Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-08-08

pie of the free States take But they say they have
Just good Alright TO take hither their slave property
the citizen Massachusetts has to take his property
-as his machinery. But is this their property Now
am not Of those who believe TO be tler right
duty to agtae this subject of slavery, inquire in
TO the right OF the slave States hold slaves
other way interfere with their domestic relations so
long they keep them within their Jurisdiction
have Of that pharsacal pety that seky sentiment
tally, which leaves my door, suffering disease
pinng want, and exhausted labor to parade my mock
humanity elsewhere-to preach crusade against the
wickedness and oppression OF Others and think 1t
would be well if those who do would take to them
selves the pointed rebuke said have been administered
by John Randolph a lady friend who did take the
best Of her servants Having called evening
pay her visit during the progress of the Greek revou-
On he found her busy engaged with all her household
making clothing be the suffering Greek patri-
OTIS Just he about to depart, her field hands
in from their labors, with their tattered and scany
garments He turned, and pointing to them with his
long bony finger, with all that biting sarcasm of which
he was master he said, "Madam, the Greeks are at
your door" Sir if would all but look about US,
should find the Greeks a doors.
But seems to that there is vast difference be-
tween the title of the citizen of Massachusetts to his
machinery and that of the stakeholder to his slave The
is the product Of his industry and Is recognized
his property by all civilized natons the other
ated by the arbitrary of the power Of the strong
upon the heplessness of the weak and is not acknow
edged valid anywhere hut in the State or community
where it actually exists But may be told that by the
Constitution, bound to recognize the title oil the
| u
certain circumstances am To that extent and under
those circumstances shall not, will any good ct
zen, hesitate to do
Heaven forbid that should be one Of those who find
law above the Constitution, by which am to regulate
my official conduct under it, independent of it, by which
my duties to my Government as citizen are to be de-
termined regardless of what that Government may
quire. 1t is doctrine iraught with incacuable danger.
1t unhinges and destroys all government. Why have
Constitution and laws, if each public officer and each
citizen is disregard and dsObey them whenever he
may suppose they conflict with what he imagnes TO be
higher law which he CONSTITUTES according TO the vaga-
ries of his fancy Why not leave each one
to regulate his conduct according the dictates OF his
conscience inclination and fancy for such doctrine
leads this last. Why make Constitution and laws,
if each citizen is be his Judge whether he
ought ought to obey them l. sir, content to
follow the mandate of Him who spake man
spake, to render unto Cesar the things which are C-
sar's, and to God the things which are Gods" Now
the Constitution recognizes the owners title his slaves
within his State Hence, so long he keeps them
within that jurisdiction, am estopped from questioning
his title. The Constitution recognizes the title to his
slave in another State when he escapes into that other
State without the owners consent. still estopped
from questioning his title. The Constitution as cOnstru'
ed by the Supreme Co of the United States, recogni-
yes his title to his slaves whilst transmitting them from
one slave State TO another in what is called the slave
trade between the States Here too cannot question
that title Any other rights necessary him in
the enjoyment of these, and naturally sprngng from
them, cannot dispute But when he seeks to take this
property elsewhere; when he seeks enjoy IL In
ner and place not guaranteed by the Constitution, and
where and in way that will conflict with my rights or
my interests am not estopped from questioning that
title.
Before close my remarks upon the respective rights
of the North and South involved in this question: allow
me 10 refer very fallen into by those
in the southern interest who attempt to compare the rel
alive wealth prosperity of the South with that OF the
North To get their dividend for the South they add to
the actual capital the value of the labor of the country
to wit, the value of the slaves This dividend, IN
creased, they the wealth OF the South.
Now TO get the average amount of necessares and
forts supplied each individual OF this wealth. it is
obvious that should be divided 10y the whole number OF
those whose wants and comforts must be supplied from
it, But they forget that the necessities aud comforts OF
the slaves, well that of the free persons must be
provided out Of this wealth. the fruits of their labor, and
hence they improperly reduce the dvisor by leaving them
entirely Then, sir when they seek for the relative
average wealth and comfort of the North they neither
add the value OF labor to the dividend decrease
the deysor by deducting the laborers double njus
tce is thus done in the North by such comparison
Gentlemen may deudc themselves by so iancltu CON-
parison but they deceive us the country the
world
Mr.. Chairman, / have thus far mostly discussed this
question is usually discussed here and elsewhere
entirely between the North and the South, the
rights and interests Of the people Of the States of this
Union alone involved In itas If their wishes only
to be consulted and their welfare secured its ad
ourselves for the people of the States but for the
people of the territories II is their welfare which is &c
be permanently affected by the which
this question is settled and they have right have il
settled according TO their wishes and interests.
Sir, the great which has brought this difficulty
upon and which prevents its settlement, is that
have forgotten and have violated and still seek vi
olate that great principle which lies the foundation
republican hberty-the principle declared by revolu
tionary fathers and sealed with their bood-he right
the governed have their government administered
cording to their interests and wishes. Let %
back this principle and shall find the threaC
which will guide ms from this labyrinth in when are
involved and which threatens destruction us. Wha
was it of which fathers complained of the mother
country! Simply that she sought govern these colo
MES, according to the wishes and interests of the
colonies, but for her own benefit Rather than submit
to this injustice and oppression, fathers rebecd pu
hazard their lives, poured out their blood, and endu
red tolls and suficrngs unutterabe 81 their
upon soil haowed with their DUST with that proud ban
ner which they erected floating CALAMITY above u.s.
seeking to perpetrate the tyranny against which
they rebelled upon colonies these territories. Tn
utraists of the South and of the North seek govern
them according the interests and wishes of tn
people governed, but according what they suppose
be the interest and wishes OF their particular sec
tons respectively, according what they suppos
may be the wishes of those who hereafter
DIV them. Gentlemen insist that hold this Govern
ment, for the benefit Of the people there but for
own. Sir, this Government holds the territory,
dispose of IL its pleasure and for its interest
but the sovereignty cannot be taken from the people
They have right insist that whether exercise
by their express consent through the Constitution b
their tact acquiescence 1t shall be exerciscd-not 10
your benefit mine for the benefit OF the North
the South for the supposed benefit of those who
hereafter 90 there but for themseves-ior those VIII
4 are hcre.
Sir, / have an abiding confidence in the intelligence
and integrity of the peope-in their ability for segoV
ernmentin their ability examine and decide for them
selves all questions which NAV arise in the admnisra
tion Of their Government thrust the people, is tb
motto of the Democratic party Confidence in the pee
pie the basis of the action of that pary-the basis
: uhorQ and