The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-08
CONGRESSIONAL.
sPEECH oE NIX. UsDERwoop,

SFEECh OF MIX VNDENWOOD,
OF KENTUCKY,
On the &avery Question; delivered IN the Senate of the
United States, Aprit and 4, 1850.
The resolutions submitted by Mr.. BELL, which Mr..
FooTE had moved 10 be referred 10 committee OF thr
teen. being under consideration
Mr.. UNDERWOOD resumed his speech Mr.. Presi-
dens (said he yesterday afternoon had presented
variety proving that negro slavery was not the
only instance upon the face Of the earth OF Involuntary
servitude created and tolerated by law had present
ed also number of TO show that voluntary sery-
tude in many particulars, was ahhorrentto 10 the feelings
OF our nature and deserving commseration as much as
involuntary serviiude. My object in so doing was to
convince every one that regarded the evils which
aiict mankind. our sympates would be enlarged and
that the true phanthSopst would be Disposed to ADOPT
remedies for the WHOLE rather than seize any
particular evil and make il the especial obeco crusade,
in exclusion OF all the rest For myself hope that my
heart is mbued with spirit OF philanthropy sufficiently
comprehensive to extend to all the complicated evils
with which human nature is can be oppressed, not
only at home but inevery cline and in every land and.
far as properly exercise any influence, il shall be
given to the Of humanity, freedom. and ciylza-
tion throughout the world.
The northern mind in selecting the institution OF slavery
the particular object against which their crusade OF PHI
anthopy is directed, instead Of securing any good
beneficial result has produced only evil and that
tnually. think may speak upon this subject with
considerable personal knowledge to the effect OF this
agitation upon men and upon communities. know that
in reference to my State this interference from abroad
has had the worst possible effect ts direct tendency has
been to prosrae those who have been disposed 10 ame
crate the condition OF the black race, and ultimately to
adopt measures for their final emancipation Sir this is
but most natural result This northern war OF aga.
on against the particular institution oil slavery, which
to overlook all the other evils flesh is heir to- has
excited c0unierspirit the part OF those who hold
slaves who live among them and who are familiar with
all the operations OF the system OF slavery counter
excitement has grown up ut The South, which, in all
differences OF opinion affecting the pecunary interests of
the parties. Of them, carries men into extremes.
The effect OF It has been, as Was mentioned on this
floor by the senator from South Carolina no
more, 10 divide of the most influential churches
IN 1e buoh INTO and hs
effect OF this between the two sections has been
induce many at the South to place the institution of
slavery upon scrPtural grounds, relying that i was Of
Divine origin, and ustying the introduction OF slaves,
even at this day. from Africa AT present, those who de-
nounce the laws prohibiting the African slave trade and
s Ssy Ss sg IN y S iy will %
opinion any subject care not what il that may not
bring into such hot collision that they will drive each
other into irrational and fatal errors In Ken
lucky from the days OF the convention which framed
first constitution down TO the presenfrom the days of
the Rev David Rice, the first Presbyterian minister who
rod the soil Of the "dark and bloody ground" and who
led the emancipation party in our first conventionwe
have had men devoted to the adoption OF system OF
gradual emancipation. The influence OF all such has
been. in great degree prosated BY the abolition agta
on which has sprung up at the North Their practical
and benevolent plans OF uniting emancipation and colo
nizaon have been defeated by identifying them with
northern ualsm and ianatlcsn In the recen. constitu
uona convention OF Kentucky, although had many
candidates in favor OF gradual emancipation and colon
zaton, not single emancipatlonst was returned Such
s the effect OF this war of agitation have seen it ac
knowedged that the Of the North and its extreme
abolition doctrines have apparently had prejudcial e
feet and tended 10 defeat It's purposes at the South
but was al the same time said that such effects 10
be expected in the first instance; that was like pulling
down fences destroying orchards, interfering with the
longsettled and familiar arrangements OF farms, and
making deep cats and large nils with view to construct
produce much Inconvenience, grumbng, and bad feel
ing, all which are, in the end, to be supplanied by
conveniences gratuaions, and harty, when the work
is finished. | admit the beauty OF the comparison
and, il the simle could be realized, the foresee-
ing philanthropist might rejoice in the midst OF
that he rst spade Of dirt has been moved to make The
grade and foundation OF the great moral railroad On the
contrary the people OF the South have said 10 the North
nor touch twig for any, such purpose you avow.
Sir It is vain hope that the moral steam will ever
run through southern territory upon track constructed
by northern minds. All interference from abroad upon
such subject is offensive and repusve. IL is deluson
on the part oil northern men, II they expect anything like
reform TO proceed from their acrimonious denuneatons
Of slavery The nogress OF the world ls NOT to Be ac
sustained institutions OF civilized societies Foreign
Interference will never emancpae southern slaves The
work must be left 10 domestic agitation alone You must
leave il those who experience and clearly comprehend
the effects OF the institution among themselves And il
The northern men cannot leave there, tell them their
Efforts only nvetng the chains Of slavery faster and
faster. Sir, already experience this truth in Ken
lucky Northern abolition has produced the adoption by
the convention OF amendment 10 the constitu-
ton OF the State which prohibits emancipation altogether,
unless the emancpated slave is removed from the Stale
Our fomer constitution tolerated and encouraged II,
and made il the duty of the legislature TO pass laws
under which slaves could be emancipated. The recent
convention has prohibited ii; and when the constitution
hey have framed shall be adopted, il probably will
be, emancipation is al an end IN Kentucky. tell the
gentleman before me, Mr. HALE,l that this is part OF
the results which he and hs in this war of
agitation have produced Such their aures and their
uIumphsl
II we look at the origin Of the institution Of slavery as
exists in the United States. find that il originated at
aperod OF the world when the doctrine seemed to pre-.
vail among Christian and civilized nations that savage
countries, when discovered, might, without violation
oil religion morals, be selzed and their inhabitants
well the soil, appropriated slaves 10 the use OF
civilized man Are we OF the slaveholding States
responsible for state of things descending upon
consequence OF the principles and practices OF our
tors in the early part OF the seventeenth century! said
upon this floor on former occasion that were no
more responsible for IT, and had control it,
Than we had in regard TO the times and places OF our
birth. The gentleman who ats before me MIR. HlIEl
mas handed northern document attempting to place
me IN an unfavorable point of view Tor that declaration
y shows the extent OF the fanatcisn occasionally opera
hng on the minds of men, and which oberates or
aiher obscures, their perception even oil the painest
ruth Now, The institution OF slavery having originated
% the way did the question with us. who have been
porn and raised with Il, who are IN no way responsible
Tor IFS origin, Is, what are we TO do with iti And
what are we told by the North Why, sir, il is
said that slavery Is sinan individual SIM and that
the only remedy for the evil, the only purgation
LOT this individual sin, Is immediate abolition Were
! disposed to concede that to hold slaves was
sin the part Of the master, am not sure that he
woad not agglavae his guilt, aud deserve hotter pun