Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-29
SPEECH OF MIR. gIINGMAN,
OF NORTH CAROLINA,
On the Territoridt Question: deIicered lnfhe HoaSe o.
Representatives on the ed inst.

Should we give way, what is TO be the result :?
California. Oregon, New Mexico, Deseret, and
Minnesota, will come into the Union in less than
five years, giving the North clear majority OF ten
or fifteen votes in the Senate The census OF the
coming year will, under the new apportionmeni,
give them nearly two to one in this House. WIN
immense controlling majorities in both branches,
will they not at once, by act OF Congress, aDonsh
slavery in the States Mr. Adams, who, IN his
day, controlled northern opinion on this question:
said that there we're twenty provisions OF the Con-
stitntion which, under certain circumstances,
would give Congress the power Would not this
majority find the power as easily as they have
done in their State Legislatures, where they have
complete sway, TO nulily the provision of the
Constitution for the protection OF fugitive slaves ?
Have not prominent northern politicians, of the
HIGHEST positions and the greatest influence, whose
names are we'll knownt TO all gentlemen on this floor
already declared that there is nothing in the Consti-
tuition of the United States which obstructs or
ought to obstruct the abolition of slavery by Con-
gress, in tha4States Surprising, however, this
should not occur, in twenty years or less, without
new acquisitions of territory, they would get the
power. by the coming in of new free States. TO
amend the Constitution for that purpose. But
have no doubt, sir, that other acquisitions of terri
tory will be made. Probably, after the next Presi-
dental election, we shall get that part of Mexico
which lies along the gulf, as far as Vera Cruz;
and from which, though well suited to the prof.
table employment of slave labor, we should be ex-
cluded, nevertheless, by the adoption OF the prn-
ciple that slavery should not be extended in
Conceding, however, that am wrong in both
these suggestions, and that Congress would ne-
Their violate the Constitution or annul it thus
what are we to expect? Slavery is 10 be kept,
thew saw, where it now Isl and we are 10 be sur
rounded with free States. These States not only
prohibit the introduction of slaves, but also OF free
negroes into their borders. OF course the whole
negro population is to be hereafter confined to
the territory Of the present fifteen slave States
That population in twenty-five years will amount
to seven or eight millions, and in fifty years 10
fifteen millions However dense the population
might become, the negroes will not be gotten
away, but the Weather portion OF the white pop
ulation q mean such as were able to emgrate)
would leave the territory. The condition Of the
South would for time, be that of Ireland, and
soon, by the destruction of the remnants of the
white population become that of st. Domingo
There are those now living who would probably
see this state of things but it would be certain
to overtake our children or grandchildren. These
facts are staring us in the face as distinctly as the
sun in the heavens at MONDAY. Northern men
not only admit it, but constantly in their public
speeches NVOW IL W pe tlGll pulpOst W plOuuCG
this very state of things. If we express alarm at
the prospect, they seek to amuse us with eulogies
on the blessings of the Federal Union, and ask us
to be still for time They do well, for it is true
that communities have usually been destroyed by
movements which, in the beginning inflicted no
immediate injury, and which were, therefore, ac-
guessed in till they had progressed too far to be
resisted. They have, too, constant examples III
the conduct of brute animals, that do not struggle
against evils until they begin TO feel pain. They
are, doubtless, too, encouraged to hope for our SUBJ
mission on account of our acqniescence under their
former wrongs. They know that the evils alrea-
dy inflicted on us, to which have referred, great
ly exceed in amount any injury that Great Bril-
tain attempted when she drove the colonies into
resistance Besides, sir, their aggressions have
infinitely less show of constitutional right or
color of natural Justice. But what they now pro-
pose is too palabe even for our southern genera
sity If, after having been free for seventy years.
the southern States were to consent to be thus de-
graded and enslaved, instead Of the pity, they
would meet the scorn and contempt ofthe universe.
The men of this generation who would be respon-
sible ought to be whipped through their fields by
their own negroes Ithank God that there is no
one in my district that think so meanly OF, as
to believe that he would not readily come into
whatever movement might be necessary for the
protection of our rights and liberty. tell north
ern gentlemen, who are in hopes that the South
will be divided, that we shall not have half as
many traitors to hang as we did tories in the re-
volution.
If gentlemen mean that the Union, upon the
principles of the Constitution, is desirable will
not controvert that opinion. But the Union never
could have been formed without the written con-
stitution. So, if you now, by your action, pract-
caly destroy the constitution, those injured, fable
to resist, will not submit. That instrument was
in its own language TO establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, and secure the b!es-
sings of liberty" to all parties to it-namely, the
freemen of the Union If, therefore, under its
form, gross injustice is done, instruction excited,
and the citizens of part of the States politically
ensaved, then the Union ought not to stand, as an
instrument of wrong and oppression.
There is throughout the South strong attach
ment to the union of the States. This sentiment
rests not so much upon any calculations of nte-
rest as on historic associations and the recolections
OF common ancestral struggles and trumphs. Our
people take pride in the name OF the United
States, and in being members of great republic
that furnishes cheering example to the friends
of liberty throughout the world. But the events
of the lasl few years are rapidly weakening this
feeling. Seeing that there appeared to be set
tied purpose in the North to puf them TO the wall,
many OF our people, regarding dissolution of the
Union as the inevitable result of this aggression,
hage looked forward to the consequences of such
a state of things.
/ will tell northern gentlemen, in the hope that
many of them not yet past the point of reason,
what is the view presented in prospect to many of
the highest intellects in the South 1t is well
known that the existing revenue system operates
hardly on the South and the West. The Govern
ment raises upwards of thirty millions annually by
a duty or tax upon imports. But this system acts
very unequally on the different sections of the
country. For illustration of the mode of opera
ton, will take single article Railroad iron. is
produced in England al so cheap rate, that it
can be brought to this country and sold, we may
say, for $40 per ton. This is much cheaper than
our people can afford to make it at. They, there
fore, ask the Government to require the payment
of 800 per ton by way of duty The importer,
therefore, instead Of selling for $40 per ton, must
ask 500. TO reimburse himself for what he has