The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-07

spect The slaves are your own property recog-
missed as such by that Constitution, every line and
every intendment Of which ! hold sacred. But
let me ask gentlemen If they have not negro-steal-
ers in their own States--if they have not every
variety of unprincipled characters among them?
Neither they nor we can free our respective States
from such men and they should consider wheth-
er. if things were reversed-they occupying our
position and we theirs-they would be likely to
keep themselves freer from just reproach than we
have been | am not 50 undmindful Of truth rs
TO DENY that in respect to the subject now under
consideration, some of our Southern friends have
good cause to complain But it must have been
remarked by all of us, that the Representatives
from those States which have really been aggrieyed
in this respect are not those who have threatened
us with disunion These threats have come from
the Representatives of States from which, ven
ture to say, on an average not one slave escap
in FIVE wears Who ever heard of a slave escaping
from Mississippi or Alabama? Where does he
90 to? Who helps him away? Certainly not
the people of the North. Kentucky, Virgins,
MARYLAND, and Missouri, the only States that are
really sufferers by the escape Of slaves, do not
seem 10 have dreamed Of dissolution as remedy {;
while the Representatives from few OF the ex-
IRENE Southern States whence slaves could no
more escape than from the island OF Cuba, see
ample cause and imperious necessity for dlssolvng
acyn in the alleged fact that their slaves are en-
ticed away by the citizens Of the North.
believe there remains now but a single other
g charge against the North y for me to examine );
and that brings me to the subject more imme-
diately under consideration in this Committee
the California question The proceeding which
has resulted in bringing California to the door OF
the Union is characterized by the honorable gen
tleman from Mississippi, . as unwise, unpatrlotc,
sectional in it's tendencies, insulting 10 me So"b,
and in the last degree despicable.H at is,o
says that gentleman +" in derogaton Of the Con-
sttution of the United States, and intended to
rob the Southern Suites Of their just and rightful
possessions
1t is also objected that these proceedings are
likely to Introduce into the other House of Con-
gress two Free Soil Senators, (which will destroy
/ he equilibrium row existing there between the
North and the South, by giving to the free States
the majority. Well now, sir, what are the pro-
ccediugs complained of, and for which the Union
is TO be dissolved, antthe North held responsible
The President, hmselfa Southern man and slave
holder, with n Cabinet the majority of whom are
Southern men and shareholders, send Thomas
Butler King a Southern man and a stakeholder
to all and comfort encourage and advise,
the gold diggers in their efforts to join the sister
hood of States. Mr. King returns, bringing as
trophies two Southern men-one Nissssippian
and the other South Carolnian land both slave
holders, believed whom our Southern President
desires TO introduce into the Senate of the United
States as members of that body. And, thereupon,
our Southern friends declare that if this infil-
os Northern aggression rs vsrried
out, the Union shall be dissolved and the North
held responsible! Bat what, L pray. has the
North had to do with all this2 Where can you
discover the slightest traces of n Northern mans
finger in the whole matterl Nay, sir, who are
they in Congress who are understood to have dis
tinctly declared themselves in favor of the adms-
sion of California, since the reception Of the
message on that subject? Who but Clay, Hous-
ton Benton, Of the Senate, and Bay, Of this
House--all Shareholders
And this California proceeding fills the measure
of Northern aggression and makes it impera-
tive upon "every Southern son to rise in rebel
lionn and exclaim to the North, " Give us liberty
or give US deathn Mr.. Chairman, how is it
that this matter is expected never to be understood
by the people of the South Surely their Rep
reseutatives do not intend to deceive them-they
could not hope to do so ON a subject 80 plain and
palpable.
Now sir having disposed Of the charges of
f" Northern aggression of which we have heard
so much since the meeting of Congress, appeal
to gentlemen to say whether there is anything in
them. taken separately OF in the aggregate, which
in the slightest degree justies their threats against
the Union | appeal to them also to say, whether
the overthrow of this Government and the estabr
liShment of Southern COnfederacy' would
mitigate in any degree the evils they complain OF.
Would anti-slavery societies go down; would
anti-slavcry presses cease their issues; would
lecturers give up their occupations; would Mrs.
Darlington withhold her sage opinions on the mo-
ruiity % slavery and would slavAs ESCAPE
more from the Northern slaveholding States2 No,
gentlemen, every real grievance that now exists
would then be aggravated in q tenfold degree. !
am a. a loss to conceive how on this point there
can be any diversity of opinion.
Seeing then, that all these complaints are either
wholly groundlcss, or exceedingly trivial, when
considered in the light of causes jnstifying dis
solution of the Union, am constrained to believe,
and so declare as the firm conviction Of my own
mind that if this slavery question were settled to-
day, upon terms entirely unohjectonable to the
South, the scheme of Remembering the Union
would still be prosecuted rs now.
Sir | feel no little remorse for the wrong did
to an eminent citizen last summer. The distin-
guished Senator from Missouri, Colonel Benton
distinctly and boldly declared to the people of that
State that there was small but active party IN
the extreme South-at the head Of which was an
eminent statesman, alike distinguished for his
great genius and his reckless ambtion-who were
to the establishment of separate Southern
Confederacy.D For that denounced Colonel
Benton in my State, and to my constituents
May God forgive me for the wrong did him.
was wrong-he was right. Yes, sir; with that
party small but active and influential, this sla-
very agitation is hut a mode Of etfecting the de-
structon of this Union. IL furnishes convent
ent pretext aud n powerful lever. But, be as
sured sir, had they not in the slavery question a
plausible pretext for carrying forward their de-
signs, they would hunt for such n pretext else
WHEREOF invent one. The people, however, alike
patriotic and vigilant, will defeat their designs
and in due time they will visit with just retribu
ton those who have sought to mislead them.
But do these gentlemen see no difficulties in the
way? | know that, so far as the free States are
concerned, they have only to fear a iWle gaseon
ale and fm hremsn-for they have told US 80
But is there nothing to be apprehended from the
patriotism and frmness Of the people of the slave
States themselves? How about all those who may
choose to hesitate in the States Of Maryland Del
aware, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Mis-
souri,, Texas and Tennessee They are to be
hGnged-hanged at once as we learn from the
gentleman from North Carolina, MIR. CLNGMAN
Now, sir, when the gentleman proceeds to that
operation in Kentucky, the hemp-growers of that
State will have no occasion to desire contract
for furnishing the Navy with hemp-for they will
not be able to supply the demand for home con-
sumption. Truly, that day on which all the PEG,
pie of the slave States who are opposed to dis
union shall be hanged in the air, and among them
CLAY, UNDERWOOD, BENTON, HoUsToN, BADGER,
and others of equal distinction-that day, sir
will be one to be remembered Gentlemen .r,l
US again and again, that they are not appalled, at
all ths--that nothing need be expected from the
fears of "Southronso And the gentleman from
North Carolina, especially, seems exceedingly
anxious to impress us with proper appreciation
of the prowcss of himself and his friends This
is all unnecessary. We have never impugned
their bravery, and never doubtedt. We do not
doubt it now. They unquestionahly possess that
quality to an equal extent with other men. But
their constant disparagement Of the personal
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