The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-08

i6nt - W Dc NOT dUSOuciy WITHOUT any
, There are impatient mertoo impaten talways to give
heed TO the admoniton of ST Paul. that are not to
do evil that good may cometoo impatient to wait for
the slow progress oil moral in the Improvement OF
mankind They do not remember that the doctrines and
the miracles oil Jesus Christ have, in 1900 years. con-
verted only a small portion Of the human race; and,
among the nations converted to Christianity they forget
how many and crimes, public aad private, still pre-
vail, and that many OF the-the public crimes espe
ciayohences against the Christian religion, pass with
out exciting particular regret Indignation Thus wars
are waged, and unjust | do not deny that there
may be just wars there certainly but was the re-
mark Of an eminent person, not many years ago. upon
the other side OF the Atlantic, that 1t was one OF the
greatest reproaches 10 human nature that wars were
sometimes necessary for the defence Of nations-that
they were sometimes called for against the injustice Of
In this Of sentiment upon the general nature OF
slavery lies the for great portion OF these unhap
py divisions, exasperatons and reproaches. which find
does exist in the United States 1t did exist in the States
before the adoption OF this constitution and at the time OF
its adoption. And now let consider, for moment,
what was the state OF sentiment in the North and the
South IN regard 70 slavery at the time this constitution
was adopted. remarkable change has taken place
since What did the wise and good men OF all parts of
the country think OF slavery In what estimation
did they hold i in list, when this constitution was
adopted! Il will be found, sir, if will carry our
selves by historical research back to that day and as
among u.s. that there was no great diversity of opinion
between the North and the South upon the subject Of
slavery and will be found that both parts Of the
II will not be found that either at the North at the
South there much--thougir there was some-invec
tive against slavery, nhuman and cruel The great
ground Of objection il political; that i weakened
the social fabrics that taking the place OF free labor,
society less strong and labor less productve There
fore find from all the eminent ot the South the
cearest expression OF their opinion that slavery was an
evil; and they ascribe itnot without truth, and not
without some acerbty OF temper and force Of language
TO the injurious policy OF the mother country which, to
favor the navigator, had eniaed the evil upon the colo
Mes need hardly refer to the publications Of the day.
or to the matters of history upon record The most emf
nent men, nearly all the conspicuous men, in all the
South. held the sentiments: that slavery was an
evil; it was blight; il blast; II mildew;
it was scourge; il was curse There were terms
OF reprobaton violent in the North at that day in
the South The North not SO much excited against
II as the South. And the reason was suppose, that
there much less Of il in the North than in the South
and the people did not did not think they saw, the
evils so prominent as they were seen thought to be
seen, IN the South
Then, sir, when this constitution was formed this was
the light in which the convention viewed it. The
venon reflected the Judgment and the sentiment OF the
great OF the South member of the other House,
whom have not the honor to know, recent speech,
has collected extracts from these published documents
They prove the truth oil what have said The question
then was how to- deal with slavery, and how TO deal
with il as an evil They came to this general result
they thought that slavery could not continue ia the
country, II the importation of slaves should cease and
they therefore provided that for certain period the i'm
poration Of slaves might be prevented BY the action Of
the new government. Twenty years were proposed by
some gentleman-a northern gentleman, think. Many
OF the southern gentlemen opposed il being too long
Mr. Madison especially was somewhat warm against IT,
and said il would bring too great amount OF that mis-
chief into the country TO allow the importation OF slaves
for such period because, in the whole Of this discus
sion, when we are considering the sentiments and opn-
ions in which this constitutional provision originated
we must take along with the ac that the conviction
of all was that il the Importation of slaves ceased
the white would multiply faster than the black race
and that slavery would therefore gradually out and
expire 41
II may not be improper here to aude to that--I had
almost said ceebrated-opnion OF MIR. Madison. You
observe SIR that the slavery is used in the
sttution The constitution does not require that fugitive
slaves shall be it requires that persons bound
be delivered up Mr. Madison opposed the introduction
OF the term slave slavery into the constitution for he
said he did not wish to 1t recognised by the constu
ton Of the United States OF America that there could be
property m man.
All this took place in the convention OF i7s7 but con-
neced with this and contenporaneous with it, another
important consideration sufficiently attended to- The
convention for forming this constitution assembled in
Philadelphia in May, and sat until December, 1871
During all that time the Congress OF the United States
in session al New York II was matter OF design
as we know, that the convention should not assemble m
the same State where Congress was holding its session
Almost all The public men OF the country therefore, OF
distinction and emlnence, were in the other OF
these two assemblies; and think il happened in some
instances that the gentlemen members OF both
u mistake not such was the case with Mr. Rufus King,
the time member from Massachusetts of the
ventIon which formed the constitution. II in the
summer OF 17S7 AT the very time when the convention
in Philadelphia was framing this constitution, that the
Congress in New York was framing the ordinance OF
1857. And they passed that ordinance on the 18th
OF july 1887, at New Yorktbe very month"; and perhaps
the very day, in which these questions OF the importation
OF slaves and the character OF slavery debated IN
the convention in Philadelphia So far can now
learn, there perfect opinion between
these respective bodies IL resulted this The ordinance
OF 1857, excluding slavery, applied TO all the ter
rtoy which the Congress OF the United States had
jurisdiction; that Is, 10 all The territory northwest of the
I~f...x L.ll
made OF that great territory the United States
and most magnificent act il never reflect upon
it without disposition 10 do honor and jusice--and
Justice would be the highest honor-to Virginia ior that
act oi cession OF the Northwestern Territory. will say
SIR that IL OF her fares claims TO the respect and
gratitude OF the United Saies and that perhaps il only
second TO that other claim which attaches TO her which
is, that from her counses, and from the intelligence and
patriotism OF her leading statesmen proceeded the first
idea put in practice for the formation OF agenera con-
stItutlon OF the United States.
This ordinance OF 7s7, applying thus TO the whole ter
riory which the Congress the United States had
any jurisdiction, adopted nearly two years before
the constitution OF the United States went into operation
because the ordinance took effect Immediately upon its
passage, while tue constitution after having been framed
be sent TO the States to be debated in their con
ernment 10 be organized under it This ordinance
therefore, in full operation aud force when the con-
sitution was adopted and Its government put in notion
in March or April. 1853.
Mr. President three things are quite clear as hisor-
cal truths 0ne is, that there was an expectation that
upon the ceasng Of the importation Of slaves from Afri.
ca slavery would begin to ont That was hoped and
expected Another Is, that far as there was any pow
er in Congress to prevent the spread OF slavery ia the
r.