The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-06-29
TERMs ..
PAINTED BY 6. a. SAGE.
SPEECH OF
Mr. 8. w. HARRIS. of Alabama,


Mr.. g. w. HARRIS, of Alabama,
Oalfks .ussssrss Of Compromise deiirersd ia the
House If Representatives., June 10, 1850.
The House being in Committee Of the
Whole on the state Of the Union, on the
Presidents Message, transmitting the Con-
stitution Of G alifornia, Mr.. HARRIS said |:
Mr. CHAIRMAN Ithas only been within
the last few hours that resolved to trespass
upon the time of the committee. An indis-
position, partially disabling, and totally dis
inclining me 10 the business OF debate, had
well nigh disposed me to total silence. But
as the period approaches when the final vote
is to be taken on this measure of all-absorb-
ing interest, | will not seek TO repress the
impulse feel, to submit some reflections upon
it. before the door II closed to further dis
cussion.
II may be assumed as truth, that when
ever by reason Of any threatened or actual
measure Of legislation, the very foundations
Of government are strongly agtated by the
spirit Of discontent-great error, or ran.s IN
Justice has marked the act itself, or the mo-
tive in which i originated. This may, with
the greater certainty, be predcated of the
Government under which We I've; beneath
whose protecting agis, no mlrmur OF dlscon-
tent, no threat of disloyalty need ever be ut
tered by the humblest citizens, so lons as
the Constitution is admin steIei in the spirit
in which it was conceived. But, notwith-
standing this, moral convulsion shakes this
Union, and alienation stalks unrebuked over
its once happy and contented surface. These
things ought not so to be. And now, sir,
applying to our investigations tine touch-stone
Of truth, Let US seek for the cause Of these
unfortunate disturbances, and in the spirit Of
patriotism and justice, seek 10 apply the
proper remedy to the evils which aiilict US.
And let US remember that no mere tempo
rary expedient, no delusive palliative, no hol-
low and deceptive truce, can heal the fatal
leprosy that taints the body polite. But
that an impartiality which regards every IT,
terest with equal favor; self-sacrifcing
spirit, which looks away from the local inte-
rests of a part, to the great and common
which scorns to make might the measure Of
right and fixed adherence to our consti-
tutional obligations in the set lement of the
question which distracts the land, ate all alike
enioined by the voice of wisdom, and en-
forced by every consideration dear to free
dom and the Union. .......a. .... .~.
And what, sir, is the disturbing cause SO
fruitful of discord, so pregnant with evil to
us and our institutions 1t is the existence
of African slavery as an element OF political
power under our system Of government, and
as distinctive feature in the social relations
of one-half of the States Of the Union. The
principle was infused into the Government
at the moment of its birth. Coextensive 1t
its formation with the furthermost limits of
the entire Conlederacy of States, slavery has
gradually, and by the operation of causes
easy and natural, and which produced no
shock to our system, passed away from the
Northern States, and has concentrated all its
strength, whether for veal or woe, within
the body of the Southern States. To the
first, it has ceased to be any thing more than
a mere abstraction, whether viewed in its
moral, its social, or its political aspects.
While to the others, it is vital reality an
essential principle oftheir very organism, and
indissolubly interviewer into the very frame
work of their being The differ nee between
the North and South which has existed in
their habits of life, their modes Of thinking,
and their supposed conflict ofinterests; in
their soil, climate, and production, and in all
those varying shades which define the pecu-
liarities Of each--have formed the ground
work of a mutual prejudice, which, however
attempted to be disguised, is as undeniable as
it IS unfortunate In this state Of moral and
social antagonism, the mind of the North has
always been the fit soil Tor the growth Of any
sentiment at hostility with the South And
the ancient principle of enmity to witches,
which doomed old Women to the stake, be-
cause cattle died with the murrain, presents
itself now in modified form, and seeks TO
cut the throat Of the Southern master, be-
cause the descendant of Ham fulfi led the
destiny entailed upon him by Providence.
In the wa- which is waged upon the South,
the North is impeled by mere sentiment !;
a sentiment first generated in the mistaken
policy Of British statesmen, who have long
since repented Of their folly, and then trans
planted to germinate in the hot bed Of North
ern fanaticism. Ard after being elevated to
the bad eminence of an almost earthly deity,
before which the unreasoning masses have
been made to fall down and worship within
the circle Of whose malign influence, much
Of Northern virtue has perished, and inGdeli-
ty and demagoguesm find congenial growth;
after all the ruin it wrought at home, it OBJ
trudes itself here TO mar the harmony Of our
deliberations, and threatens to destroy the
very fabric it cost so much virtue and wis
dom to construct And here, sir, stands
this mere Sentiment, rudely thrustng aside
the Constitution, and spurning alike the
promptngs Of patriotism and the appeals Of
Justice, menaces the blood-bought rights of
one-half Of this Union. +". a..e
But, sir, we should remember that this
sentiment is not yet triumphaht---but that
from another section Of this Union, filled
with people all instinct with the spirit OF
independence, an antagonistlc sentiment
comes up; sentiment tort'fled by the pres
,,,,ra, i,,StIfled Inv the