The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-22
THE NATIONAL ERA WASHINGTON D. C, AUGUST %, 1850

to retard their operation-to save the institution
Of slavery from their inhuense by an extension of
its area Gentlemen of the South see that the
field Of labor IL fast filling up; that the laborers
are increasing, and that, unless the field Is en-
larged, labor will cheaper, and the laborer him
self become worthless as an element OF property.
They see clearly that at no distant day they will
be compelled by the force Of natural laws to COM
mence the work of emancipation, unless that day
is put off by the opening Of new fields for slave
labor. Sir, | would not obstruct the operation
Of Gods laws. certainly would not interfere to
save slavery from their influence Looking, as
do, to the day of our ultimate redemption from
this curse, | wish il to come before the evil shall
have grown TO such giant proper ions as 10 defy
our efforts for peaceful deliverance. do not
wish the evil to grow beyond our control. We
might, by mighty effort, solve peacefully, and
without blood, the problem of slavery, with ten
millions Of blacks. No human power can solve II
with fifty or hundred millions. 1t would break
in fragments the strongest Government on earth I;
it would produce scenes of commotion, strife, and
blood, such as the world never saw why will
gentlemen bring certain and widespread ruin
upon the country2 Ii is the spirit of self
ishness that ipvokes this destruction upon our
land-the sefshness of great interests, the selfish
ness Of capital blind to everything but it's imme-
date and proximate interest. For resistance
to this spirit of selfshness for seeking to avert
from my country this terrible DOOM am assailed
bV me ss1tistnah ffOnl lii.s-l.a iS,Ss--.,7-c -
and studied Remuneration.
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settAeu anu nxeu ,Ycvel ,,,,nost,-. 49,. - -,
people in the free States to resist by every lawful
and constitutional means the extension of slavery.
They may be betrayed by their representatives,
| fear they will be; they may, for time, be mis-
led by those in whom they have placed conf
dence-party leaders may lick the dust at the bid.
ding Of slavery, may kiss its bloody hands-party
organization may be used 10 crush the advocates
of liberty-yet, sir, the great heart of the people
beats for freedom. Gentlemen will learn that a
cheat is no settlement-that q betrayal of trust
is no adjustment of difhculties-that the arrange
ments of Presidential aspirants is no compromise
Agitation is not to be quieted by the preparation
of wrong The friends of freedom will counsel
no resistance to established law but they will
not cease to appeal to the judgments and the
hearts of men, in behalf of righteousness and
truth. Gentlemen want peace, quiet. Cease to
urge wrong, and you will have peace What
is the quiet they want? Freedom from agitation
on the subject of slavery. will tell gentlemen
how they can have quiet on this subject Separate
the General Government from all responsibility
for the existence or support of slavery. Keep
your institutions within your States, and you will
have no agitation Cease 70, e~aSt the tyranny
Of slavery in this Government-immoIat no more
Northern men. You provoke agitation by the in
justice Of your demands You declare your pur-
pose to extend slavery into free territory, and
when we offer resistance, when we demand for
freedom the protection and security OF law, you
cry out against agitation. You ask US to reverse
the policy Of the Govern mt in behalf Of slavery
and its interests, and because refuse, you COM
plain Of injustice and wrong We are struggling
to maintain, against your encrOschments, the
early and settled policy of the Government |
stand upon this question Of slavery extension,
where Jefferson, and Madison, and Henry stood
sixty years ago. Were they now living, they
would advocate the policy have advocated They
did So in their day and generation. They would
do so now.
IL is the vast increase of this slave capital which
has taken place in the last half century that Gre
ates all our present difficulties From two hun
dred millions of dollars il has grown to sixteen
hundred millions This immense capital is strug-
Cling for perpetuity and power 1t wishes to
make slavery eternal. This is your fanaticsm,
gentlemen of the South-the fanatcism of sla-
very-of sixteen hundred millions of dollars 1t
is cold calculating fanaticism. 1t feeds on the
souls and blood of men, Talk to me about fanat-
icisml May God preserve me from the fanati-
cism of slavery-from that fanaticism which for
gets humanity and its rights, in the pursuit of an
all-absorbing selfshness.
Mr.. Chairman, | have been led almost uncon-
sciousy into these protracted remarks. | con-
templated but few words when | arose. My
object more particularly was to address myself to
the gentleman from Illinois, Mr.. MoCLERNAND
and to repel the charge brought by him against
the friends Of freedom, of a desire to defeat the
appropriation bills. They have never entertain
ed such a thought. They are loyal to the Con-
stitution and to the Government Of their coun-
try-Ioyai, cir, and true. Tney desire action on
California-that great question, which, more than
any other, engrosses the mind of the nation. 1t
is a shame-a personal dishonor to Northern
men-that California ia not yet admitted into the
Union. Why this protracted delay2 Why this
continual postponement Of a measure which they
all profess to favor2 Are gentlemen afraid to
act Are we towards that we dare not perform
our constitutional duty2 Do we fear to take
hold of the work which we came here to do Sir
let us have done with this timid, this cowardly
policy. Let US act. There is honor and safety
in action-dishonor and danger in further delay
The gentleman from Illinois is waiting the action
of the Senate on the Omnibus bill' After
eight months of the session is exhausted, he is
for giving time for slavery to mature its plans
When slavery is in danger, the gentleman is ever
ready and prompt in action. No measure of sla-
very was ever delayed an hour for want of the
gentleman's aid Freedom must stand back, and
only enter these Halls in the manner and at the
hour slavery shall dictate
wish that the vote of to-day should arrest
the attention of the country Let it be known
throughout the length and breadth Of the land,
that the consideration of California was post
poned, to make way for an appropriation bill for
the, support of the Military Academy at West
Point-a bill which there was no occasion for
pressing upon our attention, and which could
have been acted upon fortnight or month
hence, without any detriment to the public SER
vice. This was done by the votes of the South,
united with the great body of Northern Wings,
and few Northern Democrats. California post
poned, after eight months delay, by the strong
vote Of niney-three 10 sirty, Yet, in the face Of
this vote, men will 60 home and try to make their
constituents believe that they were friendly to
the early and unconditional admission of Cali