The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-07


heard. 10 be sure, that there are pens, they
called. some Prisonhouses on the Island, where
slaves are confined. but have never. gone there 10
see who was in or out OF them, or how they were
kept. And really, sir. il seems 10 me that Of
proper feeling would be disposed to look upon the
we may imagine to exist at such places unless il was his
duty TO doit 80 far our legislative functions are
concerned may justa safely rely our
eyes We have heard that slaves brought here from
ne saFoundpS M States ior sale am willing to listen io
traffic whenever they desire IT, But will that arrest the
trade in slaves L WIZ Il b anything more than change
should sensible and benevolent man mourn over the
slave trade the north bank Of the Potomac than
on the south bank Why should he 90 into Mysteries
is mere circumstance which neither increases nor d
mnishes the number OF slaves, and does and
either alleviate or aggravae the misees Of slavery Sir
those homes founded the District OF Columbia for
text. II the supendous evils OF American slavery are
ever in the providence Of God 70 be redressed and OBJ
men who possess intellectual capacity TO adapt and apply
their machinery to the whole continent To make any
scheme efectual, i must be scheme OF moral suasion
alone.
Judging from debates proper business consists
in getting up torrent OF feeling and pouring out our
grief over y ne calamiss which we daily meet n ths
wear black skin. The phanthropist must have an i'm
mense fountain Of tears pay lachymal tribute %
rybodys sorrow. But, notwithstanding all the deep
pressons Of sympathy for the oppressed African
required select the gentlemen in the Senate OF most
cheerful temperament and joyous hiarty, should take
them from those who, so far words are c0ncerned
greve most over the condition Of slaves Not long ago
print that in New England was 10 be hung
for numbering his wife and children II heart
endng crime, and doubt he Justly deserved the pun
ishment. You can scarcely open newspaper without
meeting with account OF some horrible transaction
which has occurred in some part OF our wide spread
country, OF the world Sir these things incident to
condition earth, and 70 fallen nature. and they
be prevented until that blessed period shall arrve
when the hearts Of all are to be regenerated In the
If do nd
is worse than useless for gentlemen to be continually
bringing up the evils Of slavery for animadverson con-
Mr.. HALE. The evils Of slavery exist by force Of
law while those to which you refer exist without being
upheld and a sastsinsd BY law That s the difference
briefly, though had not intended TO 90 into it at this
time The senator says that the evils OF slavery Of
which he and others complain exist by force Of law
Now, sir, did not the relation OF parent and child, OF
husband and wife, in the case to which have already
alluded where the father murdered the mother and chill
dren exist by force Of law What that gave the
the time he murdered them What brought them to-
getheri The force of law What established the rela
lion between the parties! The force Of law What gave
the husband power over the wife The force OF law
How does the exercise power the slave BY
the force Of law. But where is the difference in these
Simply here. and nowhere else In the relations
OF husband and wife, OF parent and child OF guardian
and ward and OF master and apprentice there may be
higher degree OF sympathy stronger afection-tes OF
more tender and elevated characteI which generally
subsist in the case Of master and slave concede all
that but the legal relation is the thing wish considered
s S
from the law the municipal the civil law, and not the
law OF nature. The law OF nature may give the mother
right to rule and govern the infant but the father de-
rives his right from the law Of society The marriage
relation is based upon and grows out of civil contract
regulated by human laws So far, therefore. as the re-
ference 10 law, they Identical Let 20 further.
The white child is legally just much the slave as the
black negro-just as much, and 1t can be proved 70
demonstration. What is slavery Il is the right BY law
to control the viii OF another and TO appropriate his
vices to your and benefit II that is moi slavery DO
not know what it is. What is the ownership OF a
him labor for your and benefit II is that right which
constitutes the horse your property your slave What Is
the foundation which to place the right Of the father to
control the will Of the child until is twentyon years
oldi
SENATOR The law Of nature.
MIR UNDERWOOD. No, sir. The law OF nature
the child until he able 70 provide for and take Of
himself But il Is entirely regulation Of human society
that gives either parent the right 70 control the will and
appropriate the labor OF the child until he reaches the
age OF tweny-one. Nor does the age Of twentyone fix
the period of minority in all countries. II law
Of nature. i would be the same everywhere The Ro-
mans, believe, continued the authority OF the parent
over the child during the life OF the parent and gave the
master the power oflife and death over his slave.
My proposition is to prove to the senator from New
Hampshire Mr. HALEl that the condition OF the child in
reference to servtude identical with that OF the slave,
except so far is modified and smeoratcd by the diff
ferent degrees OF affection and interest admit that our
warm sympahies and love for children operate
TO produce treatment and conduct towards them very df
ferent from that usually observed towards slaves but
king the proposition in legal point OF view, and my po-
son cannot be disputed The father has full control over
the chids will and the right to apply hagellaion and
punishment for dsobedience until he is twenty.one
years Of age The child is not generally subjected TO
severe discipline because OF the affections TO which
have referred and, from the motives founded in lia at
tachment and reverence, the child likely 10 obey
with cheerfuness and alacrty But will not dwell lon
ger on this point The right OF the father to control the
child and TO appropriate his labor during minonya mi
noty which, the option OF the legislature, may be con-
nued long after the faculties Of the child, both physical
and mental enable him TO provide Tor hmselfs derived
slave has precisely the foundation TO stand But
suppose concede, according TO the suggestion, that the
relation of parent and child s founded the law OF
ure il be conended that the relations OF guardian and
ward master and apprentice, likewise based upon the
law of naturei Certainly not. In the OF the ap
prentice, then, we have clear where the institutions
OF create involuntary servitde and give the maste
the right to control the win and appropriate the labor
his servant and to fog him for disobedence This spe
ces of slavery limited in its duration in respect to thos
who are bound by IL is tolerated in every civilized com
gree. The apprentice has voon in entering into the
relation Submission and obedience TO the will OF mas
ter become his duty. for the violation OF which corporea
punishment is the penalty This relation eup1ect u
many and great abuses, and have heard Of innumant>
and cruelty towards apprentices not less revolving than the
infuriated brutality sometimes practsed on slaves
Now sir the northern mind, II seems TO me- overlooki
the many other relations Of life having their origin y
the laws which regulate human society snd sszes hold