The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-04-11
LIBERTY, UNION, AND NO COMPROMISE
SPEECH OF Mr.. CHASE, OF OHIO,
MR.. CLAWS COMPROMISE ESOIUTION,

~ ShNhihI inhhNh ~, loOO
The Senate having under consideration the resolu
tons submitted by Mr.. Clay
Mr.. CHASE. rise, Mr.. President with unaffect
ed diidence 10 offer TO the Senate my views of the
important questions presented by the resolutions OF
| the honorable Senator from Kentucky
Coming from the private walks of life without the
advantage OF previous public position, and with
out experience in legislative debate, speak from nc
emnence which will enttle me 10 command atten.
| ton. claim Tor what say that consideration only
which is due 10 sincerity of belief TO drectness OF
purpose and TO whatever force Of agumen may be
| aOe 10 bring to the support Of my positions
1t has been said, Mr.. President, and said in tone
oil complaint, by Southern gentlemen, that this Gov.
eminent Is rapidly becoming mere Government o
the majority becoming great consolidated democ-
racy Now, sir, if by this il be meant that this Gov.
eminent OF ours has become, or is TO become, the
| Government of the American people, administered
In conformity with the will of majority of the peo-
ple-ii 1t be meant that the democratic principle is
carried or Is ikely to be carried, into practical APP
Plicaton In Its administration and legislation see
In the fact If fact IL be, ground Of complaint but
rather ground of congratulation and satisfaction.
why sir, what Is this democratic principle2 EQUAL
ny OF natural rights, guaranteed and secured TO all
by the laws OF just popular Government For
one desire to see that pIiafnie ses'isa .---.ss
| iuuons now before the Senate and 10 every other
question.
But our responsibilities are limited by our powers !;
and however clear it may be that we are bound by
allegiance TO democratic principle to condemn, 10
mitigate to abolish slavery, wherever We consti-
tu,ionally do So il is equally clear that we are not
bound, and that we have no right to interfere with
slavery by legislation beyond the sphere oil our con-
stuonal powers.
We have no power to !egisate on the subject of
slavery in the States. We have power 10 prevent
It's extension and TO prohibit its existence within the
sphere Of the exclusive jurisdiction OF the General
Government Our duty, therefore, is TO abstain from
interference with in the States. Ii is also duty
to prohibit its extension into national territories, and
its continuance where We are constutlooaly respon-
sible for its existence.
Such, Mr. President, is my position; and for the
purpose of showing that am sustained in 1t by the
! very highest authority propose 10 review, some
what at large, the history OF this Government In ts
| relations to slavery.
II was said Yesterday by the honorable Senator
from Virginia Mr.. HUsTER that the South had no
cause of complaint against the North in regard 10
slavery until the year 1890, the date OF the Missouri
| compromise. However that may be, we must 20
further back In iime IL wish TO trace the contro-
versy between slavery and freedom in this country
! 10 It's source. We must 60 two hundred yeas fur
ther back Twas in 1920 that Dutch ship assembled
the James river, bringing the first slaves into Viz
ginia In that same year the Mayf1ower b ought the
Pilgrim founders of New England to Ply mouth
Rock. Slavery was introduced into Virginia. Free
dom was planted in New England. The contest
between the despotic principle-tho element and
| guaranty Of slavery-and the democratic principle
the element and guaranty of liberty commenced.
But slavery was not established In Virginia with
out remonsirance and resistance. The colonists
complained vehemently Of the introduction of slaves,
and resorted TO various expedients OF prevention.
But the desire of the mother country TO Deneht the
navigator and TO stimulate production led the British
| Government to disregard every complaint, and to
negative all colonial legislation against the slave
trade. Slaves continued TO be imported The irafiic
extended TO other colonies until al length slavery
obtained foo,hod in every one Of them. AT the
breaking out OF the Revolution, slaves were held In
every colony, from Massachusetts TO Georgia. =,
Well sir, low slavery regarded at that period
In September l774, the first Congress Of the colo
MES met in Philadelphia Had the opposition tc
slavery which had been previously manifested, and
the desire for its extinction which had been so gen
orally cherished now become extinct? decisive
| answer to this inquiry may be found In AM extract
, from singulary able exposition of the Rights o
British America prepared by Mr.. Jefferson and aiC
before the Convention Of Virginia, which assembled
y in August, l774 for the purpose OF appointing dele
gates TO the proposed Congress. will read this ex
tracts
The abolition Of domestic siarery is the greatest coec
of desire in these colonies where 1t unhappy intro
duced their inian, state But, previous to the enlra
innovations from Africa Yet repeated attempts
effect this by prohibitions, and by imposing duties whe
| might amount prohibition have been hitherto deieae
ty his Msestys negative; thus preierrng The lmmcdla
Advantage OF few African corsairs 10 the hsng neie
Of the American States and the rights OF human mature
deeply wounded by this Infamous pracuce hFeh'te
: | An series, poi !, p. tso
. The Congress, which soon after assembled share
. | these scnIincnts. Among Its first acts was III
framing of the celebrated Articles OF Associate
n which composed the nonmportation, non'expor''
d ton, and non-consumption agreement. VIII rea
the second of those articles:
n THAT will neither import purchase any slave IN
ported after the first day OF December next, amer VINO
me will wholly discontinue the slave trade ana WIZ ne
her be concerned In ourselves, will we hire our We
ala or sell our commodities or manufactures TO tho
= who are concerned in L"8m Archfres, AN series, %
y l,p. 9l4.
There was another article in this agreement, whic
will read
"Au H. And vi DO further agree and resolve that we W
Vi have no trade dealings or
In with any colony or prov In North America which sla
moi accede 10 or which shall hereafter violate this associ
ton but will hold Them unworthy OF Tie rights o. IRE
ct men aud nimca 10 the liberties oil this country
" Arohires, an series, roi ], p sla'
nj Well. sir, this solemn covenant, thus piedgir
!. every colony and every citizen TO an entire abandon
' nent and suppression of the slave trade was sign'
1l by every delegate In Congress, southern and Noi
ne eyn. Public sentiment on this subject was III.
re unanimous or next 10 unanimous, throughout u
ID, country Among these signers we Ind the nam
, q of Rodney Mex can, and Read, OF Delaware; Cha
and Paca, of Maryland; Richard Henry Lee, Of VI
70 pnia; Hooper and Hcwes, OF North carolina al
> Middleton Rutledge and Lynch, OF south Caro'ln
up ali of whom subsequently, subscribed tbs Dsclarati,
All of Independence We also find the names
ne George Washington and Patrick Henry.
ed Now. Mr. President, let II be remsinbered III
his these Articles of Association ene;ed Into as met
IN ure for obtaining q redress Of grievances from
No Peope and Government Of Great BrtxSh, and 70 I
faithful observance of which, In all thsr supuis"'
IL, the delegates Of the colonies pledged themselves
- their constituencies under the sacreo uos WIZ
III honor and love of country" let DC remembered
,us saw thst these auic~s constituted the rst bond
w, American Union The Union thus constituted
ed Ia he sure i'm cyfcct partial incomplete but II