Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-03-09
SPEECH OF THE HON. 4. STEVENS,
Of Pennsylvania.
In the House of Representatives, Washington,
February 20, 1850.

! | see any reasonable prospect that the House
would devote It's time to practical legislation.
But tor q considerable time after our meeting,
the organization Of the House was obstructed (;
aud since organized, a large portion of its time
has been occupied by speeches on the subject
Of slavery, mostly by southern gentlemen,
! when no practical question, TO which they
could apply was before the committee. There
was no doubt well.de6ned object IN this,
| partly to iutImidate Congress, and partly to
occupy its time, SO that no Legislation could be
matured obnoxious TO southern gentlemen. In
| deed we are not left to conjecture on this
point. The learned gentleman from North
/ Carolina, (Mr. CLINGMAN,) who was selected
TO open the debate on behalf of human bon
dape. distinctly notified us, that unless Con-
eresE, as u condition precedent, submitted to
settle the slavery question, according TO south
/ ern demands, there should be no Legislation,
( even to the passage of the ordinary appropria-
/ tion bills necessary TO sustain the Government.
! and that such measures would not be OBJ
! structed by meeting them in manly debate,
and voting on their merits but by incessant-
! ly calling the yeas and nays, on repeated and
/ frivolous motions 10 adjourn, until the end Of
the session. Sir, doubt not that before he
ventured on so high a threat, he had full as
! surances from sufficient number Of southern
/ gentlemen to carry 1t into effect. For, II ne
had made II upon his own bare authority, 1t
would degenerate into contemplate gasconade,
which | am sure that discreet gentleman would
not indulge in. The scene of last Monday IN
this house fully sustained him, and showed
that they had the will and the power TO exc
cute it.
Here, then, we have well-defned and pal
/ pab!e conspiracy of southern members COM
! h,nol 10 no ay
slence OF the Government disorganize and
/ dissolve it, until the bands that bind the Union
{ together are severed, and, as gentleman early
| in the session desired" -" discord reigns." Well
might the gentleman anticipate that the coun-
/ try and posterty would pronounce this treason,
rank treason against the nation Sir, doubt
If there is another legislative body In the world
where such sedltlon would not be followed by
prosecution and punishment. France has lately
exiled members of her Assembly for similar
offence But in this glorious country, where
nearly two-thrds of the people are tree, we
can say anything within these walls or beyond
them with impuniiy, unless it be TO ngitate IN
favor OF human liberty-that is aggression
Let US inquire what Is the grave offence, the
mighty wrong, which can Justify threat big
with such portentous consequences The re-
fusal of Congress 10 propagate or TO establish
dOhUlIui Oh cNGIl hH duIHltkGu EOSd III ltit 1 ti-
rtories would surely be no cause for rebellion
and reyolution-much less would the refusal to
extend an evil, an admitted evil, an unmtl-
gated wrong. viii an intelligent and free
posterity believe it when impartial history re-
cords that the only cause for this high threat
was the apprehension that the Congress Of this
free Republic would not propa gate, nor permit
to be propagated, the institution of human sla-
very into her vast Territories now free! Yet
such is the simple fact 1t Is proper, then, 10
inquire whether the thing sought to be forced
upon the Territories at the risk OF treason and
rebellion be good or an evil. ! think 1t is
great evi! which oaght TO be Interdlcted that
we should oppose II as statesmen, as phianihro-
plsts, and as moralIts, nOtw outstanding the cx-
traordlnary position taken by the gentleman
from Alabama Mr.. llILLIARDl TO the contrary.
While | thus announce my unchangeabie
hostility 10 slavery in every form, and in every
place, | also ayow nv determination TO stand
by all the compromises OF the Constitution, and
carry them into faithful effect Some of those
compromises greatly dislike; and we're they
now open tor consideration, they should never
receive my assent. But find them in a con-
stitution formed in difficult times, and would
not disturb them
I By those compromises Congress has no pow
3
gret that II is so for if it were within our le-
gitimate control, would go, regardless Of all
threats, for some Just, safe and certain means
/ for its finaI extinction. But | know Of none
who claim the right, or desire TO touch it with
in the States But when we come 10 form
governments for territories acquired long since
the formation Of The Constitution, and to admit
new States, whose only claim for admission de-
pends on the will OF Congress, we arc bound
so to discharge that duty, as shall best contrib
ute 10 the prosperity, the power, the Perma-
neucy, and the glory Of this nation. Does
slavery contribute TO either of these Is II
not rather subversive of them all. Let US first
view il in the low hight Of political economy.
/ That nation, | suppose. Is always the most
prosperous, all other things being equal, that
( has the most industrious. and the larger num-
ber OF the producing classes. Those who
merely consume the fruits of the earth add
nothing TO the strength oil. the wealth OF ma
tlon. Slave countries never can have large
number of industrious freemen. Shareholders
form an untitled arIstocEacy, with numerous
depeniants. Individuals appropriate large
tracts Of territory to themselves, and thus pre-
/ vent it from beng thickiy settled by freemen.
! Their laborers, having no ambition to crafty,
no love Of gain 10 stimulate them, no paren;aI
feelings 10 lmpel them TO action, are IDLE and
wastefn When the lash is the only stlmu-
liant, the spirit Of man revolts from labor.
1ha; republic must be feeble, both in peace
and war, that has not an intelligent and indus
trons yeomanry equally removed from luxury
and from poverty. The mlddling classes who
own the soil. and wtrk il with their own hands,
are the main support of every free government.
Despotism may be powerful, aud long sustained
/ by mixed population of serfs and mobiles. But
! free representative republics that rely upon the
voluntary action of the people, never can
/ Under such governments, those who defend
and support the country must have a stake in
/ the soil must have interests TO protect and
rights TO defend.
Slave countries never can have such yeo-
! rnnnrv. nnuer cnn hnun q hndu of snnll nrn.