The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-22

lumbia the North, presume, will hardly attempt
the repeal of that, and confidently anticipate that
no such attempt will be seriously made on the part
of the South.
In respect to slavery within the District of Column
bia, which is dying natural death rapidly,
think we may confidently hope for freedom from
all dsturba on that account.
Thus, Mr.. Speaker, trust and believe that OF all
the threatening topics connected with slavery, at
the commencement of the last session of Congress,
only remains TO create interest and solicitude,
and that is the Fugitive Slave bill.
Narrowed down to.the single ground, the slave
holding States will occupy the vantage position.
The Constitution is with them, the law is with
them the right ID with then and, If its execution
shall be opposed, or attempted to be thwarted by
force, that State which makes such an opposition
will place itself clearly, manfestly, and indisputa-
bly, in the wrong.
|. Occupying such ground the savehoding States
may fearessly and consistently await the issue.
1t was not to be expected, nor did expect, that
the measures adopted at the last session OF Con-
gress would lead to immediate and general ac
qulescence, on the part OF the ultras at the North
and at the South.
They had been impelled by such violent and ex-
reme passions, that it was too much to expect that
they would silently and promptly admit their err
rors and yield to what had been done Tor the best
interests of our common country.
Accordingly perceive that at the South a
second edition of the Hartford Convention has
again assembled, and Is laboring TO stir up strife
and contention, and in several Of the 5laveholding
States the spirit of discord and discomfort is busily
engaged in its unpatriotic work. But confidently
anticipate that all their mad efforts will be put
down by the intelligence, the patriotism, the love
of Union, of the people of the various saveholdin
States
And here, Mr.. speaker, let lis make momen-
tary inquiry as to what would have been the con-
dition the confederacy on the subject of slavery,
if, unhappily, it had been discovered Assuming
thai the line could have been drawn between the
slaveholding and non slavehodng States, all north
OF Maryland and Virginia, and all north OF the
Ohio river would have become foreign, ndepen-
dent, and sovereign power Contrast, if you please.
our present condition with what it would have been
under that order Of things
At present we have right, if any slave escapes
from his service, to demand his surrender. We
have right to take the Constitution and the law in
hands, and to require the surrender. do not
believe that there will be any open and forcible re-
sisance to the execution of the law.
The people of the North, have too strong sense
of the proprety of obedience to the laws but if there
be any such resistance, have the right to invoke
the employment of any part Of the militia OF the
United States, or the army and navy OF the United
States 10 enforce the execution OF the law; and, al
though have authority to connect President
Fillmore to any specific line Of duty, have known
him long, well and intimately, and ! feel entire
confidence in him a of ability, honesty, and
of patriotism, who will perform his duty, and his
whole duty, in seeing to the etectual execution of
the laws of the land; to which pledge my support,
and the utmost of my poor ability.
In the existing state of things we doubtless shall
We shall, however, recover some, and the courts
and the juries in the free States have demonstrated
their readiness 10 give, by their verdicts and judg
ments, ample indemnity against those who entiCe,
seduce away, and harbour our runaway slaves.
But how would the case stand in dlsmembered
condition of the confederacy? Then we would not
have a right to demand solitary slave that might
escape beyond the Ohio into what would then be
foreign power.
Ii all the slaves of Kentucky in that contingency
were to flee beyond the Ohio river, we would not
have right 10 demand one of them in the absence
of extradtion treaties, and such treaties would
ever be concluded.
With respect to slaves, should have no right
to demand a surrender of one of them. Nothing is
clearer in the whole public law OF nations than that
one independent foreign power Is not bound to sur
render fugitive who takes refuge in another in
dependent foreign power.
We have recently this great international
principle acted upon by the Sultan of Turkey in
the case of kossuth and his Hungarian companions,
who took refuge in the Sultans dominions; and his
refusal to surrender them upon the demand OF Rus
STA and Austria was enthusiastically admired, APP
proved, and appauded by all OF US.
Now, MIR. Speaker, we have the Constitution, the
law, and the clear right on side. Dissolve the
confederacy and create new and independent pow
ers the law and the right will be transferred from
us to them.
may be asked as / have been asked, when
would consent To dissolution of the Union. an
swer NHyGHi NRvrnl NEvsni because j can con-
ceive of no possible contingency that would make
break up this glorious confederacy, and separate
into bleeding and belligcrant parts. Show me what
believe TO be impossible 10 chow me, that there
will be greater security for liberty, life property,
peace, and human happiness in the midst Of jarr
ing, jealous and warning independent North Anne
rican powers, than under the eagle Of the Union,
and will consent TO its dissolution.
would hold to IL if Congress were TO usurp a
power, which | am sure II never will, 10 abolish
slavery within the States; for in the contingency
of such a usurpation, we should be in better con-
dition to slavery, bad as it would be, in the
Union, than out Of the Union.
Approximations have been entertained and
pressed 10 the want in future time Of territorial
scope for the slave population.
believe that very distant day, not likely to oc-
cur in the present or next century, whenever the
vast unoccupied waste in Mississippi, Arkansas,
Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Texas shall be-
come fully peopled, slavery will have reached its
natural termination-the density Of population in
the United States will then be great that there
will be such reduction in the price and value of la
Dor to render 1t much cheaper TO employ free
than slave labor, and the slaves, becoming burden
to their owners will be voluntarily disposed Of and
allowed TO go free.
Then hope and believe under the dispensatons
Of Providence that the continent of Africa, by the
system of colonization, will be competent 20
ceive from America all the descendants of its own
race.
II the agitation in regard 10 the Fugitive Slave
law should continue and increase, and become
alarming, IL will lead TO the formation of two
parties-one Tor the Union, the other against uhe
Union.
Present parties have been created by d.
vision of opinion TO systems Of national policy
to finance, free trade or protection, the improve
mcnt Of rivers and hsrbors the distribution Of the
proceeds of the public lands, &c.
But these systems of policy, springing out Of the
administration Of the Government Of the Union,
osc all their interest and importance If that Union
il to be dissolved. They sink into utter insignih-
canoe before the all-important porvasiye and para
mount interest Of the Union itsclE
The platform of the Union party will be the
Union the Constitution, and the enforcement OF its
lave and If il should be necessary TO form such
party, and il should be accordingly formed, an
nouncc myself in this place a member Of that
Union party, whatever may be lite component ele-
mens.
Sir go further; | have great hopes and conf
dencc in the psnciples Of the Wing party, as being
most likely conduce 10 the honor, the prosperity,
and the glory of my country.
But If is 10 be merged into contemplate Abo-
lition party, and IL abolition is TO be engrafted on
the Wing creed, from that moment renounce the
Wing party, and cease 20 be Wing.
go yet a step further. II II am alive, will give
my humble support for the Presidency to that man
who, whatever party he may belong TO, is not con-
taminated by fanatcism, rather than TO one who,
| crying out all the time, and aloud, that he is a
| Wing maintains doctrines utterly subversyo Of
| the Constitution and the Union.
Mr. Speaker, speak without reserve, and with