The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-06
TIL Z RE P U B Lie.
s

NM. HI. MANN OF MASSACHUbET"Fs,
On the subject Of Slaperyin tie Territories,
and the consequences of the threatened
Dissolution Of the Union, delivered in
the House Of Representatives., February
10, 1850.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN; Ever since the organization of
this House, before its organization, and even In
preliminary caucus that preceded the commence
ment OF the session, southern gentlemen have
pressed the cause, not only of human slavery, but
OF slavery extension, upon us. From motives of
forbearance and not from any question as to our
rights, we of the North have maintained
broken silence. The time has surely como when
the voice of freedom should find an utterance.
Would to God that on the present occasion might
find an aber defender than myself, although, if my
ability to defend it equal to the love bear it,
1t could ask no abler champion.
! wish to premise few words respecting the
proprety and true significance of some of the cpl
thets by which the parties to this discussion are
characterized. The term "Free -Soer'' is perpet-
ually used upon this floor term of ignominy
and reproach; yet, maintain that in its original
and legitimate sense, as denoting an advocate OF
the doctrine that all our territorial possessions
should be consecrated to freedom, there is no Ian
guage that can supplya more honorable appela-
ton. II expresses q determination on the part of
its disciples to keep free the territory that is
free; to stand upon its frontier as the cherubm
stood at the gates of Paradise, with flaming sword
to turn every way to keep the sin Of slavery from
crossing its borders IT, in any instance, the origi
nal advocates of Free Soil have abandoned their in
tegrity, and have courted allies who had no sympa
thy with their principles, but were only eager join
them in a struggle for political ascendency, then,
in my judgment, they have lost infinitely more in
moral power than they have gained in numbers
They have ceased to be genuine and single hearted
Free-Soilers, whom love- and have become parti-
sans, whom condemn. For myself, will engage
in any honorable measure most likely to secure
freedom to the new Territories. will resist any
to slavery. The epithet .Free-Soiler," therefore,
when rightly understood and correctly applied i'm
plies both political and moral worth; and covet the
honor of its application to myself. But what does
its opposite mean? What does the term "Slave
Soiler" signify? II signifies one who desires and
designs that all soil should be made to bear slaves
lts dreadful signifcancy Is, that, after Magma
and after the Declaration of Independence in this
country should cast aside with scorn, not only
the teachings of Christianity but the clearest prin
cipes of natural religion and OF natural law, and
should retrograde from our boasted civilization into
the Dark Ages,ay, into periods that the dark ages
might have called dark. 1t means that this Re
public, call it, formed to establish freedom,
should enlist in crusade against freedom.
And again; those of US at the North, who resist sla
very extension, who mean to Withstand its spread
beyond the limits where it now exists, are de.
nounced as Abolitionists. This cpithet 10 applied
to a term of reproach and obloquy; brand
and stigma, upon our characters and principles.
No distinction is made between those few individu-
ais among us who desire to abolish the Constitution
of the United States; and that great body of the
people, who while their allegiance TO this Constu-
ton is unshaken mean also to maintain their alle-
glance to truth and to duty, in withstanding the
hitherto onward march of slavery. Among the
latter class, Mr.. Colamer, the Postmaster General,
is called an Abolitionist. Mr.. John Quincy Adams
was denounced as an arch -abolitionist Every man
who advocates the jefferson proviso, against the
spread Of slavery is so called Xnd if an nnspeaka-
Bile adherence of this institution and the belief that
1t is the second greatest enormity which the op-
pressor, in his power, committed against the
oppressed, in his weakness inferior only te
that ecclesiastical domination which has trampled
upon the religious freedom of mani say, if THU
adherence Of slavery and this belief in its crimi-
nality, entitle a man 10 be denominated an Aboli-
tonist then rejoice in my unquestonable right te
the name.
In my apprehension, sir, before decide
upon the honor or the infsmy of the term "Aboli
tionist," we must know what things they which
he proposes 10 abolish We of the North, you say
Abolitionists; but abolitonists Of what Are we
abotionists Of the inalienabe, indefeasible, inde
structible rights of manS Are we abolitonists o
knowledge, abolitionists of virtue, Of education
and ofhuman cuturel Do we seek TO abolish the glo
rious moral and intellectual attributes which Goo
has given TO his children, and thus as far as IL lies IN
our power, make the facts of slavery conform Il
the law of slavery, by obliterating the distinction
between man and beast
Do our laws and our institutions seek 10 blot ou
and abolish the image Of God. in the human soul
Do we abolish the marriage covenant; and insteac
Of saying with the Apostle, that wives shall sub
init themselves TO their husbands, command then
to submit themselves TO euy body, and 10 tbei
master as husband over all Do we ruthlessly teal
asunder the sacred ties Of affection by which Goo
has bound the parent TO the child and the child u
the parent Do we seek 10 abolish all those noble in
stincts of the human soul, by which IL ycarns fo
improvement and progress; and do we quench III
sublime aspirations after knowledge and virtue
stranger would suppose, from hearing the cpl
thots of contumely that are heaped upon us, tina
abolitionists of all truth, purity, know
ledge, improvement, civilization, happiness anC
holiness On this subject, perversion OF languag'
and OF idea has been reduced 10 a system, and th,
falseboods Of our calumniators exclude truth will
the cxactncss OF science.
But II the word "Abolitionst" Is 10 be used in
reproacbful and contumeious sense, does IL no
more properly belong 10 those who would extend
system which in its very nature aboshes freedom
justice, equity, and a sense Of human brotherhood
Does II not belong 10 those who would abolish no
only all social and political, but all natural rights
who would abolish " liberty and the pursuit Of hap
piness; !" who would close up all the avenues I,
knowledge; who would render freedom OF though
and liberty Of conscience impossible, by crushing
out the faculties by which alone we can think anS
decide; who would rob fellow-ma Of his parenta
rights, and innocent children Of the tenderness an'
joys Of flial love- who would introduce a fou
concubnsgc in place OF the institution Of mar
ragc, and who would remorselcssly trample upor
all the tendercst and hoest affections which th'
human soul s capable Of feelingS After Mr.. Jeffer
son, in the Declaration Of Independence, had emu
nerated few oppressive deeds Of the British kinl
towards his American colonists, he denominate'
him ca prince whose character was marked bl
every act that could define tyrant" There ar
now as many slaves in this country as there wer
colonists in f776. Compare the condition Of thes
three million slaves with the condition Of the thre
million colonists The conduct Of that sovereign
who was denounced before earth and heaven a
having committed all the atrocities that could dc
fine a tyrant was mercy and loving kindness com
pared with the wrongs and privstons of three mil
lions Of fellow. beings now existing among us
II the word Aboltionist," then, is TO be used IN
reproachful sense, let il be applied TO those who, u
the midst Of the nineteenth century, and In defanc
Of all the lights Of the age, would extend the hor
rors Of an Institution which, by one all-cornpre
hendng crime towards helpless race, makes J
impossible 10 commit any new crime against them
unless II be 70 enlarge the of their bondage
and TO multiply the number Of their victims.
If we are abotionists, then, abolitionst
Of human bondage; while those who oppose ar
abotionists Of human liberty. We would proven
the extension Of one Of the greatest wrongs tha
man suffered upon earth; they would carr,
bodily chains and mental chains,--chains in lii
eral and chains in hgurative scnsc,-into realm
where even the halfcivilized descendants Of IN
Spaniard and the Indian have silcnced their cIank
ing. We would avert the impending night of ig
norsnce and superstition; they would abolish tn
glorious liberty whcrewith God makcth his chill
- ..oxl tl.n-.g