The Arkansas banner., 1850-07-09
SPEECH OF HON. R. w. JOHNSON, OF ARK ANsAs, ON THE SLAVERY QUESTION, DeliUsTd in thr House ef Representatives., Jane 7A,
 l25g
SPEECH OF

The House having under consideration, as in Committee of the Whole, the President's Message
 communicating the Constitution of California, Mir. | JOHNSON said
 ! MR. CHnRMAS The same necessity k upon me l which impels others to address yoa. No fondness i for my own comfort and convenience governs nae | in it. or 1 should remain silent. l speak from d
 sense of duty 10 my constituents, and of devotion
 to the interests and rights Of the South, as well | to this Union.
 sdyocate, MT. Chairman, union of ihe South
 and unity of the States of the South, for tho de-
 fence aud preservation of the South This, sir, is
 6 policy which l never could have dreamed of,
 until now that see what is sroun nd and before me condemd ,ss have been taught, by the writings of all
 past great statesmen, the division Of this
 try into sectional parties. They have advised against it. But am not 10 be deprived of my reason by
 false construction Of their advice; is earn est consideration Of facts and surrounding circum-
 stances to be nterdicied. They would not desire
 it of theit post=riy. but would reply that they loo 1 had been preceded by wise ant great men in this
 world and If th.y had followed eounses other than those of their reason, exercised npon the cir
 eumstances O the times, there had been no revoln- tion-no ndependcnce--no forn,atbon of new States 1 mo liberty in America l will not eansent that
 open enernieE, covert traitors, misguided friends
 shall give that construction to the counsel of past great nen, which shall disunte the South and yield them up a certain prey.
 | ask. first that you will regard the eircumstan- ces under which W ashingion uttered his emphatic
 advice against sectional pa rites Under the old Con- federstion, it was found thai our Government was
 utterly de6cient-that il had neither scope strength
 nor unity-ihat il divided up by jealousies and sectional parties and could not last. The very same incongrous interests. rvslres and jeaoasies, ex- isled then which exist now. They not greater now than they then, and they existed between the North and South. But the States weak thar. fhe biphest necessitV their union The several States appeared in Convention. and the sectional parties were unyelding in their demands for equality in rights and protection. The resnit was a glorious Constitution and Jnst and happy Government. Had it not been for that firm aud determined sectional spirit, this would never have
 been made the just and perfect governmeBt that il
 was. But it is now, in its growth, fast changing its character; and if do not. section resist 1 with the same ugyieiding frmness, il will soon be- come oppression to,and destructive ef the minority With the new Consultation, General Washington
 was installed and after eight years of eminent
 vice. uttered his Farewell Address, which has been so often referred 10 recently, and constantly sought to be made the means of disuning and de- stroyiBg the South. It was never uttered from his lips Hs counseiling US to submit 10 wrong or to a
 perversion of the principles aud spirit in which our government was framed. if now living, firmly
 believe he would indignantly condemn the section alIsm and injustice of the North.
 Those who have quoted that address, will be found to be such only have affiliated with ihe az rressors and have partially wholly abandoned the South in this struggle. Those of theEi who have been aetuated by just and honorable motives can only be compared 10 the ofhcious and foolish fellow who grasps his friend in the midst Of A conflict, whilst his adversary is permitted to sIa5 him.
 a. directed against m tsh shsys thus construed it. It other sectional questions, and against all manner of injustice, and inculcaled moderation and pure justice But that advice has been disregarded and ! hp Ina Anrth Ifaf
 ton itself has Been violated in the very letter by the whole States and communities of the N orth. in the matter of State laws aud individual action concerning fugitive slaves.
 The national flag has proved 10 be no protection to Southern mans property, as in the Creole and other cases. The Government itself has lost af- fiuity for, and become hostile 10 the South, us Is exempfed in the fraudulent formation of the Cali fornia Constitution, and many other instances-- The very States of the North, with but solitary exception, and that exception exists only in name} stand upon this floor banded together by solemn action ol their people and home governments. with no common object but hostility 10 the South; with no common priucipl but the exclusion oi the South from every foot of our common territory. Was this done in pursuance of the aGvice Of w hshiDg toni Is such like the inculcalon oi his Farewell Addressl Will sHy one dispute The existence oi this sectional party, which numbers it's members
 without regard 10 politics commands heavy ma lority in this House, and when all men coneede that Dickinson, of New York, and few men of that class for their patriotic support of the Con sttuina ia it's spirit Of justice to all parts Of the
 Union are upon the floors of Congress for the last time and bound 10 die beneath the hostility of the relentless North7 No one will dispute Il.
 Are we 10 submit to these ihingsi And submit humbv and quietlyl And be denounced dis unionists, because we Protestf No sir.
 This Government eommends itself to our support only so long it is Just and secures our rights. It exists only by the consent of inc States, and Is based apon the hearts and affections of the people Biting cruel, and insulting injustice that shall open up 10 our view, 10 be rought out by the energies and power of this Government, in the course of A | quarter or half century, destiny Of degradauon- of poverty and annihilaiion is not the rePAs, to
 which we were invited. II tri sipeep uiray fhs af
 ieetions or the people and the assent ot the Sates This Governmsnt will thea fall, and II eaghlto fall. As fear that this rapidly approaches, will proclaim the danger, and no apprehension for the
 deections of friends the deHn Of enemies,
 or of consequences of shy character personal 10 ! my self shA deter me from the task,
 II we would preserve our Government we must
 prevent injustice Oppression and destruction fol- l low injustice. If we would prevent injustice, We
 must anite at the South IL Is easier 10 resist ln
 cipisnt oppression, than Il IS 10 overthrow an estSO ] lished tyranny
 Calm and collected sir, eoniid eni in the security of majority power, sits upon this toer the orth-
 efn representation We Of inc South can have iittle | hope. lac utmost they VIII q" H 10 aaapt souis | measure that as 1t is commonly expressed, viii
 save a.SoHiheyn honor" but II muSt. however, cc-
 vertly phrasea. eircaInscrbe "ar !'Sslis, ehier0e
 our yolpcr, and deprive us Of the means 10 deiend oar rights, at c fuiaye dag Remanstrate, reason, ! appeal to them $ may, nPon any saeIect how
 ever trivial, which has relation to slave property
 nuiess we get an answer of insaii and rePFoReh We
 ge: ne other answer thaY the same fixed sad insAo- i fsbe Northern vote
 Debate for utility in this hall is idle This battle I must be translated to other Parss--to our s'S'ss-
 counties, and precincts It mus, there be made the
 subtect matter of discussion and action. Ae soaih 1 must aAile-Inusi drive from power ihsss who NiH
 net unite to defend her caase-tnake inc battle hot tesl al nome, and ws will be represented truly Lei those who viii not contemplate the eSi's pre-
 pared for oar section. and exhibit toriitade ia re'
 sstiag their infiieiien leave our section, and ga
 north ward, where they wit mol bs sai4ed uFou r1
 share eur fuia. Bat Il is, they S1t an iacnsu'
 upon tsiS Southern mind, with Ds ether result ihan ~aalaa