Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-11


and comes to be discussed in religious assemblies of thu
clergy and lay there is always be expected or al
ways to be feared, great degree of excitement 1t
IN the nature OF man, manifested by his whole history
that religious disputes are apt to become warm,
mems strength of conviction is proportionate to thei
views Of the magnitude of the questions In all sucl
disputes there will sometimes men be found with whom
every thing is absoluteabso uey wrong or absolutely
right. They see the right clearly; they think other
ought to do it, and they disposed establish broa
line OF distinction between what they think right ant
what they hold to be wrong. And they are not seldom
willing to establish that line upon their own convictions
OF the truth and the justice Of their opinions,
they are wngto mark and guard that line by placing
along it series OF dogmas, lines of boundary are
marked by posts and stones. There are men who with
clear perceptions, they think Of their own duty dc
not how too hot pursuit of one duty may involve
them in the violation of Others or how too warm an
enhancement OF one truth may lead to disregard OF
other truths equally important AS heard it stated
strongly not many days ago. these persons disposed
to mount upon some duty war horse and to drive
furously, and upon, and all other duties that
may stand in the way. There who, in times OF
that sort and disputes OF that Sort are OF opinion that
human duties may be asceraned with the precision OF
mathematics. They deal with morals as with mathe-
mates and they think what is right may be distinguish
ed from what is wrong with the precision of az alge-
brac equation. They, have therefore, none too much
charity towards others who differ from them They
are apt too to think that nothing is good but what is
ertec and that there are compromises or modifca-
tons to be made in submission to difference OF opinion
u
spcacous vision enables them to detect spot on the
face of the sum- they think that good reason why the
sun should be struck down from heaven They prefer
the chance OF running into utter darkness to living in
heavenly light if that heavenly light be absolutely
without any imperecton. There are impatient men,
too impatient always to give heed to the admission OF
st. Paul. that we are not to do evil that good may
come"-too impatient TO wait tor the slow progress OF
moral causesl IN the improvement OF mankind. They
do not remember that the doctrines and the miracles Of
Jesus Christ have in eighteen hundred years. converted
only small portion OF the human and among the
nations that converted TO Christianity they forget
how many vices and crimes, public and private still
prevail and that many of them, public crimes especially
which offences against the Christian religion pass
without exciting particular regret orindignaon. Thus
wars waged, and unjust wars. | do not deny that
there may be Just There certainly are but was
the remark OF eminent person, not many years ago.
the other side OF the Atlantic that it one of the
greatest reproaches to human nature that were
sometimes necessary The defence of nations some
times war against the injustice Of other nations
Now, sir, in this state OF sentiment upon the general
nature OF slavery lies the cause OF great portion Of
those unhappy divisions exasperatons and reproaches
which find vent and support in different parts of the
Union. Slavery does exist in the United States. II did
exist the States before the adoption Of this constu-
ton, and at that time.
the state of sentiment North and South in regard to
slavery at the time this constitution was adopted
change has taken place SINCE but what did
the wise and great OF ali parts OF the country think
of slavery gin what estimation did they hold it in
1887 when this constitution was adopted! Now it will
be found sir if will carry ourselves by historical re-
search back to that day, and ascertain mems opinions
by authentic records still existing among u.s. that there
was great diversity. OF opinion between the North
and the South upon the subject OF slavery and it will be
found that both parts of the country held it equally an
evil-a moral and political evil. 1t will not be found
that either at the North the South there was much
though there some, nvectiye against slavery in
human and cruel. The great ground of objection to it
was political; that it weakened the social fabric; that,
taking the place of free labor, society less strong
and labor less productive and therefore we find
from all the eminent men OF the time the cearest express
sion of their opinion that slavery was an evil. And
they ascrbed it., not without TRUTH and not without
some acerbty OF temper and force of language to the
injurious policy of the mother country. who to favor the
navigator, had enailed these evils upon the colonies
need hardly REFER sir, TO the publications of the day
They matters of history on the record The emf
nent men, the most eminent men and nearly all the
conspicuous of the South held the sentiments
that slavery was an evil blight, blast mildew
scourge, and curse; There terms Of reproba-
ton of slavery vehement in the orth of that day as
IN the South. The North was not so much excited
against it the South, and the is suppose be-
cause there much less at the North and the people
did not see, or think they saw, the evils prominently
they seen, thought to be SEEM at the South
Then, sir when this constitution was framed this was
the light in which the Convention viewed it. The
Convention reflected the Judgment and sentiments of
the great men OF the South. A member of the other
House, whom l have not the honor to know in re-
cent speech has collected extracts from these public do
cuments. They prove the truth OF what am saying.
and the question then was how to deal with it, and how
to deal with it evil9 Well, they came to this ge-
neral result They thought that slavery could not be
continued in this country if the importation of slaves
made to cease and therefore they provided that
after certain period the importation might be prevent
ed by the act of the new Government Twenty years
was proposed by some gentlemen, Northern gentle
man, think and many of the Southern gentlemen op-
posed it as being too long. Mr. Madison especially
was something warm against it. He said it would
hOft into 81
low the importation of slaves for such period. Be-
cause we must take along with us, in the whole of this
discussion, when we are considering the sentiments and
opinions in which the constitutional provision orgina
ted that the conviction of all was that if the i'm
poration of slaves ceased, the white race would multi
ply faster than the black race and tina, slavery would
therefore gradually wear out and expire 1t may not
be improper here to aude TO that, had almost said
celebrated opinion of Mr.. Madison. You observe sir
that the term slave slavery is not used in the consu
ton. The constitution does not require that Fugitive
slaves shall be delivered up 1t requires that persons
bound to service in State and escaped into another
shall be delivered up" Mr. Madison opposed the in
PRODUCTION of the slave slavery into the consu
ton for he said he did not wish to see recognized by
the constitution OF the United States OF America that
there could be property in men.
Now, sir, all this took place at the Convention in
1887; but connected with thls-concument and con-
another important consideration not
attended The Convention tor framing this
constitution assembled in Philadelphia in May, and sat
until September 1887. During all that time the Con-
gress of the United States in session at New York
1t was matter OF design, as we know, that the Con-
vention should not assemble in the city, where
Congress was holding its sessions Almost all the pub
lie of the country, therefore, OF distinction and
in the other OF these assem-
bies; and think it happened in some instances that
the same gentlemen were members of both. If mis-
take not such was the case OF Mr.. Rufus King then
member of Congress from Massachusetts, and at the
same time member OF the Convention to frame the
constitution from that State. Now, it was in the sum-
mer of 1887, the very time when the Convention in
Philadelphia was framing this constitution, that the
Congress in New York was framing the ord-
nance OF 1887. They passed that ordinance the 18th
July, 1857 at New York, the very month"; perhaps the
very day. which these questions about the importation
II slaves and the character of slavery debated in
he Convention at Philadelphia. And, so far as can
low learn there perfect concurrence of opinion
between these respective bodies and it resulted in this
ordinance of 1887, excluding slavery applied to all
he territory over which the Congress of the United
States had jurisdiction and that all the territory
northwest OF the Ohio Three years before, Virginia
and other States had made cesson of that great ter
itory to the United States. And most magnificent act
was. | never reflect upon it without disposition to