The North-Carolina standard., 1850-03-20

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this country had against her. At any rate it i'll be
found that President Polk, in message at the COM
mencement of the session in December I847, avowed
that the war was to be prosecuted till some acquisi-
ton OF territory was obtained. And the acqusi-
tion was south of the line of the United States, in
warm climates and countries, it naturally expect
ed, suppose, by the South that whatever acquisi.
tons Were made in that region would be added the
slaveholding part of the United States. Events have
turned out not expected, and that expectation
has not been realized and therefore, in degree
disappointment and surprise have been created. In
other WORDS it is obvious that the question which has
long harrassed the country, and at some times
seriously alarmed the minds of wise and good men,
has upon US for fresh discussion-he question
of slavery in the United States.
Now, SIR propose, perhaps at some little expense
to the attention of the Senate, to review historically
the question of slavery, which partly in consequence
of its acts and partly in consequence Of the
in which it has been discussed in and the 9TH
er portions of the country, has been the source of
much alienation and unknd feeling different portions
of the United States We all know that slavery has
existed in the world from time immemorial. There
was slavery in the earliest periods of the history of
oriental nations. There was slavery among the Jews.
The theocratic government of that people made no
Greeks and the ingenious philosophy Of the Greeks
found, OF sought to find, justification OF 1t exactly
upon the grounds which have been 1Dsumed for such
justification in this country, that is, natural and
original difference between the races of mankind
the nfeory of the coored black to the white.
The Greeks justified their system of slavery upon that
ground precisely. They held the Africans and some
portions of the Asatic tribes to be inferior to the
white race. They did show, think, by any close
process of logic, that if that true the more in
elligen and the stronger had therefore the right to
subjugate the weaker. The more manly philosophy
and jurisprudence of the Romans placed the jus6ca-
ton on entirely different grounds. The Roman ju-
rists, from the very first dawn to the fall OF the en-
pire, admitted that slavery was against the natural
law, by which they maintained that all men, OF what
ever clime color, or capacity, were equal But they
justified slavery. first, upon the authority of the law
of natons arguing, and arguing truly, that at that
day the conventional law of nations admitted that
capves in war-whose lves according to the notion
of that time at the absolute disposal OF the cap
|tor-might>in exchange for exemption from death,
be made slaves for life, and that that servude might
descend to their posterity. The jurists of Rome al
SO maintained that by the civil law there might be
serviude and slavery, personal and hereditary rst
by the voluntary act of the individual, who might
sell himself into slavery secondly, by his being re-
ceived into state of servitude by his creditors, to
satisfy the debts he had incurred and, thirdly, by
being placed in state of servitude or slavery for
crime.
At the introduction of Christianity into the world,
the Roman empire full of slaves. l suppose
there is 10 be found injunction against that relation
between and man in the teachings of the Gospelby
Jesus Christ by any of his apostles. The object
of the instructions delivered mankind by the foan-
der of Christianity to touch the heart purity the
soul, and to improve the lives of individual men.
That object went directly to the first foundation of
the political and social relations of to raise the
individual heart and mind of man. Now, sir, upon
the general nature and character, and awfulness OF
slavery, there exists wide difference of opinion be-
tween the northern portion of this country and the
southern. 1t is said, on the one side, that if not
the subject of any injunction, any direct prohlbl-
ton in the New Testament slavery is wrong that
is founded merely in the right of the strongest
that it is oppression: it is like all unjust wars like
all those conflicts by which mighty nations subject
weaker nations to their will. They think slavery in
its nature-whatever be said Of it in the modica
tions which take place in it in facts not according
to the meek spirit " of the apostle it is not kind
ly afectoned sit does not {" seek another's. and
its own-it does not " let the oppressed go free"
These sentiments that cherished recently with
greatly augmented force, among the people of the
northern States. They nave taken hold of the reli-
gous sentiment of that part of the country as they
have less taken hold of the religious feelings
of considerable portion of mankind.
The South, upon the other side, having been ac-
customed to this relation between the races all their
lives, from their oirth-having been taught, in gene
raj, treat the subjects of this bondage with care
and kindness, and believe, in general, to feel for
them great care and kindness-have not taken this
view of the subject which have mentioned. There
are thousands of religious men, with conscences as
tender those of any of their brethren at the North,
who do not see the unlawfulness of slavery; and
there are more, thousands perhaps, that, whatever
they may think of it in its origin, and as matter
depending upon natural right, yet take things they
find slavery to bs established relation of soci-
ETY. where they live, and see no way in which-let
their opinions upon the abstract question be what
they may- is in the power of the present generation
to relieve themselves from this relation And, in this
respect candor obliges me to say that believe they
are just conscientious, many of them, and OF the
religious people, all of them are in the North,
holding different sentiments.
Why, sir, the honorable member from South Car
olina Mr. Cahoun the other day alluded to the sep
Grafton of that great religious community, the Meth
about by differences of opinion upon this particular
subject of slavery. felt great concern, that dis
pute went on, about the result. was anxious-l
in hope-that the difference Of opinion might be
healed because look upon that religious commune
ty as one Of the great props of religion and morals
throughout the whole country, from Maine to New
Orleans. The result was against my hopes. have
read all their proceedings all their arguments; but
have never yet been able to come to the conclusion
that there was any real ground for that separation
in other words, that any good could be produced by
that separation.
Sir, when questions of this kind take hold of the
religious sentiments of mankind and come to be dis
cussed in religious assemblies, by clergy and aity,
there is always to be expected and always to be feared
great degree of excitement. 1t is in the nature of
man, manifested by his whole history. that religious
disputes apt to become warm. Mems strength of
conviction is proporoned to their views of the mag
nitude OF the question.
In all such disputes, there will sometimes be men
be found, with whom will be absolutely
wrong or absolutely right. They the right clear
ly they think others ought and they are disposed
to establish broad line of distinction between what
they think right and what they hold to be wrong
and they not seldom willing to establish that line
upon their own conviction OF the truth and justice o.
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