bidding al
this timer Or have we of the free States ever
denied you anything you asked
You say the slaves are the happiest three
30 LII u Al r
why do they leave you at every opportunity, and
seek refuge among strangers; and when they
find they have lost by their exchange of condi.
ton, why do they not return If they are
wretched in bondage, why, as Christians dc you
not give them their liberty?
deny that the free States have not done all
that the Constitution and the decision of the Su.
preme Court require them to do And is it Just
or reasonable in you to charge us with viola
ton of the Constitution because we do not 20 be-
vond its requirements and those of the Supreme
Court and legislate in the different States Il
give you additional facilities above what are
written in the bond The unfeeling Jew was
confined to his bond that bond, allowing only
one pound Of 1esh was construed in favor Of hu
manity and shall not that be so construed which
gives the mtue body The Jew lost his money
by being too selfish and exacting; and, permit
me to say, sir that, in my opinion, the South ar,
in great danger from the same cause.
While you are bringing this charge agains
the free States, do not the statute laws of severa
of your own violate the privileges secured to al
citizens Of those States, of whatever color, BY
that same Constitution Do they not authoriz
the Imprisonment of citizens of other States for
longer or shorter period, merely because they ar
Africans, or of African DESCENT Are not thes
laws frequently put in forcel And is not all lie
gal redress denied the citizen whose rights ar
thus trampled upon, and feelings outraged
Would it not be we'll for you, gentlemen, befor
spending breath in preaching morals to us, +
correct your own errors and repeal your owl
laws made in open, direct, and fragrant violation
of the Constitution and the rights Of man
Would It not help your vision If you should re
move the beam from your own eyes, before strug
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