Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-14
THE DAILY TIMES.
WIN. G. DARLINGTON & WIN. H. DAVIS
EDITORS AND PRoPR1FToRs
SPEECH OF MIR. TOOMBS.
OF GEORGIA,
ON THE SLAVERY QUESTION.

he
STATE OF te Unlon the Presidents Mesa ue
nieatng the Constitution of California
. Mr. IooMBs said Mr. Chairman there is a general
qscontent among the people of fifteen States Of the
Union against this Government Popular discontantg
are rarely ill-tounded. 1t is almost impossible in -
nee popular government for any considerable portion
VI NE people 70 become aenatedtrom the Government
OF their own Tree choice without substantial reason
propose, as Representative of portion of the neo
pie who participate largely in this discomfort TO nGuire
INTO us cause and It be we'll founded, ask you to
remove It, 1t is based upon we-tounded apprehen-
sion OF liked purpose on the part Of the non-saye-
holding States OF the Union to destroy their political
rights to put their institutions under the ban of the en-
pre-, by excluding them from equal participation in
the common benefits of the Republic and thereby to
orng the powers OF their Government in direct
hostility to fifteen hundred millions of their property
MS Dref statement suggests the propriey OF the nves
hgation upon which now propose to enter: What il
the true relation of this Government to property in
slayes we are now, sir, in transition state hereto
TORE the distribution of political power under cur sys-
tenn, has made sectional aggression impossible think
1t would have been wise have secured permanency to
such distribution by the fundamental law 1t was not
done.
The course Of events the increase of population in
the Northern portion of the Republic and the addition
OF new States, about to give if they have not already
gwen, the non-slaveholdng States majority in both
branches OF Congress, and they have large and H.
creasng majority OF the population of the Union These
causes have brought to the point where we are to
lest the sucieney of written constitutions to protect the
rights OF minority against majority Of the people
Upon the determination of this question will depepd and
ought to depend, the permanency of the Government
The union OF these States had birth in the weakness
OF It's separate members without that single controlling
element its early history amply demonstrates that lis
creation IN its present form, would have been an jmpos-
sbillty 1t contained uncongenia elements and per-
haps diseordant interests II lett local, yet great aud
important interests, OF what then seen would
be numerically the weaker section of the conederacy
without any security against the stronger except from
parchment guarantees. Our fathers did not initiate the
wisdom OF the great Grecan ambassador who declared
when entering into treaty with the adversaries f his
country will accepting other security but ths-that
you shall not have the power to njure my country if
you wish to do it. Our security under the constitution
is based solely upon good faith There is nothing in s
structure which makes aggression permanently npos-
sble ltrequires neither skill, genius nor courage
to perpetrate it it requires only bad faith | have
studied the histories OF nations and the characteristics
OF mankind to but little purpose that quality shall be
found wanting in the future administration of our affairs
Our present constitution was not baptized i'll the blood
ofthe revolution.
The old Confederation, which was found strong
enough, under sense of common danger to carry US
triumphantly through the Of the Revolution, upon
the return OF peace supposed to be insufficient for
the wants OF the country Delegates met in Conven
ton at Philadelphia to amend it the present consttu
ton was the result of their labors The journals and
debates OF that Convention attest the fact that the dele
gates from the saveholdng States saw the danger of
submitting their rights to property in slaves the hostile
Legislation OF the proposed new Government They
then foresaw that they would be in minority strong
hostility to that interest was openly manifested in the
Convention they were wise enough not to expect au
abatement OF that sentiment and, therefore, they de-
manded special guarantees tor its protection. The in
flexible pernaclty with which of these guarantees
were insisted upon than one occasion during
the deliberations OF that assembly threatened the loss Of
the whole plan of Union. They were conceded because
the Union could not have been formed without their
concession. These special guarantees were
LIST. An exception OF the African slave trade from
the general power fCongress commerce for
tyyears.
ID. Representation for slaves in this branch Of Con.
gress
3D.. The right to demand the delivery up offugtives
from labor escaping to the non-s avehodn contede
rates.
4th. The obligation ofthe General Government to
suppress instructions.
These special securities together with the reservation
ITO the State respectively or to the people," of the
"powers not delegated to the United States by the
constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States were
supposed by those who granted them and those who
accepted them to be amply sufficient protect property
in slaves from any hostile action OF this government In
this the constitution received and accepted
by the people of the United States. The only defect in
these guarantees results from the fact that the execution
and faithful observance of them depends upon the good
faith OF the Government; in themselves honesty adhered
to, they are full, ample, and sufficient.
The history of some of them is curious and in truct
ing At the time of the formation of Me Constitution,
Virginia and Maryland had prohibited the African
slave trade. North Carolina had laws meing and
restraining it, South Carolina and Georgia insisted upon
further mporations These two States barganed with
New England, and part OF the consideration was that
New England was to vote for the continuance of the
African slave trade for twenty years. and Georgia and
South Carolina were to vote place the general com
merce OF the country under the control of majority of
Congress- instead of two-thrds which had been passed
by the Convention The understanding was fairly car
red out on both sides, and thus the African slave trade
was made lawful commerce under the flag OF the Union
by the votes of New England against the votes ofsave
holding Virginia and Maryland. The North have en-
oyed in security her part of the bargain and she was
the loser by part of the contract as she did the
carrying, and received the profits of the speculation in
slaves Yet, in the face Of these facts aud in defiance
OF these provisions OF the Constitution we are told on
this floor, by New England representatives that slave
property is out OF the protection OF the government
Thousands of these slaves thus introduced as lawful
commerce are still held by the people OF the South
other thousands, which sold for taxes and other
debts due this government thus held the money is or
may be in your treasury, liable to be paid out of your
per diem pay. Your government has direct or imper-
feet liens upon other thousands in the shape of official or
other bonds We have the right call you to give
your blood to maintain these thousands and all the rest
OF the slaves OF the South in bondage 1t is $50 noni-
mated in the bond Yet with these obligations restinr
upon you we are told by you that slave property is out
OF the protection OF the government. Gentlemen de-
celve not yourselves, you cannot deceive others This
is pro-slavery government Slavery is slammed nnon
its hearthe Constitution You must tear that Out Of
the body polite before you can the work
its eradication.
have heard in this hall, within a few days past,
terce and bitter denunciaons from Northern lips OF
aboltlonlsts-those OF the Garrison school, who some
times chance to meet in Faneuil hall. In my Judgment
their line OF policy the farest, just honest
and detensble OF all the enemies of our Institutions
And such will be the judgment of impartial history
"They shun no question, they wear no mask" Thu
admit some at least. Of the constitutional obeatos
TO protect slavery. They hold these obligations ncou-
sistent with good conscience and they therefore de-
nounce the constitution as "a covenant with death and
eagued with hell, and struggle earnestly for its owe
throw. If their conduct is devoid Of every other virtue
and every other claim to our respect, is least con-
sistent They do not SEEK as many members do here,
to get the benefits and shun the burdens OF the bargain
Notwithstanding the constitutional safeguards which
tod fcloE hora
attempted, and are now attempting to get by impica-
ton, that power to upon it which was so studously
withheld. No man pretends that there is any expess
power Except that to nhbit the African slave trade al
ter 1909 granted in the Constitution to limit restrain
discourage, otherwise impair property in slaves But
they seek to effect these objects by implication underline
claim OF power to govern the Territories belonging to
the United States. This power to govern the Terrio
ries itself but doubtful implication It not found
ed upon express grant That clause OF the constitution
which authorizes Congress to dispose Of and make all