The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-05-01
SPEECH OF THE
Hon. Geo. h. Badger, Of N. Carolina,
ON THE SLAVERY QUESTION,
Delivered in the Senate. Monday. March Is. 1850.


Mr.. Pfesldrn,: Il 10 no, surprising. sir con
sder1g the sui jec, matter Of the re.ulu,i, n :
mbnt'ted BY the honorable Senator from
Kruucky, Mr. Clay } that there should have
been a ~am and e'en on excited debaie pro.
due, BY them in this iIrusr. Nor i. i, sur.
prisinga COTS de'ing the variety of topics en-.
brsced IN those resolutions, that there shou d
have been . grea, diversity OF sen,tmen, a
mong tie members Of this body, The deli.
cate nature of the subjrci out uf uiich these
fesolu'l, ns have gro~n--io which, diiecily or
Indirectly, hoy oil iela'e-fufnIshes abundant
excuse, and even jus Il atlon, Tor tho lafre
amount Of rsci'td i,ehng and warm b, end
animation ef discussion. here ind elseshe C.
DO not rise, Mr. ptc-idcn Ut, Nth ,ies OF
saving eny thin. " cA shall ieud to agra.
'aie'aciIea en-, or at all les.rn lie prospects
Of amleabie accommodation uf the various
matters N d. Fu'r. pend ~ bet~etn tie q II T.
enl poliions o this counify. o. the contra.
~, whllc shsil express. With rlantess and
sneeiiti, the views which entertain, shall
erGessor TO Az ID saying any thing vhnch
can CIV Just 81, nee. la the rona k.wh,ch
shall submit TO the Scnsir, ,ha,l ende,vor
to cultivate IN mysei, ard. so ltr Us drpcuds
upon n,o, IN others, Tia, sptH OF : mutual
oonccss'on, compromise. tnd nd ceiling. 10
1heh the Unlon Of The States oiialnG'ed, nnI
by culIssling which al1Le, ceu II 10 u,eser
vcd
There cab be 70 question. that the subject
under The cons defaii' Of the Senate 10 vast.
is important. /, Is, 10 ny jid smen'. as IN.
por'sni az The ,a'oc &c the union N for
the estimate ,f that value, | myself pn..ess
no sdequae plSers Of conpuiaiIen. To w,
asa peoP'r, u IL, indeed, lueslimab'r Whcn,
theteiofs, gres'lous are movcd here hich DO,
either dfrc ly or nd ecty, involve The con-
iInuanee Of this ,Ilon AID The tnul6 lrntnce ol
the form OF q vetuGieui uLder ah.ch Ne i've,
must consider them Of such tfan.teudent
importance, as TO be worthy uf ,yrty e,afc4se
of'he understanding Of every mc,sber pf his
b"dy, and a, demanding from us ell ,hr eAef.
ci'e q! moderation, Jlsticr, care, sud concila.
Iion. ia order TO produce good aud avoid evil.
Ia the frs, place, concur enufelv n shat
las been so uilen said upnu this q or, iha,
there car be no peaccaals separation oil this
iaion. F.om The vcfy nature OF the case
from the character Of our institutions
tho eb-..e'st al the couuity, ON tic nature
4" TIE government itsclf, 1t Is, IN NV gu, n,
i'npo,s be that there can ue a iayst--Li. So.
p,rauon Of lhls Umon. Ba, It there could
he, agree ca ely W b Tho honorable Sena.
tor from keu'u Ks, that tisi state ui peace 10
Which ~e might separate mus be speedily
nded-nusI tc, nlna'e 10 intestine CO.. I! CTS,
IN sars, which, lfon the nature ol tho case,
could know no anricsb'e iertnins,inH, no per.
msueut peace, but, un;i the superiority OF
Que OF the other side IN the conflict 81 ould DO
completely esiab sod, would adult OF moth.
ing but hollow truces, IA which each might
btearhc from past tXeiiI' ns, aud na ke pteplr.
alious Tor fu'ufe conil els.
SIR. The idea Of separation OF those States
inio distinct con!,defac,es vas though, Of, aud
considered, and spok n Of. before the adoption
Of this constitution. A, the time that The
Qvrsson va. before the American people,
whether the constitution proposed by the cou.
ven,ion should be adopted, I, aasih spoken
Of lts ptub be, yea, certain cons qaences,
wore referred 10 by the writer's Of that I'D.
nitable settles of papers denominated the
Fetrrslist;" agd ! beg the indulgence Of
the Senate While read q very btef extract,
conveying the ,iews OF these eminent men:
q lf these States should ei,he, bo wholly
disua',ed, OF onl, amt, IN partial conedera.
cles, man must be Ear gone IN Usoplan spec
ulalions y no can seriously doubt iha, the sub.
divisions into which they nigh, be thrown
would have frequent aud violent contests with
each other. To presume q want Of motives
Tor such contests. as an argument against
their existence. would be to forget that meo
are ambitious, indicative. aud rapac lous.- -
Tolo. for a acon'inuation OF harmony between
number of independent, unconnecle ed sover.
eighties, situated 10 the same neighb,rhood,
would be TO sregstd the uniform course o,
human events, aud TO set nj defiance the aceu.
muiaied experience Of sges."
II this vas q JUS, view Of the probable, tho
certain results OF a separation Il these States
a that time, aud under the then existing CIR.
cumstanccs, | Ptny you, SIR, upon What, a, the
present day, can we found better Lopel--
Then the States we're fresh from the conflict
olthe revolutionary war. Then not only had
they lively emembianco Of the con,es, IL
which they had fought, aud in which they had
gathered victory aud honor together, but the
lcsdtng men of that tine were those choice
spiriis ~ho had carrisd them through that re
cent conflict; Who had csfabl sh the indn
prudence Of The country and who exercised
an influence in public affiirs propor,loned tt
their patriotism, their vslor, and their wisdom
Then they nigh, have separated without 'h'
same causes Of hostility and alienation whicl
must exist in any separation ofihese States a
tho present day. Il We separate now, wc d
Il with feelings oI mutual ds,rus, and bllier
ness We divide, not by common consent, a
partners who can no longer carry on ,hei
jnnt business with mutual prof, each to puI
sue for he own separate advantage that cours