The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-06

| ence as a humbug And some Of these gentlemen
strange to tell, cooly style themselves Democrats
Why, we are told that so far from being created
equal, men are not created at all Adam alon,
was created man. Neither are men born. In
fants are born, and grow up TO the estate Of man
hood but men are neither born nor created. Tn,
eyuaiuy OF men Is declared to be absurd for Other
reasons Some men, we are told are taller thar
others, some Of fairer complexion, some NOR,
richly endowed with intellect as If the author o.
the Declaration Of Independence had meant to af
firm that men are equal in respect to their physi
cal or intellectual peculiarities
Mr.. Chairman, win speak seriously. need
not further multiply these examples Of Southern
opinion and feeling. | have brought them for
~'ard h""ansa- while the cry Of Northern fansti
the country 70 JUDGE whei6tr 4 hucS larger shaf;
Of fanaticism does Lot exist in the Southern
States; and whether this slsyeholding fanaticisu
is not infinitely less excusable than that which
prevails in the North. Sir, can respect the mar
who, under the impulse Of philanthropy or patriot
ism, deals his ill-judged blows at an institution
which is crushing the dearest rights Of millions
and now seeks at all hazards to curse new regions
with its presence but il is difficult TO respect the
stakeholder who, with his foot upon thesncck O.
his brother, sits down with his Bible in one hand
and his metaphysics in the other, to argue with
me, that the truths ofthe Declaration of lndepend
ence are mere sophsms, aud that the forcble strip
ping of three millions of human beings of all theil
rights, even their humanity itself, receives the
sanction Of the Almighty and is blessing to bott
tyrant and slave. This is a species Of fanatcisn
above all others the most dstasteful, the most pre-
posterous, the most revolving | will not under.
take to combat these absurdites of its champions
for IL has been said truly, that to argue with men
who have renounced the use and authority OF rea-
son, and whose philosophy consists in holding
humanity in contempt, is like administering med
icne to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an
atheist by Scripture
p sssss. cSgwgnau @erhaar tns1y,yf .a<txsl.sa acc
Southern aggression Nothing is more current
in Southern speeches and newspapers than the
charge that the people of the free States are az.
gressng upon the rights Of the South and this
Union it seems, is to be dissolved unless these
aggressions shall cease. On the other hand, the
people of the free States charge the South with
being the sggressor, and plead not guilty to the
Indictment of the Shareholders. Now, how stands
the case2 Who is the aggressor2 This is the
question to be solved, and the one | propose
mainly to examine | wish to do this fairly and
dispassionately for am fully aware Of the diff
ferences Of opinion which prevail in regard to it.
resulting, perhaps necessarily, from the different
circumstances OF the parties.
The charge of Northern aggression certainly
deny. 1t has no just foundation. Neither is the
charge of Southern aggression, perhaps, fully and
strictly true. The truth rather seems to be,
that under the lead of Southern counsels, both
sections of the Union have united in enlarging
and aggrandizing the slave power. This prop
osition shall endeavor to establish.
What are these Northern aggressions of which
we have heard so much complaint? OF what hos
tile acts do they consist Have the people of the
free States attempted to interfere, by law with
slavery in the South This charge, am aware
is frequently brought against us. You can
scarcely open q newspaper from that quarter in
which it is not gravely made. 1t has been again
and again denied by Northern men on this floor,
but Southern gentlemen still continue to repeat
it. Sometimes il lie preferred against the people
Of the North generally, but more frequently
against q comparatively small portion of them as
the Free Soil party. The charge is utterly un-
ff9aA9s4 ip with :. ss f1s sE sassls 81
right on the part of Congress TO touch thenstitu-
ton of slavery where Il exists. We all agree
that the subject is beyond our control As regards
the naked question of constitutional power, Con.
gress has no more right to abolish slavery in
South Carolina than it has to abolish free schools
in Massachusetts--no more right to suppor slave
ry in one State than in the other. II is an insti
tuition dependent wholly upon State sovereignty
concern than with slavery in Russia or Austria
II is true, that some Of us in the North claim the
right to assault slavery with moral weapons, even
In the States When the STAKEHOLDER says to US
that on this subject we must keep our thoughts to
ourselves, we shall obey him If It suits US. We
have a right to employ those moral forces by
which reforms Of every kind are carried forward
We understand the power Of opinion. We be-
lieve, in the language Of DR.. Claiming that
opinion is stronger than Kings, mobs, Lynch
laws, or any other laws for the suppression Of
thought and speech ~ and that, whoever spreads
through his circle, be that circle wide or narrow,
just opinions and views respecting slavery, hast
ems its falln Sir, it Is not only our right, but
our duty, to give utterance 70 our cherished
moral convictions; and If slavery, rooted as 1t is
in the institutions and opinions of the South, can
not brave the growing disapprobation Of Christen-
dom let it perish. And 1t will perish. IL by
areenacting the law Of God,n we can prevent it's
extension, the South will be constrained to adopt
some plan Of gradual emancipation. She will
realize forcbly the important fact, which she now
endeavors TO overlook, that truth, justice humani
ty, and the spirit OF the age, are all leagued
against her system. will not harbor the impious
thought that an institution, 80 freighted with
wretchedness and wo, is to be perpetuated under
the providence of God. cannot adopt aprinciple
that would dethrone the Almighty, and make
Satan the governor Of the moral world. II is
athe foolp who "hath said in his heart there is
no Godr Nor do we mean to be silenced by the
hackneyed argument that slavery Is eirilinstitu-
ton, and therefore none Of our business. We
deny that the public laws Of a community can
sanctfy oppression, or stifle the expression Of
our sympathy for the oppressed Your slavery,
when intrenched behind your institutions, Is still
slavery and although your laws may uphold II,
they cannot repeal that Christian law which
teaches the universal brotherhood Of our race.
But while thus frankly avow these sentiments,
repeat what have already said, that the people
Of the North claim no right, through the action
of the General Government, to interfere with
slavery in the slaveholding States We most
emphsticslly disavow any such purpose. Arewe,
then, guilty Of aggression upon the rights Of the
slaveholder7
We are charged with violating the clause in
the Federal Constitution relative TO fugitivcs
from labor This is among the gravest ACCUSE
lions preferred against US. Sir, this clause, and
the act Of Congress made in pursuance oft have
been deliberately argued and solemnly adjudicated
upon In the highest court Of the nation. Our
duty In the free States has been made 30 plain
that child may understand IL. would not
refer to this subject which has been 80 often dis
cussed on this floor, and repeat what has been
80 often said, were II not for the unendng clsmor
Of the South against u.s. We are driven TO
repetition Of the grounds Of our defence. We say
the slave-hunter may come upon our soil In pur-
suit Of fugitive and take him II heis able either
with or without warrant and we are not allow
"a IN interfere In the race. "Hands of Is our
covenant and the whole Of it. II the owner sees
AZ 10 sue out warrant, he must 20 before Uni
ted States officer with his complaint 1t is not
the duty Of our State magistrates to aid him, the
execution of the clause in question depending
exclusively upon Federal authority. ! think |
state fairly the opinion Of the Supreme Court In
the case OF Prigg ps the State OF Pennsylvania.
Now, IL Congress alone can provide for the exc
cutiou Of this clause through Federal Jurisdiction;