The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-07-04

most ardent hopes Of their friends, In enightenpg
and correcting public sentiment on this subject
They should not only be appreciated as friends of
the lsndless poor in our own country, but rs bene
r. ctors Of oil mankind. A great number Of the
States have, as have already remarked, embraced
these humane principles, and passed laws which
secure to their citizens in all vcissitudes, home
TO shelter them, and 10 protect them from the
grasp Of the merciless creditor
But, sir, these are but drops before more plen-
,ifal shower, when compared with the vast and
indescribsbe blessings that are yet to flow from
more extended application Of these principles We
have but to look at these facts to get some idea of
the rich legacy God has in store for his landless
poor both Of this and the other side of the Allan
tic, viz: the fifteen hundred millions of acres Of
public lands lying naas between this and the
Pacific ocean. | fud no little consolation in the
hope that these expansive acres will yet present
an outlet, as well an aid to the disenthrslmept
Of the millions Of Lacklanders whose starving
groans come TO us upon every bretze as 1t WATTS
its way across the Atlantic. To all such ] would
say, Come, and welcome
Mr. Chairman, fear this sentiment will not
meet response from some gentlemen who occupy
seats on this foor-few in number, thank Heaven,
they are--who would base narrow distinctions on
the mere accident Of birthplace. But know no
such feeling hail every man OF every CLINE as
@y hsOther, and equally eptitled to share Gods
ounaoon oos<ass; spread vutjD common SOIL But
sir, notwithstanding these tneasNtes x seserm
fast winning the hearts Of the people, we are told
by some of our Southern friends, that they are
Utopian and chimercal, tending to anarchy and
irreligion, closely allied in principle with that
odious proviso, which we are told, if applied to
the Territories, will necessarily obligs the slave
States to withdraw from the Union, and, for the
protection Of their slave property, to establish
Southern Confederacy. Sir, let me, in passing
ask our friends, who entertain these views, what
advantage would result from such a step, even
were il mutually agreed upon You are sll free
traders, and therefore you would certainly not
object, in such an event. to reciprocity of trade
with the States left behind, and also to postal ar
rangements. We would be agreed in preventing
the establishment of any monarchical governments
on this continent. Well, then, what are you to
gain2 Would not the new relation be just about
the same that exists now2 You are already indie
pendent States, excepting jurisdiction over speci
fed subjects, which have just named, including,
in addition, few incidental powers. The only
effect Of this course, in my opinion, would be to
hasten forced, instead Of voluntary emancipation,
in the slave States themselves | am for this and
other important -es.e-z opposed to a separation
Of these States
Mr. Chai-~-~~ 10 is - .-us ,e'.-- Of nations
the world, approving what is right and in re-
spectful manner condemning what is wrong not
cut off part Of the human family from diplomatic
and social relations, as the Senates Austrian res
olutions representations that should ever be
ranked among the most efficient means for the
civilization of the world We ought not to be
destructive, but restorative in our movements
Our object should be to improve each other II
the free States are deluded, and under the dark
ness of superstition, the South should seek to en-
tighten them. So of the slave States If they err,
the North should seek to do them like favor.
Why not then, remain together, and let "agta-
ton 20 on? Let me, then, exhort our more
timid brethren throughout the Union not to be
alarmed, even should the Southern Convention
seek to dissolve the Union. had much rather
see such step as that taken than stagnaton
head wind Is ever better than calm. The ply
stefan, whose medicines produce no effect, is a
quack. Besides, should such rash measure as
dissolution be resolved upon, the effect would be
the call Of another convention-one more prudent
and wise, and which would suggest more effective
means for the protection of the slave States. And
here would take occasion, Mr.. Chairman, to say
| to those who are endeavoring to throw odium and
ridicule upon the Nashville Convention, You are
doing great injustice Sir, while see the tenden-
cy Of the age in the diffusion Of anti-slavery prin-
ciples everywhere, my great surprise is, that the
slave States are not more alarmed Look at the
rapid spread of these principles since the Mexican
war. And here let me remind our Southern friends
of what the far-seeing Calhoun thought fthis war;
when he said that Mexico was to US forbidden
fruit and that "the penalty Of eating it would
be to subject institutions to political DEATH
Mr.. Calhoun, in my opinion, never expressed
more truth in SO few words. The present contro-
versy proves il. Mr.. Jefferson, too, believe saw
this distinctly with his prophetic eye, when he
used the following familiar language
"Can the liberties Of nation be thought when
have removed their only firm basis p conviction the
minds Of the people that these liberties the gin Of God
that they not TO be violated but with hs wrath Indeed
trembe for country when reflect that God just that
his justice sleep forever that the Almighty
attribute that take sides with in such contest"
Sir, let me say, in all kindness to our Southern
friends, if the view taken by Mr.. jefferson and
Mr.. Calhoun be correct, aud they refuse to adopt
wise measures to arrest the growing evils of sla-
very, there is point Of time, which they or their
children must reach, that will be truly appalling
Their anxiety then will not be concerning their
sixteen hundred millions Of dollars of property in
Gods image but it will be for their miues and
children Then will be realized the graphic
picture of the distinguished Senator from Ken
lucky, Mr. CLAY, which is not too highly drawn
He says:
Behold, Mr. President that dwelling honss now wrapt
in flames Lten, sir to the rafters and beams which fall
In succession amid the crash and the flames ascending
higher, and higher as they tumble down Behold those
women ami children, who are flying from the calamtous
and with their shreks and lamentations imporing
the aid Of high Heaven Whose wives and children are
they3 In the SCALE then we behold senti.
ment sentiment sentiment alone In the other property
the cal fabric life, and all that makes life desirable and
happy"
These objects in the mind of the Senator, seem
to be certain results, unless he shall succeed in
arresting the tendency Of the spirit of the age to
nrrun rhnA
potent for this, feel sure. hope, therefore, to
use the figure Of the Kentucky Senator, that our
friends who are so deeply interested in this mat
ter, will put "sentiment," glorious sentiment, in
both sides Of the scae-such sentiment as is ex-
pressed in the New Orleans letter, to which
have adverted.
Mr.. Chairman, claim no jurisdiction for the
General Government over this subject in the
States. have only spoken Of your internal
affairs, because the debate invited me there.
do not think any Of the Northern States would
alter the Constitution to-day, If they had the
power To give the Federal Government juris-
diction over the municipal regulations Of the
States, would be to throw upon it the response
bility, without comforting the power. The pre-
negatives Of confederation like ours, would be
Intellectual in internal regulations over a country
so large in extent The vast influence which this
Government sh0u'd exert, both at home and
abroad, is only to be effected by strict admins
traou of justice to the full extent of it's delgated
powers, the pro-slavery creed of the gentle
man from Pennsylvania, Mr. Ross to the con-
trary Notwithstanding. In my opinion, the parti-
ton line Of jurisdiction between the Federal and
State Governments was most judiciously drawn
But, sir, pass to q subject to which have al
ready incidentally alluded mean the toe well
concerted plan, put in operation by an extensive
correspondence throughout the States, to concoct
some compromise measure-some magic i ad.
justment"-that shall finally extinguish the last
hope Of personal liberty to the poor slave, while,
If carried out in principle, It would crush the