Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1850-03-22
Friday, March %, 1860.
The slavery Question in Congress.


should be disposed to despair Of the republic
But although the action of Congress is import
ant, it is not conclusive. Medicines NAV be ad-
ministered which will protruct the final tissolu-
ton and death Of sIayery--which NAV, By pro-
longing it, keep the country for long time yet
IN state OF turmoil with reference to il, but tho
struggle, however protracted, can end only in the
death of that institution. Legislation has is in
fiuence, but the power from which that influence
is derived is greater than legislation That pow
er is the pcople-popuar sentiment, and those
who fear the final issue have little faith in God
or Man. Thrones and despotism and oppression
OF all kinds, are not the result Of legislation, but
of the condition Of the people, and we care not
where you try the experiment, whether in auto
cratic Russia or republican America, but lift up
the people, make them intelligent, and thrones
and despotism Of all kinds. will melt and dissolve
as wax in the blaze. In this country then, where
we have tolerabe freedom of the tongue, the PEN
and the press, where education is open to the
poorest, and the secret ballot to the great mass,
and where correct IDEAS of human rights, have
attained the growth they have, Legislation, though
it may retard, can by no possibility defeat the
attainment of human freedom. We have got
freedom enough now, to know that freedom is for
orr best interest and is therefore our right and
he is ignorant indeed of the mnutabe law of
mind, who does not see and know, that this prin-
ciple once fairly taking hold of the mind, can ne
der cease its work till every spot and stain of
despotism is wiped from Gods free earth It's
prepoSterous to call this slavery agitation the re-
suit of the efforts of a few men either north or
south. 1t is Gods truth speaking through the
hearts and minds Of men, and il will reach all
minds and fill all hearts, and YOU may pile the
statutes of slavery one upon another till they
reach the heavens, and the popular breath will
consume them. But although we do not attach
final importance to Legislation we yet consider
it important and therefore feel the danger which
attaches to the actihn Of Congress.
So far then as the question of liberty or slave
ry depends on the action Of Congress at the pre-
sent time, there is cause for dependency. Our
latest mails bring us the speech of Daniel Web
ster, in which, practically lis influence is thrown
on the side of slavery. Thus do our great babies
we call all men infants whose moral natures
are so weak that they have the patience to talk
about and discuss slavery on the grounds of pro-
prioty and expediency instead Of the only ground
in which it can be vieWed-that of human right
one after another fall into the embraces Of this
AToloch and succup,I 10 tbr,o onJ 1;ct,,;,,, of
the south. 1t will do for Mr.. Webster, the PEN
stoned Of the aristocracy of Boston, the recipient
of eight dollars day as Senator, and fat fees in
Vulnerable as an Attorney, 10 calmly discuss the
expedlency and propriety of permitting the insti-
tuition Of slavery to extend itself over territory
now free. Nero, occupying place of safety and
comfort, 6dded when Rome was burning, and
Webster and others Of our great little men, fat in
comfort and luxury, protected in their property
and homes, arc content to fiddle over the mise
ros and suffarings Of their fellow mon. And
these are our great men Heaven save the mark
ii men are great in proportion as they arc devcl-
oped in the image of the creator, then these men
who manifest total want of the moral power,
have not taken the incipent steps of greatness.
The position taken by Mr.. Webster is, that the
proviso is unnecessary because Of the physical
character of the country, and therefore he shall
not vote for its incorporation into any act for ter
ritorial govcrnment-in short he Yields the whole
ground-caves in and accedes to the acquisitions
of the south. But this is not the worst feature
of Mr.. Webster's position. lie avows his inten-
ton to support Mason's save-catching bill ; the
bill which seeks to convert northern freemen in
10 tools OF southern Shareholders, and make them
the pursucrs and capturers 10 deliver again to
bondage the painting fugitive. We know not
whether Mr.. Webster thought or said any thing
with reference to the demand Of Austria on Tur-
key, for the Hungarian fugtives, but we DO know
that many OF our great men were eloquent in de-
nouncing the arocious assumption of Austria,
and in hopes that Turkey would resist the de-
mand to the last. And yet Mr.. Webster is quite
willing to apply a different principle here. The
fugitives into the north from worse than Austri-
all oppression, may not only be demanded, but
every man in the north must bestir himself to de-
liver up these fugitves. We should Ike to see
the law that would turn rs into a slave-catcher
and We doubt not millions in the north have 81
milar curiosity, Ii can't be done.
But we commenced our article 10 direct atten-
ton to tho manner in which our great men are
falling by the way. II there be any merit in the
controversy which has so long been agtsting
the country, Daniel Webster is arrayed against
the north in favor of the south Such are the
peculiar influences of place and profit, that it
seems impossible to get any consideration from
Congress for the interest Of the toiling millions.
Instead of having this question OF slavery COM
mtted to the lazy, well-fad, purse proud individ-
uals who throng around the capital, it should be
committed to the solid sense and hard hands of
those who arc directly interested in it, and who
can feel with reference to it. Under such cir
cumstances we should have no fear whatever
for the speedy settlement OF he question on the
side of freedom.
Ait is said that polygamy is one of the social
institutions Of the M)rmons of Dessret, and of
course under the Calhoun and Cass doctrinc,
Fso,rross ,,,,s. rrrNrpiyD tIo ;,,t.rt;,,, -, ~