The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-18

that this agitation is the agitation of the South that
this aggression rs the aggression of the South, when
northern men admit that this fundamental
clause-tbat it was the corner stone of the Consti
tuition! That corner stone ruthless hands have
snatched from under the building and cast into the
sea OF fanaticism No, there ID not an honest north
ern man, whose mind is not completely shroudcd,
who can doubt for moment that southern rights,
guaranteed to by the Constitution, have been dis
regarded and tramped in the dust; and it is not in
the mouth Of northern man TO say that the South
complains upjustly. ULa
Mr. Chairman, will now submit very few re
marks upon another question that seems to disturb
the consciences of northern men to such an extent,
that rather than not carry out their purposes, they
would convulse the country and dissolve the Union
refer to the abolition Of slavery in the District OF
1 Columbia. And here permit me TO say that this ID
question which touches the heart and probably the
interest OF almost every member ofmy constituency
And did they but believe that there was the deter
| Iminaton--whch before God could not doubt from
the signs before upon the convening Of this Con
gresson the part Of the northern members to abol-
ish slavery in this District so far as the legislative
action of Congress ia concerned, there would be
Just the same determined, unanimous resistance,
at all hazards and to the last extremity, If the
assault had been directly upon the institution in
the slave States.
Sir, how does this question stand? The District
of Columbia originally ceded by the States of
Virginia and Maryland, lying in the midst of
them--between them--as seat of national legis-
lation, not as n seat of national agitation. They
were then slaveholding States they continue to be
saveholding States; and it is regarded by my con
siucnts and all the South, that this essay towards
the abolition of slavery in the District OF Columbia
is not only step, but direct aggression upon
southern institutions in the States. They look upon
il as not only unconstitutional, but as breach OF
faith on the part of the National Legislatures not
only breach of faith, but insulting to the South.
Would Maryland and Virginia have ceded the
District to the General Government, had the slight
est intimation been given that it intended to abolish
sayery? Is the abolition of slavery necessary to the
full enjoyment of the grant Are modern men
purer than Washington and Madison Congress
has the exclusive power of Legislation, but has Con
gress an absolute, omnipotent power! Will the
South ever consent that slavery shall be abolished
in the District while it exists in Maryland and
Virginia2-that it shall be perverted from its object
and end-a scat OF national council--and converted
into a fort and arsenal, from which enemies and
madmen may with impunity hurl the missiles OF
sedition in her midst?-that it shall be made the
| grand centre from which southern Institutions may
be assaied by such make profit from fanatical
feelingss No; never, never. Am placing harsh
construction upon the intentions of aboltonists,
in regard to this subject do not intend it'll do
will read Mr.. Chairman, resolution which
was passed by this House in December, 1898
eleven years since. 1t was of SERIES the
!. adoption of which, it was hoped by the South as
well as by considerate men at the North, would
settle this question. That resolution Is In these
words
"Resoiped, That petitions for the abolition of
slavery in the District of Columbia and the Terri
tories of the United States, and against the reno
val Of slaves from State to another, is part OF
ton of slavery in the several States. and thus ndi-
rectly todesroy that institution within their limits
| (Journa of House of Representatives-25th Con
gress, Third Session--page 60-passed-yeas lSo,
nays 65.)
Il was presented by a northern man-from the
State of New Hampshire. The resolution was dis
cussed and adopted-yeas 1856, nays 65--Inore than
two to one Il was declared by a solemn vote of
the House that the effort TO abolish slavery In
this District Indirect TO abolish IL IN
The States. Northern men voted with southern
md fAI hsa trnth HnUy H.
crn men be complained of for resisting this effort
nows and how can it be alleged that the South
is too sensitive upon this question when eleven
/ years ago more than two To one OF the House oil
Representative declared that 20 be the true inten
tion. and which the South now feels TO be the fact
This question may probably be more iorcibly
brought 10 the hearts of northern men by supposng
that, instead of Virginia and Maryland ceding the
I District of Columbia to the General Government,
the sold Bay State" bad ceded ten miles square, in
cuding the beautiful city of Boston That there for
forty years the Representatives of this nation had
deliberated in patriotic councils for the happiness,
peace, and prosperity of our great and growing
country. Suppose that after this, bigots in the
South bad discovered that the absence Of slavery
the greatest and its existence ,ootad BE- The great
est blessing to the North and that this blessing
should be established in that district suppose this
was urged with the ptiIantropie uieto OF forcing
upon the North the institution of slavery. Suppose
the bgots In the South had inoculated men, women,
and children with the same feelings, and that the
South had numerical superiority at the ballot box
and were resolved 10 make the North more pros
porous and happy at all hazards, with what spirit
would such an insult and outrage upon northern
feeling be met by the descendants OF the Pilgrim
fathersS They would point 10 the Heights of Bun
ker for the answer. The voice of the entire North
would then be, resistance at eycry hazard, and to
the last extremity"
But how Ear short of the actual case would this
supposed conner How much more malignant
and gross is the INSULT The supposed case would,
If Accomplished compel no man 10 purchase slaves;
il would not be To deprive the North Of their fertile
helds, rich manufactures, and noble cities But in
the Of the District Of Columbia, millions upon
millions OF our property Is sought TO
thing pcriled which makes life desirable. Will not
every candid man say that this is sad grievance
TO the South Who can say there is undue sensi-
bilty upon this subject
Permit me 10 read an extract from the speech Of
one Of the great men Of the age, If not the man OF
the age. / read from the speech Of HESRy Gay
| "Sir, am not in the habit of speaking lightly Of
the possibility Of dissoving this happy Union' The
Senate knows that have deprecated illusions on
ordinary occasions 10 that direful event The coun-
try will testify, that if there be any thing in the
history Of my public worthy Of recollection.
IL is the truth and sincerity Of my ardent devotion
TO its lasting preservation But we should be false
allegiance 20 IL. IL we did not discriminate be
tween the imaginary and real dangers by which II
may be assailcd. Abolition should no longer be re-
garded an imaginary danger. The Abolition
ists, let me suppose, succeed in their present aim
of uniting the inhabitants OF the free States as
man against the inhabitants Of the slave States
Union the side will beget union the other;
and this process of reciprocal consolidation will be
attended with all the violent prejudces, embttercd
passions, and implacablc animosities, which ever
degraded deformcd human nature. virtual
dissolution Of the Union will have taken place,
whilst the forms of It's existence remain. The most
| valuable element of uniop--mutual kindness, the
feelings of sympathy, the fraternal bopds which
now happily unite us--will have been cxtinguishcd
forever. One section will stand in menacing and
hostile array against the other. The collision OF
opinion will be quickly followed by the clash Of
arms. will not attempt 10 describe scenes which
now happily lay concealed from view. Abo
uonists themselves would shrink back IN disinay
and horror at the contemplation Of dcsolated hcds
confagratcd cities, murdered inhabitants, and the
overthrow of the flircst fabric Of human govern.
ment that 10 animate the hopes oil civilized
man Nor should these Aboionists fatter them
selves that If they succeed in their cbect oil unitinC
the people Of the free States, they VIII enter "
contest with numerical superiority that must j.
sure victory. All history aud experience prove he
hazard and uncertainty of war. And we aread-
monisbcd by Holy Writ, that the is not to the
swirl nor the battle 10 the strong But IL they
TO conquer, whom would they conquer? A forign
Il a.