The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-16
THE NATIONAL ERA.
SLAVERY QUESTION.
SPEECH OF HON. DAVID WILNOT,
IN THE
HOUSE OF REPR ESENTATIYES,


good result IL has disclosed. beyond all ques-
ton Of denial or equivocNtion, the policy and
purpose Of the South. IL affords ample iustifea-
ton, il any were needed, where the pa duty
is so clearly marked out, for firm 30. zee Ia
that policy upon which | have stood sta the
first, aud upon which intend 20 stand through.
out this momentOus struggle.
OF the character Of this struggle, IL there were
ever room for doubt, there can be doubt no longer
II must now be conceded that there is Substance in
this contrOversy-that the principle Of posIir'
prohibition by Congress, against slavery in the
Territories of the nation, is not an abstraction
having no practical object and leading to no prac
teal result. Four years Of earnest and often
acrimonious debate in the halls Of this Capitol
an agitation widespread as the country, reaching
all classes and stirring to their proioundest depths
the passions of men attests the magnitude Of the
struggle, and the mighty interests dependent
upon its issue. Except that protracted and bloody
conflict which gave birth TO the nation, none bal
arisen, and, in my Judgment, none will arise in
our subsequent history, involving interests SC
vast consequences so mOmentous for good or evil
as the one now pressing its fearful weight upon
us-reaching as it does, TO the remotest posterity
and involving, if not the existence, the character
and policy of our Government, so long as we shall
have q name and place among the family Of ma
tons The ultimate decision of the present con
roversy will settle the great question Of the con-
dition and destiny Of the southern half OF this
continent Ii will also settle another great ques'
ton whether this Government shall be admin
istered in the spirit that gave it birth or whether
the sufferings and trials of the Revolution shall
have been endured in vain-whether our demo
cratic institutions are to stand, or this Govern
ment become an Aristocracy, based upon slave
f,rOnprtv and alaVP yPDrpsentatiOn.
In the aspect of results thus lasting and mo-
mentous, has the present struggle been viewed by
those interested in the extension and perpetual
ton Of slavery On their part, the conflict has
been maintained in a spirit and temper common
surate with their estimate of the magnitude OF
the interests involved la behalf of slavery this
battle has been fought with a desperation kindred
TO madness. lndissolubly united in the oonds OF
"A supreme aud sf-uOIfrf oltrog SCI T5"1 -
raised by no Observation-Disclosures by no mes
Of brotherhood. nor by the obligations of high
ami 9,yS ,aifotiss1 the eifaatpl0ns Of 8gis,s"
bondage stand banded together, pressing on di-
rectly to the accomplishment of their object and
threatening. if thwarted in their purpose the
Acknowledgement of the Union, and the total de-
struction Of the free institutions under which we
live. Such. sir, is the spirit and temper of the
Slave Power. as exhibited in this struggle
power as insolen' as arrogant, as defiant OF right
and Justice, and law, as the most reasonable con-
spracy that ever reared its head against just
and benign Government.
Sir this spirit Of threatening and defiance must
be successfully resisted, or we are ourselves the
veriest of slaves. What shall the line of our
conduct be prescribed to us under the pressure OF
reasonable threats We have severally sworn
to support the Constitution, each man for himself;
and for our fidelity in this respect, we must stand
individually responsible to God and the country
But we are told that we must understand that
Constitution as it shall be taught us by the advo-
Gates of slavery-we mus. adopt their construc-
ton Of that instrument and if we presume to
oyerstep the limits Of their Interpretation, that
the Union shall be dissolved, and our system of
government overthrow Not only this, but the
line of our action is prescribed TO us, within the
acknowledged limits of the Constitution. "New
States may he admitted by the Congress into this
Union, is the explicit language of that instrument
Yet we are given to understand, If we presume TO
exercise this clear and admitted power in the case
of California, without making certain concessions
to slavery as an equivalent, that measures of
revolutionary character will be brought into re-
QUESTION to arrest our action-that the ordinary
Government supplies will be wthheld-thst the
yeas and nauS will be called, in defiance of parlia-
mentary law and usage, upon frivolous and dila-
tory motions, until the end Of the present Con-
gress.
Sir. where are we Is this Chamber in which
the representatives of freemen- meet for the dis
cussion and determination of grave and important
questions, or is it theatre upon which slaves are
taught their obligations and their duties ID be
hooves US to examine the ground upon which W.
stand We have arrived at a point from which
we cannot retreat, without surrender of our in
dependence as representatives upon this floor.
repeat it, IRE must go torw0rd! To step back-tt
cover under these threats, Is base dishonor-i
virtual surrender of our rights, and the rights
the freemen whose representatives we are 1t il
no question of feeling or personal pride, but o
independent action upon this floor-of the exer
else of those acknowledged powers, which belong
20 us as a part of the Government Shall the &c
knowledged powers of this Government be exer
cised through its constitutional organs Or is
band of conspirators TO arrest its action AND Sc
it's authority ut defiance? This, sir, is the Pon
we have reached. | am for meeting the issu,
here and now will yield nothing to treason
will know no concessions TO the threats of faction
Il would be base cowardce-a fragrant derelictior
of public duty-a surrender of the constitutional
powers of this House into the hands of a faction,
minority subversive of all rightful authority
and destructive OF the very foundations Of oui
institutions Of Government
defiance at the constitutional authority of thi,
Government-that dares threaten a dismember
ment of this Union | answer an aristocracy
Of Shareholders who, not content with that share
Of influence and political power given them by
the Constitution demand the absolute control OF
this eioverument-the right to dictate the sphere
and the modes of its action. What could be more
despotic than TO make the existence of the Gov
eminent depend upon the acquiescence of Con-
gress in such a construction of the Constitution
as the representatives of particular section choose
TO place upon it, from time to time? u we will
make our action conform to the Constitution as 1t
shall be expounded TO US by the Representatives
from the slave States, we are assured that all
shall be well-that agitation shall cease, and peace
and harmony be restored to our country but il
we dare to read that instrument for ourselves
and to act upon our understanding of its true
meaning, we are threatened with commissions, and
bloodshed, and civil war. Ii one man should as
sumo the right to fix an authoritative construc-
tion upon the Consttution-to dictate what Con-
gress might and what it might not do-acquies-
cence in this demand would be TO change this
Government into an absolute monarchy. To con-
cede that right to any number less than ajority
is TO convert il into an aristooracy. Yet this ii
what we are called upon to do at the peril of the
very existence Of the Government ITSELF Sir,
am no agitator; am the friend and the lover O
peace; but | prefer agitation, ] prefer any ex
tremity Of danger, to the peace that is proffered
us.
The great champion of the South, now mum
bered among the dead-he whose courage equalled
his misunderstanding all circumocution and in
direction, marched boldly up to his object, and
proposed such an amendment Of the Constitution
as should place this Government in the power o.
a minority. This bold and direct proposition
startled the country. There was no disguise in
it, 1t could be clearly seen and understood and
being seen, the People Of the free States as one
man revolted at the proposition and many of the
most ultra men of the South shrunk back frou
the ground their great leader had fearlessy taken
Ii was too bold. 1t stripped slavery of its dis
guise, and exposed the length and breadth Of It's