Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-09-13
THE CALIFORNIA QUESTION.
SPEECH OF Mr.. R. K. MEADE,

SPEECH OF j Mr. Ii E. R; k. MEADE,
In the House Of Representatives, thursday June ieoV
Since this discussion has commenced but
fallen from northern this floor calculated TO soothe
the Justly ncensed feelings Of the South or check the tor
rent abuse with which she is daily assaulted When the
gentleman from the 10th dstrct of Pennsylvania La
nahan address the House few days since we were
prepared from his known associations to hear something
coDcaory and conservatives but. if conscious OF hav-
ing disappointed the OF his people or done vlo
ence northern preudces by abstaning from the ~oned
vituperaions of the South und DESTROYS IT would seem
propitiae the prevailing feeling OF hostility he concud
ed his speech by sweeping dcnuncation by which the
whole South was branded as national stigma ana Gsace
The thought suggested why do not these men
AT rid themselves of this disgraceiu connection Be-
fore God if were of this opinion would mol consent 10
live another day in connection ve What souihcrner
this floor, in view OF these opinions, can doubt that lie
North would long since have severed these bonds but for
potent than mere love of union-nnion
coupled with disgrace! The sentiment OF pure love OF he
Union for the Unions sake, is confined 10 the South This
is the chief cement with us-mutn.l weakness, which h's'
brought together longer exists. II we were now
separate people and proposition made to unite WIN
the North what would b. the arguments in its favor! Name
one commercial benefit that woul devc from the con-
neclion. If il difficult ia lSS-S9 when we mum
beed only 100000 people, 10 induce our fathers 10 form
this Union, what arguments could be adduced now to
come that reluctance?
Let enurierate the inducements that our northern
friends would hold out:
First They would say your exports in cotton tobacco,
sugar. rice wheat oats peas early vegetables and
fruits pitch lup-ntine lumber and hundred OF other
things $3.50 000000 il is all carried in your
bottoms and great deal vi trouble thousands and
tens of thousands uf your people. Now, will relieve
you of all that and hereafter enjoy otum cum
digntate upon their farms.
ports They brought directly into Atlantic and gulf
apors Your wharves crowded with all OF goods
and foreign Injuries; your towns are swelling out to nc"n-
vcnenf sizes; you drawing your population from the
counry-conveng honest simple yeomen into iradesmen,
bringing them into contact with the vices o. Tic city, max
ing bad citizens OF good and thus poisoning the very taS
of your Republic. We will protect yon from these evils by
becoming your and agents. We will import these
things for you reasonable per centage, and send them
South in such quantities as you may Notwithstanding, how
large per centage Tor prOht.
Thirdly You have annual revenue OF S20,000,0O0,
which you receive from small duty of fifteen per cent
Now buy goods cheap and pay for them so ca
sy there is dapcer of becoming waStein prodg and
luxurious. Moreover ten millions of these twenty you
and scatter people schemes of improve
mens; thus teaching them 10 look TO Government instead
Of their labor for support, The corupns influence OF 50
much money will s,roy the morals Of people, and
your Government will finally fall into the hands corrupt
of who will first plumber and then ensavc the
people Now bv uniting your fate with ours we will pro-
you from those evils. In the first place will raise
the duties fifteen per cent higher We will supply with
half of those goods from factories aud the other
half will collect much you d. upon the
whole and instead of corupting your people By making
railroads and canals, we will throw the whole of il
lakes and rivers.
Fourthly. You will have the praise and satisfaction of
doing of unparalleled magnanimty Our people down
east live in cold, hard climate upon land TINT is rocky,
STERILE and unprodurtive They cannon live in such
try unless by means Of their They able
work up your raw cotton Your climate is genial your soil
FERTILE aud always yielding You had better plough that
and let us plough the with products Now let
US do your navigating and manufacturing, and Importing
while work your paua,ions. Thus, you will only
live comfortably yourselves, but you will also give
ployment and the of prosperity, which now can
only obtain by moving 10 the South.
Filthy. You might safely repeal many of your police
laws which very Dconvenient both u.s. You
need examine the mails for ncendary publications You
may abolish passports between North and South for will
take care punish eops those aboioniss who steal
of harboring hem and when you after them, will
help YOU TO recapture them. We will neither put YOU
prison nor assassinate you we do Neither will we
excite your slaves to rebellion or nsurrecton, but we will
nculcae obedience We will establish the seat OF Govern
where you may bring your servants in safety. ln
ne there shall be strife between you and and united
in one grand republic will present the admiration of
the world In time to come continent OF ireemen under
common government worshippng at one altar whose con-
fires shall ds2el the darkness which hangs over the
of the world and finally conduct out OF the bondage
Of centuries
will say Mr.. Chairman, what effect these Arguments
would have towards producing union. But am certain
they would prevail 10 continue one already formed would
put this question: in all seriousness to nothern brethren
Believing, they do that slavery Is national disgrace
would they unhestangy rid themselves of il BY with
drawing from this Conedelacy, but for the commercial ad
vanages they derive from the connection 1t perfectly
evident there fraternity of feeling their part to-
wards the Southern Shareholder There be rca' de-
sire to continue in union with men with whom they must
share disgrace which, but for that union they would be
exempt from And | am perfectly satisfied that nothing
holds the North to the South but the millions she annually
best political economists at $3.50 100000.
Since pay for the privilege Of remaining In this
Union, is it unreasonable that should demand, our
part some security against the Vaccinations of those who
seeking TO this great moral physical and po
col evil into moral, physical and political death2 This
great question is to be settled by mutual deances The
two great sections should understand what each and
why il it, 1t is too important matter be made
the stakes of game Of brag We have national reputa
ton for many virtues. Among others known be
brave people should be sorry, exceedingly sorry, if be-
eved that character was only BY Southern people,
And when gentlemen from the North intimate that had
but very small share of it, had no other feeling but
that they should feel little like Americans have OBJ
served In intercourse with men, thal Tue are &C.
neay the least Jealous about their reputation for bravery
probably for the that man OF wealth is least
solcitous about his credit consciousness n perfect Sc
cuy on the part Of both, doubt impas tins compare
tive indifference. !,
Bui sir the South is moved by these insnuations
saw we should understand each others views The North
saws the South is afflicted with an evil Now sir we must
take care that that evil does not destroy u.s. ana we ms
fay call upon the North by the memory OF our ancestors
of their struggles In the cause 0; liberty oy the
bond of fraternity by which they intended TO INK lnulsso
by together the desnies Of their children TO the renotes
poserty, TO assist US IN 3liesallne lic e' WI" WHICH, eJ
say we are afflicted. ;.
But instead of assisting ue they seek to aggravae IT,
They their purpose of surrounding us win Tree oes
and thus cut o the prospect Of gradual but certain no"
and final settlement of greater portion OF TINS race IN tue
warm climates Of Mexico and the equatorial regions OF South
America This means Of relief which is the same oy which
they relieved themselves the North Is disposed 10 aeny U.S.
and insist girdng around with free states No" on,
hus stands the case The safety OF the South requires tha
ev should spread this institution over all the regions OF
the South This shocks northern sens6ies But sir In
ffv YEAR. from now slaves confined In their present
limits will be troublesome we are mol permea 20
1,yp the question OF every disguise Let the Norh sac
out "A NOT conendng for distinctions or shadows nut
or future security The qusson IL far very far above one
Affecting the rights Of property merely.