The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-30


$47l or free alone $74l. In Kentucky the aver
age wealth Of each inhabitant, free and slave is
i 1919; whilst that Of Ohio is but S227 Pennsyl-
vana $2l9 !; New York $228. And, sir, the pro-
ductons Of the slave holding States will compare
favorably with the non-sayehoding. The advan-
tages will be found to be largely on the side Of the
former in the value of those productions. The
South produces more indian corn, and the North
more wheat but the South has a complete mon
opoly by soil and climate, in the production of cot
I ton, sugar, rice and tobacco.
The value OF these four crops the last year ex-
ceeds Sl25, 600, 900. But compare the produc-
tons OF individual States. Michigan and Arkan-
sas were admitted into the Union about the same
time; Michigan is one of the most fourishiDg Of
the Northwestern States, washed on three sides
! by navigable waters, and enjoying extensive
| system Of internal improvements and her crops
last year yielded to each inhabtant $31 so. The
| crop of Arkansas yielded to each white inhab-
liant SlO1; and if the slaves are counted as per-
sons, the value Of the crop was $8l 50 for each
inhabitant; so that the production of Arkansas,
| with fertile SOIL though not genial climate,
nearly trebles that of Michigan
! Mr.. Chairman, am admonished that my hour
is drawing rapidly to its closes therefore return
to the subject from which digressed longer than
| intended Whether slavery be sin or not, is
question with which this Government has moth
| ing to do. 1t is recognized by the Constitu-
ton, and protected to the fullest extent. He who
believes it sinful, therefore, and feels moral duty
didy avow himself disunonist, and seek to dis
solve this supposed sinful alliance. IL, on the
contrary, he is ready to abide by the COnstitu-
tion in letter and spirit, then his warfare against
slavery is ended-he must ground his arms, and
cease 10 agitate. 1t is matter Of indifference to
US whether you consider slavery right or wrong;
we alone must be the judges Of its blessings and
| its curses. We do not complain of your abstract
opinions upon that subjec; but it becomes ques-
| ton of the profoundest interest to US, when you
make your abstract opinions on the morality Of
| the institution the basis Of yonr political action.
The abolition feeling in the North is founded in
religious hnatcism-its votaries, like fanatics in
| every age of the world, are guided neither by
| religion, morality, nor justice. The Scripture
argument in favor of slavery is unanswerable; but
still argument never reaches the understanding or
conscience of the fanatic. The history of the
Crusades, which involved Europe in blood and
carnage, well illustrates its folly and Madness
when kings and nations WED with each other in
their benevolent and Christian purpose of expelling
| the Infdels from the city Of Jerusalem. The
masses may be sincere in their opposition to sla-
very; but when they attempt to enforce, as they
are doing, supposed moral obligation
through political channels, without regard to the
rights of others, or the supreme law Of the land,
cool-headed and discreet men must rise up in the
majesty of their strength and crush it, or consent
to give up our institutions, and be crushed by it.
Fanaticism is not often stated until it has gorged
itself with blood or ruin.
The dangers to the Republic every patriot
desires may be averted, and the union Of these
States preserved in its pristine purity. 1t is
endeared to US by thousand ties hallowed by the
memories of the past, and excites in the mind
emotions little short Of veneration. desire il to
| be preserved, but 1t must be preserved in its
purity, il it is worth preserving at all. That
is the disunonist who will trample down the
Constitution and destroy the rights of the States.
have spoken plainly, sir, of the perils to which
we are exposed. know that my section of the
Union is deceived and deuded as TO the true stua-
ton of this controversy. They have cherished
with abiding confidence the hope that their North
ern brethren would cease their aggressions and do
| them Justice tsg8s tGf
The events which have transpired here, and to
which have adverted, (WEBsTER's speech, and
the laying Of Roor's resolution the table,)
| have added to the deusion. warn them to rise
| from the lethargy into which they have been be-
trayed. tell them now, in all candor, that see
no returning sense of justice in the North. They
should appoint their delegates to the Nashville
Convention !: let them assemble there, and delib-
crate upon the grave issues which abolition has
presented-let them concentrate the sentiment of
the South, and lay such plans us will defeat the
ends of abohhonists. Every Southern State
should be fully represented there by her ablest
| Consttution-oving sons. That convention, sir,
/ will meet although it is probable that the conf
dent expectation Of a compromise will prevent its
! being as numerousy attended as 1t would have
been some months back, the people believing that
the necessity of its converting has passed away.
l fear, sir, they have been deluded into the hope
Of compromise, SO industriously insted into their
minds for the purpose Of defeating the Nashville
| Convention. That effort has been partially sue
| cessful; but the convention will nevertheless
semble, and the South will not readily forget those
by whom they have been deceived. Sir, it has
been fashionable to denounce that convention, and
to disparage the purposes Of those who called it.
| For one, am not ashamed of that convention
nothing could make me ashamed of it, but the
| failure Of the South, or Of those with whom my
honor is more Immediately bound up, to attend it.
| The ends of that convention were high and holy;
it was called to protect the Constitution, to
the Union, by taking such steps might prevent,
i If possible, the contamination of measures which
would probably lead to the destruction of both.
i Had the purpose been disunion, those who called
i that convention would have waited until the ire
trevabe step had been taken, and nothing left to
/ the South but submission secession. The pres
ent is critical conjunction of political affairs
there is propriety, nay, almost necessity, for
Southern men to commune with each other. i,
for one, wish that harmony may mark their de
iberations, and that the result of those delibera
tons may be worthy Of the occasion and Of the
cause for which they will convene.
THE WILL OF SIR ROBERT PEEL.-After de-
failing Drayton Park, and the otherlarge estates
| in Statfordshire and Warwickshire, it proceeds
to recte sums, to the amount of nearly quarter
of Million previously advanced to, or settled
upon his several children, (not including $4,000
per annum settled on his eldest son. and then
| bequeaths about 100000 more, making the
portions of his five younger sons El06000 each,
and those of his daughters $4,000 each He
leaves to chapel erected by him. at Fazeley, in
Staffordshire, El,O0O, afterwards revoked be-
cause he endowed it with lands,) and $4,000
to school established by him in the said
village; to the lnfirmary and Lunatic Asylum in
Manchester, and the Lying in Hospital in Sal
word, one hundred pounds EACH The will is
dated July ~, 1890. BY a codicil Of February
IL, 1925, the portions of his youngest sons are
increased to fl35,OO0; and Of the residue which
is said to have exceeded half million, four
| ninths were bequeathed to the late baronet, and
one ninth to each of his five younger sons. The
personal property was sworn at what is techni-
cally called supper value" which means that it
exceeded 100000, and was the first instance OF
| the scale of duties ATTENDING TO such n sum.