The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-08
The VICE PRESIDENT The Sergeant. at Arms wsll
close the doors, and permit more TO be admitted.
! O-l.x ha..,u ! :

Mr. WEBSTER resumed. II Is this circumstances that
has contributed TO Ell do not say that has wholly
raised dispute upon the popriey OF the admission OF
California into the Union under these circumstances.
It'll to be denied, Mr. Pfesdennobody thinks OF
denyngthat, whatever reasons were assigned for the
commencement OF the late war with Mexico, it was
prosecuted for the purpose OF the acquisition Of territory,
and under the argument that the cesson Of territory
the only form ia which proper compensation could be
made 10 the United States by Mexico for various claims
against her AT any rate il will be found that President
Polk, IN message al the commencement oil the session
in December, lS47, avowed that the to be pros
ecated till some acquisition o territory obtained And
The acquisition south OF the line OF the United Sates
In warm climates and countries il was naturally ex-
pected, suppose, by the South that whatever acquis
tons were made in that region would be added to the
slaveholding part Of the United States Events have
turned out was not expected and that expectation has
not been realized and therefore, in degree disap
ponmen and surprise have been excited In other words
tits obvious that hequeston which has long harassed
The country, and at times very seriously alarmed
the minds of wise and good men, has come upon for
fresh question Of slavery in these uni
Now. sir propose perhaps at some little expense to the
attention of the Senate, review historically this ques
ton OF slavery, which, partly In consequences Of its own
acts. and partly in consequence Of the manner in which it
has been discussed in and the other portions OF The
country, has been the source Of much alienation and
unkind feeling different portions OF the United States
We all know that slavery has existed in the world
from time immemorial There was slavery in the ear
hest periods Of the history Of oriental nations. There
ment Of that people made injunctions against
il. There was slavery among the Greeks; and the
ingenious philosophy Of the Greeks found. er sought to
find, justification Of it exactly upon the grounds which
have been assumed for such justification ia this
try, that is natural and original difference between The
races OF mankindhe inferory Of the colored or black
TO the white The Greeks justified their system OF
slavery upon that ground precisely They held the Air
cans and porons of the Asatc tribes to be nfe
ror to the white race They did not show. think. BY
any close process of logc that, il that true, the
more intelligent and the stronger had therefore the right
to subjugate the weaker more manly philosophy and
Jurisprudence Of the Romans placed the justification on
entirely different grounds The Roman jursis, from the
very first dawn to the fall OF the empire admitted that
slavery against the natural law, by which they main
ained that all men, OF whatever cme color, capacity
equal But they justified slavery, rst, upon the au
thorty of the law Of nations arguing and arguing truly
that at that day the conventional law OF nations admitted
that capves in warwhose lives, according 10 the notion
OF that tme the absolute disposal OF the capor
might in exchange for exemption from death, be made
slaves for fe aud that that servude might descend 10
their poseriy The jursts Of Rome also maintained that
by the civil law there might be ssrvtude and slavery
personal and hereditary: s BY the voluntary Of the
individual who might sell himself into slavery; sec
ondy, by his being received into state OF servude by
his creditors satisfy the debts he had incurred; and
thirdly, BY being placed in state Of servude slavery
for crime.
AT the Introduction Of Christianity into the world,
Inc Roman empire was a o. asn., sbupp0se r
lation between and man in the teachings OF
the Gospel BY Jesus Christ or by any OF his apostles
object oil instructions delivered mankind Dy
the founder Of Christianity was TO touch the heart
purify the SOUL and improve the lives oil individual men
That object went directly to the first foundation OF the
political and social relations OF men. to raise the indi
vidual heart and mind oil Now, sir upon the gen.
era nature and character and lawfuness OF slavery,
there exists wide difference OF opinion between the
northern portion OF this country and The southern II Is
sad the other side, that if not the subject OF any in
junction, any direct prohibition IN the New Iesa-
ment, slavery wrong that il Is founded merely IN the
right Of the strongest that 1t oPpression ! Is Ike all
unjust wars; like all those conflicts by which mighty
naons subject weaker nations 10 their WILL They think
slavery in its naturewhatcyer be said OF II IN the
notifications which take place in i in facts not ac.
coding to the "meek spirit Of the apostle it is not
kindly affection = il does not seek anohers, and not
its own" il does not lei the oppressed go free These
sentiments that are cherished recently with greatly
augmented force, among the people OF the northern States
They have taken hold OF the religious sentiment OF that
part of the country they have more less taken hold
Of the religious feelings OF considerable portion OF
mankind
The South upon the other side, having been accus-
toned TO this relation between the races all their lives,
from their brthhaying been taught IN general to treat
the subjects OF ths bondage with care and kindness,
and believe, general 10 feel Tor them great care and
kindnesshave taken this view OF the subject which
have mentioned. There are thousands OF religious
men, with conscences tender those OF any OF their
brethren at the Norh who do not see the unla WITNESS
OF slavery and there more thousands perhaps that
whatever they think OF II in It's srign, and as
matter depending upon natural right yet take things as
they are find slavery be established relation of
cety where they live, and see no way in whch--let
their opinions upon the abstract question be what they
mayt is in the power OF the present generation to re-
lieve themselves from this relation And, IN this respect
oblges TO say that believe they are just as
conscientious, many OF them-and oil the religious peo-
pie. all OF them-as in the North, holding different
Why, sir the honorable member from South Carolina
Mr. CALHOUN the other day alluded TO the separz alton
OF that great religious unity the Methodist Epsco
pal Church Tnat separation was brought about by di-
ieences oil opinion upon this particular subject o slavery
felt great concern that dispute went about the
result was anxous-I was In hope--that the differ
ence OF opinion might be healed because look upon
that religious community OF the great props o
Igion and moaIs throughout the whole country from
Maine TO New Orleans The result was against my
wishes aud against my hopes have read all their pro-
ceedings all their arguments but haye never yet peen
ground for that separaonin other words, that any good
could be produced by that separation. ),
Sir, questions oi this Kind take hold of the rel.
gous sentiments OF mankind and come 10 be discussed IN
assemblies by clergy and lay. there Is always
TO be expected and always TO be feared great degree OF
excitement Ii in the nature oi man, manifested by hs
whole HISTORY, that religious disputes apt TO become
warm. Mems strength OF conviction Is pfoporuoned 10
their view Of the magnitude OF the question.
In all such disputes, there will sometimes be men TO be
found, with whom everything will be absolutely wrong
or absolutely right They the right clearly; they
think others ought to; and they disposed 10 establish
broad line OF distinction between what they think right
and what they hold 70 be wrong and they are not sell
dom wi ling 10 establish that line upon their convc
on OF the truth and justice OF their own opinions They
are willing TO mark and guard by placing along u
series OF dognas, lines OF boundary marked BY
posts and stones.
There are men who, with clear perceptions, as they
think, OF their duty, do not how too hot pur
sui OF one duty may involve them in the violation OF