The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-02
THE NATIONAL ERA.
SPEECH OF HON. CHaTyCEY p. CLEVELAND,
Houss OF RrrR EsENrArnEs.
FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1850.

cor; and being, by rule of this House--of
Thich confess myself unable to comprehend the
ropriety-restricted to single hour desire ut
he outset to remark, that cannot consent TO be
deprived Of moment Of that time, as | have
necessarily much TO say upon a subject which has
md is still agitating the public mind.
Why, sir, is it that we have already been here
more than four months, at an expense to the ma
ion Of about one million of dollars, without 80
much, even as commencing the necessary legislation
or which we were sentl Why is ii that so much
If time aud treasure has been rraaed? These
are questions asked by the thinking and right
minded men of this country, from the Atlantic TO
the Pacific.
Will 1t be said, sir, that it is because one sec
ton Is insisting upon the extension of the Ordi-
nance of 1857 to our newly-acquired territory,
where the institution of slavery does not exist or
that they are attempting TO ingraft nep principle
upon the Constitution, and that q determined re-
sistance on the part of the other to this act forms
good ground of justification for our long delay ?
think not That principle is older than the
Constitution itself, ami has been quietly acqui-
esced in down to the administration Of the late
President Polk and by him approved What is
it, then? Simply struggle for sectional political
power, and that power based upon human chattel-
slavery Strange, this, TO the friends of human
freedom throughout the world; yet it is no more
strange than true. Yes, sir, in the middle Of the
nineteenth century in the United States Of Amer
ica-the land of Washington, Warren, Jefferson,
and their comprehensive land that was so freely
watered by the blood of the soldiers of the revou
tion-in this land, where, if upon any portion of
our moving ball, the oppressed and spirit-brOken
of earth,s sons should find secure and happy
refuge, the great question Of the day is, Shall
slavery or freedom be the controlling element of
our Government And this question is mooted
not only in Congress, but out Of it, absorbing all
others, regardless of all consequences, and refus-
ing even to be controlled by that potent power,
party organization.
For full fifty years the Shareholders influence
has been the controlling power in this professedy
free Government But yet Notwithstanding all
the advantages derived from this long and almost
undisputed sway, such are its blighting effects
such the curse which it entails upon the s@A
where il exists-such the parayElng influence
axerted Rpon the enersies Of those who uphold or
nte Sylf, tnat II h19f,srii 6isianced in the raeo
for wealth and power, where power Is TO depend
upon numbers) and, In its dying struggles to re-
tain the truncheOn of command it has 80 long
welded il boldly comes forward now and demands
that the free territory of this Republic shall be
given up for the avowed purpose of perpetuating
human bondage and claims that the Constitution
shall be amended for the sole purpose Of allowing
this institution, which fears not God nor regards
the rights Of man, to control, through all coming
time, Government which extends from ocean to
ocean, and may yet, as believe, or hope, find no
limit on this continent between the poles but the
ice-reared barriers which Natures God has set
a Government originally established for the pur-
pose Of protecting man in his od-given rights Of
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness The
question now is shall or shall not this be? The
issue is made UPS now to be tried, and we are
the jurors Allow me TO ask, sir, whether any of
US here realize our position, and the consequences
Of our several yeTdcts, which we are to render by
our acts7 Are we aware that, II the friends OF
human liberty now falter, they surrender TO the
blasting curse of slavery millions of of free
soil-place beyond the hope of escape or redemp-
ton millions of human beings, whose hearts can
beat for freedom, and whose flesh feel the tor
lures of the tyranps lash, as we'll as ours2 Shall
we give our verdict against freedom? Humanity
answers, No! Our countrymen, by whose author
ity we are here answer, No! Our consciences
whisper to the minds ear, Mol And, ii we do
this damning deed, what traitor who ever sold his
country, her hopes, and liberty, for revenge, for
gold or office whose sin would not Whaen by compar
ison with ours? Let no man deceive himself in
this matter-his vote upon this subjeet~wil live
the life of this Republic, and will descend to his
children, an imperishable record of honor or
shame.
As one of the soldiers in this battle, protest
against base surrender of the rights of freedom.
do it. sir for my constituents, my State, myself;
for seventeen millions of human beings who have
no interest in the extension Of slavery, and for
three millions of beings fashioned in the image of
their Creator, who are held in cruel, crushing
bondage, This sir is q contest between seven
teen millions of free people and three millions of
slaves on the one side, and less than FIVE hundred
.la1l ha thar 4
venture The assertion that there are not in this
Union five hundred thousand persons holding
property in slaves. The manner in which these
latter have exercised controlling influence in
the Government you are familiar with. The pro-
cess by which they now propose to ingraft this
new feature of their design of obtaining free ter
ritory for the use of Shareholders upon the policy
of our Government, propose to give the history
of in the briefest manner possible
This claim Of the slave States had been asserted,
the people of the free States had made a decision
in the matter-had expressed their opinion in a
manner not to be mistaken or misunderstood and
had elected large majority Of the members of this
House, believing them to be hostile to the further
extension of slavery under any pretext whatever.
Nearly every free State Of the Union had passed
resolutions on this subject, and with great unan-
unity, in their respective Legislatures-and all
against the further extension Of slavery. Under
these circumstances, the members Of this House
met last December-parties from the North di-
vided as usual The South, while protesting to
entertain different political sentiments upon other
subjects united upon this, and in the organize alton
Of this House. and especially in the election Of an
officer exercising controlling influence, insisting
that they would not vote for man who was not
knoron to favor their views Their record must be
right, as they termed it, which meant, that they
must have voted, when in Congress previously
against liberty, and in favor of slavery; and with
the contest which followed the country is well
acquainted. During the voting, the most violent
language was used and threats against the Union
freely INDUCED in. At last, in an irregular man
ner, the friends Of slavery extension triumphed,
and they found themselves in nearly uncontrolled
power in this House. The might of party fear,
party pride, and party discipline, triumphed over
duty, and this strong outpost was surrendered
TO the slave power-the presiding officer was
elected
One might reasonably have supposed, sir, that
this would have satisfied but it did not, and by
an abandonment 10y enough 10 accomplish the
endl of that party discipline by which they had
secured the election of their first officer, they OBJ
tanned Clerk from the slave States also. The
power aud patronage were now secured, and for
fear Of alarming their friends in the North TOO
MUCH, they kindly consented that the Sergeant-at-
Arms, an officer without influence or patronage,
should be taken from a free State After this
magnanimous concession was made, another gen
Der of votes to elect him Doorkeeper; but, before
tleman, from free State, received sufficient num-
the vote was declared it was ascertained that he
was opposed to the extension Of slavery when a
sufficient number changed their votes, and defeat
ed his election and from that time to the present
we have been unable to elect either Doorkeepcr
or Postmaster Yet, during all this period, eau
cuses were held, in which ultra Southern gentle
men participated to forward their views, while
in the House it was openly proclaimed by them
that this question of slavery extension rose above
all party considerations, and their actions were
;odicativa oft n ~