Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-06-20
EXTRACT
EROM THE SPEECH OF
HON, THOS. FL. BENTON
In opposition to The Compromise BlHj-'
delivered jane 10, 1850.

LnOsu Il III DL GCCII VI
HON. THOS. IL. BENTON,
In opposition to the Compromise Bill
delivered jane 10, 1850.
Presenting our readers would feel interested
in learning the particular views of a man who
has so much distinguished himself during the
present Session of Congress- by his bold stand
against the schemes of the Slave power, we Sc
lect, from his recent learned and powerful
effort, that portion which is more especially de-
voted TO the subject of the extension of slavery
with illusions to its final extension.
But my opposition to the extension
of slavery dates further back than lS44-forty
years further back; and as this is q suitable
time for a general declaration, and a sort of
general conscience delivery, will say that my
opposition to 1t dates from 1904, when was
student at law in the State of Tennessee, and
studied the subject of African slavery in an A.
mercan book-a Virginia book-Tuckers edl-
ton oil Blackstone's Commentaries. And here
it is, (holding up volume and reading from the
title page y BiachStone'S Commentaries, ,Uih
notes preference to The Constitution and lalcs of
the Federal Constitution and lacs Of the Federal
Government of the United States, and Of the
Commonwealth Of Virginia, IN ,fue vOtumeS ,Oth
an appendix to each Uolune containing ShpH tracts,
as appeared necessary 10 form connected vteD Of
Vrginia as member Of the Federal Union By
ST. George Tucker, Professor Of Lalc in the u
nwrsiy Of W,IIiam and Mary, and one of the
Judges Of the General Court IN Virginia" In
this American book--this Virginia edition of an
English work. found my principles on the sub
ect of slavery. Among the short tracts in the
appendices il one of fifty pages in the appendix
to the first volume, second part, which treats of
the subject of African slavery in the United
States, with total condemnation of the institu-
ton, and plan for its extinction in Virginia.
In that work---in that school that old Virginia
school which was taught 10 reverence found
my principles on slavery: and adhere to them.
concur in the whole essay, except the remedy
-grdual nclpatlon-and find in that remedy
the danger which the wise men of Virginia then
saw and dreaded, but resolved TO encounter, be-
cause it was to become worse with time: the
danger to both races from so large emancipation.
The men of that day were not enthusiasts or ia
natics they were statesmen and philosophers.
They knew that the emancipation of the black
slave was not mere question between master
and slave was net question of property
merely--but question of white and black-be-
tween races and what was to be the conse-
quence to each race from large emancipation
And there the wisdom, not the philanthropy, OF
Virginia baked fifty years ago; there the wis
dom of America balks now. And here | find
the largest objection to the extension of slave
ry-to planting it in new regions where it does
not now exist-bestowlng it on those who have
it not. The incurability Of the evil is the
greatest objection of slavery. 1t is wrong for
the legislator to inhct an evil which can be
cured: how much more to inhict one that is in.
durable, and against the will of the people who
are to endure it forever! quarrel with no one
for supposing slavery blessing: deem it an
evil; and would neither adopt it nor impose it
on others. Yet am STAKEHOLDER and among
the few members Of Congress who hold slaves
in this District. The French proverb tells us
that nothing IL new but what has been forgotten.
So Of this objection to large emancipation
Every one now sees that it is question of races,
Involving consequences which 60 to the desruc
ton of one or the other: il was seen fifty years
ago, and the wisdom of Virginia baked at it
| then. 1t seems to be above human wisdom
| But there is a wisdom above human and to that
we must look. In the mean time, not extend the
evil.
In refusing to extend slavery into these seven
| ty thousand square miles, | act in conformity
not only to my own long established principles
but also in conformity to the long established
practice of Congress. Five times in four years
did Congress refuse the prayer of Indiana for a
temporary suspension of the anti-sIavery clause
of the ordinance of ~. On the I'd of March
| 1903, Mr., Randolph, of Roanoke, as chairman
of the committee to which the memorial praying
the suspension was referred, made report a.
gainst it, which was concurred, in by the House
This is the report:
"That the rapid population of the State Of
Ohio, sufficiently eyinces, in the opinion of our
committee, that the labor of slaves is not neces-
sary to promote the growth and settlement Of
colonies in that region. That this labor, de.
Inonstrably the dearest of any, can only be en-
ployed to advantage in the cultivation of pro
ducts more valuable than any known to thai
quarter of the United States that the commit
tee deem it highly dangerous and inexpedien
to impair provision wisely calculated to pro
mote the happiness and prosperity o. the north
western country, and to give strength and sec
urity to that extensive frontier. In the salutary
operation of this spacious and benevolent re
strant it is believed that the inhabitants of In
diana will, at no very distant day, find ample re
Enumeration for temporary priyation of labor
and of emigration"
This report of Mr.. Randolph was in 1903
the next yeaa, March, 1904, different report
on the same prayer, wrs made by a committee
of which Mr.. Rodney, of Delaware. was chair
man. 1t recommended a suspension Of the anti
slavery clause for ten years it was not concur
red in by the House. Two years afterwards
February, 1906, similar report, recommending
suspension for ten years, was made by a com
mlttee of which.Mr. Garnet, of Virginia, wal
chairman: it met the same fate-no concurrence
The next year, 1907, both Houses were tried
In February of that year, committee of thu
House, of which Mr.. Parke was chairman. re
ported in favor of indefinite suspension of tn,
clause the report was not concumed in. Ant
in November ofthat year, Mr. Franklin, ofN. C
as chairman Of a committee of the Senate, made
a report against the SUSPENSION which was con
Cured in by the Senate, and unanimously, as i
would seem from the Journal there being n,
division called for. Thus, five times in fou
years, the respective Houses of Congress refused
to admit even temporary extensin, or rather re
extension OF slavery into Indiana territory, which
had been before the ordinance OF ~ slave ter
ritory, holding many slaves at Vncennes. These
FIVE refusals to suspend the ordinance ofs7, were
so many combinations of it. All the rest OF tht
action Of Congress upon the subject, was to the
same effect or stronger The Missouri comprom.
Use line was a curtailment of slave territory the
Texas annexation resolutions were the same
the ordinance of ~ itself, so often confirmed by
Congress, was a curtailment of slave territory =
in fact its actual abolition: for it IS certain thai
slavery existed in fact in the French settlements