Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-20
THE SLAVE QUESTION.
SPEECH OF MR.. E. G. CABELL,

CO1HHl3tLee
on the Presidents Message communicating the
| Constitution Of California.
| Mr. CABELL said
Mr. CHAIRMAN 1t is perhaps well or better for me,
that have not, till now succeeded in accomplishing
my wish to address the committee on the absorbing
question OF the day. Much that desired to say has
been better said by other gentlemen who entertain
similar to my own, the subject OF slavery and the
rights of the South" Particularly has my friend from
Georgia, no sits near me, Mr. Toombs, anticipated
the expression OF my opinions in his very able speech
recently deivered-he sentiments of which endorse
and adopt. In what may say shall endeavor not to
weary the committee by detailed argument of points
made by other gentlemen.
| While the House in a state of Reorganization,
from its inability to elect presiding officer, pre-
vented, by the adoption OF resolution stopping debate,
from giving the reasons which induced me decline to
act with the Wing party in the election OF Speaker.
| AT the commencement OF the last Congress l had
cheeriully voted for the accomplished Representative
from the city OF Boston. For this my political oppo-
nents at home assailed me- | did not excuse but us-
fled myself, for did achaf acaS right My constituents
sustained me. They all expected me to vote for Mr..
Winthrop again. Had done SO, there would have been
no complaint against me- With the Wing party Of my
State, Mr.. Winthrop is great favoriteno man from
a non-slavehoding State as much They would
have been gratifed could have felt authorized to
my vote for him. With the experience Of the last can
vass, the Democratic party would not again have
tured to charge with want Of eaty to the South
was not, therefore, influenced by any fear OF embar-
rassment at home. regret that | could not give nv
support to gentleman between whom and myself there
| exists the kindes feelings of personal friendship
This subject Mr. Chairman, has lost its interest; and
it had not, have not time to speak of it. My
constituents have confidence enough in to believe
thatmy course was dictated solely by regard for their
interests, and that would not have voted against the
candidate OF my party and gentleman held in such
high esteem as the late Speaker OF this House. without
the most satisfactory 1t will suffice to say SIR
that the circumstances attending the meeting the pre-
sent and the last Congress, were widely different
| Mexican territory had not then been acquired Mr.
Winthrop like myself was opposed to its acquisition
He agreed with me in regard TO the proper conduct of
the war; which the House OF Representatives had de-
clared to be unnecessarily and unconsttutionaly be-
gun" He was the representative of the conservative
feeling OF the country which, if it could have found
place in the breast OF the late Administration would
have prevented state of things threatening the
throw OF the constitution and dissolution of the Union
But sir conraryto his wishes, to my wishes, and to the
wishes otthe entire Wing party, territory acquired
A new issue is presented. We, of the South, not
Wings or Democrats but all the southern people, claim
right to possess and enjoy in common with the people
ofthe North, at least portion of the country which we
have fought tor and are to pay for The which
tusing to adopt resolution declaring that Congress
ought not to pass any law prohibiting slavery in the
territories OF California and New Mexico, nor any law
| abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia"
The refusal to adopt this and another resolution sub
mitted, might properly be regarded equivalent to the
affirmation OF their converse resolved not to sanction
doctrines SO fatal to my section OF the Union and to
the Uion ITSELF by voting for the nominee of that eau
Gus
Sir there other facts and other considerations TO
which need not now allude, which removed all doubt
from my mind OF the propety OF the pursued by the
hive Southern Wings who acted with me. We have no
to regret what didwe are satisfied that good
has come out OF it. If the House had continued disor
ganized for few weeks longer the questions now dis
tracing the country would have been settled. All now
admit that the crisis is at hand which then saw and
the minds OF men, in every section, directed to
consideration OF the means OF removing the causes of
danger
But, sir, enough this subject. Let me say, how
ever in this connection, that have heard much and
said much, to my constituents respecting the con-
seroatism Of the northern Wing party believed what
| said And do not hesitate to express the opinion
now, that on all questions except this of slavery they
do constitute the conservative body of the North and
on this they are more reliable than the northern Demo-
cratic party. With individual exceptions entitled to
our most grateful thanks, of all parties advocate
the most destructive measures.
A lew weeks ago. had an illustration of the mean
ing which northern gentlemen attach to conservatism
gentleman from Ohio tMr. Schenck) made very
good speech what he called the spirit of conserva-
tism, which influenced his political action in the course
OF which he denounced OF his colleagues Mr. Gid
dings as an agtator. Now, sir, terms Of condemna-
1on too strong cannot be applied to the agitating
Der But, as the conservative member proceeded we
found him contending that, for all practical measures
he was more of an ant-slavery than the agtator
Indeed, sir the only controversy between the gen.
tlemen was aohich The best Free Soier or Anti-
&ape,yite.
The same line ofargunent was followed by nv friend
from New York, (Mr. Duer0 in letter to his consti-
gentlemen. We all listened with interest a few days
ago, othe speech OF the late Speaker of the House of
Representatives MIR Winthrop, in which he admins
tered well deserved castigaton to the Free Soil
sect lie was specially severe upon another agtding
member from Ohio, Mr.. Root,) against whom it can
not be denied he made clear case. But sir what
was the burden OF his complaint against that member
Why, that he (Mr R. was the greatest enemy of the
Wilmot provso-that if the proviso was killed. "lts
death lie at the door of the member from Ohio
1t was "a victim to the restless vanity and headstrong
| rocb,o prftl ,har H. Al
that the member from Ohio had committed "worse than
a fault" that he had committed ga mistake-a fatal
bunder that he should not then have called on "the
| North TO SHOW ITS HAND"
| Now, Mr.. Chairman, what matters it to us bv
what names gentlemen choose to call themselves
or to characterize Others whether Abolnionists
Agtators,, Free-soilers or Conservatives, so long
as they al advocate the most destructive measures /
know substantial difference between Democrats
Free-Soilers and Wings at the North, except in their
party organisation With few individual exceptions,
they are all waging ruthless war on the institutions of
the South, which they seem resolved circumscribe
cripple, and Destroy if they can. There is rarely
measure proposed by the agtator which is not voted
for by the conservative The agitaor boldly threatens,
and plainly tells US his purpose and obec-the conser
vave says nothing but quietly and steathiy binds our
arms, and places the rope round necks. If the
southern man ressts, he too, is called agator-ifhe
tamely submits, his executioner dgnifes him with the
title of Conservative. We may have such Conserya-
lives among u.s. am, and ever shall be, Conserva-
tive in the true sense of the term but sir not such
this.
Mr.. Chairman, have watched with painful anxiety
the progress Of an-slavery feeling and anti-slavery
action in the non-slavehoding States. 1 believe that
the sentiment of hostility to the institution of slavery is
common TO all parties, and that there is determine
ton to invoke all the powers of the Federal Govern
break down that institution and thus to destroy
more than fifteen hundred millions of the property of
the South. 1t is this sir, which causes anxiety Is
it TO be wondered at that Southern evnce alarm
and excitement this subject! 1t is this which gives
such absorbing interest to questions engaging our
attention. that Congress finds itself unable 10 proceed
with the ordinary business of the country
This deplorable state of things, Mr.. Chairman, has
not come Unexpectedly to many of US twas toeseen,
toretold and deprecated by every Wing member of the
last and the preceding Congress The entire Wing
party warned the country of the danger to result from
the acquisition of Mexican territory. But, sir, unfou-
nately, our counses were not needed The late Admit
nstraton rushed reckessly on in its mad career of
regardless OF consequences We have acquir-
ed foreign territory, but is the risk of our own lori
Gus Confederacy. The Union is rocked to its very