The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-20
WHOLE NO. 1871.

|
pective greatness, without feeling gratitude lin
his soul 10 Almighty God, that our wise forefa-
theirs prohibited the whitening curse Of slavery
from touching that glOriously prosperous re-
| gion
Again, MIR. Chairman, il should be remem-
bered, that, when that memorable Congress WAS
in session at New York, the Convention which
| framed the present Constitution OF the United
States was also in session in Philadelphia; and
that, under the prevailing public sentiment Of
that day, which was that slavery should extend
no further, the Convention presented this Con-
stitutiOn, which was finally accepted by ell the
States Of the Union.
This fact has made il clear, TO my mind, that
the trainers of that Constitution, from every por-
ton Of the country, did not anticipate that sla-
very would ever be further extended under il.
No, sir, no And l am further cOnVYMeeS that
the letter and spirit Of the Declaration Of indie
pendence, as well as Of the Constitution, is di-
reotly opposed TO the further extension Of slavery
Consequently, as an honest, and, trust, a con
scientious man, shall always feel Il my duty 10
exert all the powers Of mind and influence which
God has given me- to prevent the further extern
sion Of that foul leprosy, which the great Jeffer-
son himself called such vast moral and political
evilD
Sir, another and strong reason why | am OPP
posed to the extension of slavery is, that we have
convincing proof, that in those States where sla-
very does not exist, the people are much more
prosperous, in a civil moral, and political point
Of view, than they are in the slave States. Be
sides, every man of ordinary observation must
know, and, knowing, should bear in mind, this
fact that those portions of slave States which lie
contiguous TO or border upon free States, though
they receive nothing but the Sh0d0G Of Freedom,
for example, as it is thrown across Mason and
Dixon's line or the Ohio, are far in advance Of
other portions of the same States, in agriculture,
manufactures education, the mechanic arts, and
every other interest which makes a State SGnrr
porous and happy. q few instances will show
THESE lacts 'l'T'skr tneSsaSe15f iasi&~ss> acre
we have State containing three counties-New-
castle, Kent, and Sussex Newcastle, on the
north, lies contiguous to Pennsylvanians, a free
people. This county contains but little more
than one fourth Of the area of the State; yet when
| we come to examine her manufactures and sgri-
culture, and her mechanical products, we find that
they surpass those Of the whole State besides In
this same county, compared, in an intellectual
point of view, with the other two counties which
lie more contiguous 10 slavery, we find the fol-
lowing results By the census Of 1910, we find ia
Newcastle county, with population of 80, 100,
529 persons over twenty years Of age who can
neither read nor write; while Kent, in populs-
ton Of 1882, has 1915 and Sussex, with a
population Of 25093, has 2 800 persons of that
age in the same deplorable condition.
But, sir, we will not confne ourselves to little
Delaware. We will extend our glance further
Take, as another example, the counties Of Cecil,
Hartford, Baltimore, Carroll Frederick, Wash
ington, and Allegheny, in the State of Maryland,
all joining free territory, and compare them with
the southern counties Of the same State, and see
how much they are in advance of their sisters In
everything that is desirable-in intelligence, ag-
ricutture wealth and prosperity
But, sir, will go further-ay, even into the
"Old Dominion Take the border counties
along the Ohio, and compare them with the coun-
ties more remote from the example and influence
of free principles Take, for instance the district
represented by my friend near me, Mr. Hay
MoND which consists of the counties In the vicin-
ity Of Wheeling, and is supposed to contain
population Of some 100, 900. There are but few
slaves among them, and evidently the people do
not feel any interest in the extension of slavery,
more than those of the counties Of Lancaster and
Chester, In Pennsylvania. They have learned Its
disadvantages. Also take the counties composing
the fifteenth district Of the State, represent
ed by the gentleman over the way, Mr. BEALE,l
all Of which are contiguous to the Ohio river
They are at this day enjoying degree of pros
perty which IL the result Of their locality, being
more less influenced by the free institutions of
the great State of Ohio. These two districts, it
Is supposed, contain nearly one fifth Of the white
population of Virginia Compare them with the
southern counties in wealth. enterprise, intelli-
gence, and every other thing that should make a
people contented, and you will at once come to
the conclusion that where even the example, OF
Freedom Is felt, there will be prosperity and hap
piness and, on the contrary, that where the dark
spirit Of Slavery broods, there will be idleness,
poverty ignorance, and misery.
| Mr.. Chairman, before | conclude |. shall give
| n hpr hv In tha yte
sion Of slavery and that is, because it has the
effect to bring into disrepute, and render dshonor
able, manual labor Although this country Is
| styled the asylum Of the oppressed and the home
! Of all, not one out Of every hundred of the emf
grants who flock TO our shores, ventures to make
his home In the slave States. They shun the
| soil of slavery as the upas tree Of the desert.
The reason Is palpable. They know well, that
they cannot compete with slave labor. They in
fer that the slaves master must necessarily grow
aristocratic, and come to treat with contempt the
poor white man, who Is compelled to gain his
bread by the sweat Of his brow. And they judge
truly; for that the institution of slavery IL an
aristocracy, and one Of the worst upon which the
light Of Heaven ever has shone Is susceptible Of
the clearest and most satisfactory proof Conse-
quently, IL must be at war with the spirit Of our
free institutions In the domipions Of the Auto
crat of Russia, the Sultan of Turkey, or the En-
Of government cannot be freely investigated
either by public writings or public discussions
Why Is this7 Simply, because they are sristo-
cratical Governments. So, precisely, is 1t with
the institutions Of slavery. They cannot be
trusted to free investigation, either by written or
oral discussion. No, sir, no The man who
would undertake such an investigation might be
sure to receive ut least brutal indignities, and
most probably the loss of life itself Such being
the case II Is reasonable and just TO conclude that
II Ia one Of the most aristocratical institutions In
existence, and therefore should be prevented from
further extending its insolent power.
Mr.. Chairman sincerely trust that, when
ever vote on any branch Of this question Is TIA
ken, we shall show to the world, by q decisive
voice, that we are not only freemen In name, but
freemen In our acts, and that our Declaration OF
Independence was not o mere matter Of form, but
living principle, whose spirit utterly forbids the
expansion of the dark and gloomy area Of slavery
over another acre Of American soil, wherever
found
Again, sir shall oppose the extension Of sls-
very, because the "peculiar institution" Is not
satisfied with the African race which IL holds
contrary to justice In its iron grasp, but u in
vades the Caucasian ranks, and brings, within
the precincts of lis domain, the descendants OF
every CLINE, and holds, today In sbject bondage,
many who, from complexion or intellectual ap-
pearance would compare with their masters. No
intelligent Psychologist would pretend 10 class
them with the descendants Of the African race.
II 10 but few weeks since, that my observation
was drawn to this fact, In this city. While saun-
tering around these public grounds, with friend,
we were met by large oonoourse Of slaves and
their associates, probably more than thousand
In all ! WAS forcibly struck by the different
shades Of color among them Many Of them sp-
peared to be entirely white, and large proper
tion tinctured with Cauoasian blood.
Mr.. McLANE Of Maryland: Will the gentle
man from Pennsylvania allow me TO ask him
question:
Mr. DICKEY: Certainly, sir.