The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-27


life has been withdrawn from the interesting cares Of
domestic lie and the practice Of lucrative profession,
that might fulfil responsible public trusts and crafty
charge my duty according TO the ability which has
been given me, must have been basely ungrateful,
and that without motive. The period during which !
the conederacy in the Senate OF the United States has
been without its parallel in our eventu history. To
clam 70 have been exempt from error through all the
vicissitudes which have, at such time, attended pub
lie sdaTs, would be claiming that which has non been
vouchsafed to the wisdom of man. But the occasion
Affords nae pleasing opportunity 70 render account Of
the reasons which have influenced me. and embrace
i with alacry. In doing 80, the history OF the abb
sorbng questions which have agitated the country is
necessary 70 correct understanding o. the matter,
i will be briefly but in spirit OF recrmnaton, review
ed. The subject which has constituted the most unior
the application Of the ordinance Of i7s7 to the recently
acquired Territories Territories won by the common
yalor and common effort Of wise heads and patriotic
hearts upon the field OF bae-Teritories purchased by
the common blood and common treasure OF every section
Of the Union Repeated efforts have heen made in Con-
gess, from time TO time, 10 give these Territories civil
Organization but they have all proved ruthless and I'M
avang, for the reason that portion insisted that
government should be erected unless this restrictive ord
nance applied to it; while another insisted. with
equal pernacity, that none should be erected with it,
section contending that i necessary and proper
to prohibit the extension OF slavery by the Legislation Of
Congress the other that such action by the national
was unjust improper and con
feengs and to degrade them in the scale Of social and
political being, and insisting upon their right to pass into
i n w nj
themselves That the whole ground may be surveyed
understandngly, It should be remembered that those
shss q hiSe s Office than a %
adopted, prohibit slaves from going from the States
the Territories making few less slaves in Maryland
osap sna declared ha
Prohbltory act OF Congress upon this subject would
compel them to sever the political bonds which unite
y 20
to cease from its agitation. But, although it has al
ready formed parties based upon higher principles
!aan geographical lines; more dangerous to our Tree IN
and has sown broadcast in our midst the terrible ele
ments Of sectional hate. s pressed on, though
which follow i conceded By those who know most
OF the SOIL productions climates and physical confgura
ton OF the Territories in question, that slavery
there there being ADEQUATE demand for ts most I'M
ing both abundant and cheap. And although consdera
tons OF much higher import influence and control my
action upon all that relates to this difficult and dangerous
subject am one Of those who believe that Congress can
pass law sufficiently inviting in its rewards trim
gent in it's penalties to force slavery there and keep it
there for single year But the South regard point
of honor; they hold all interference with the question
an Infringement OF constitutional right and they fear
that when this particular power has been exercised by
more deeply injurious to them may be first asserted
then insisted on, and finally applied, until State SOW
eregny shall become an empty name. and they be placed
at the mercy OF the general government welded by the
potential voice OF controlling majority the free States
We are, numerically the stronger party and should
member that minores are constitutonaly sensitive and
jealous OF encroachment Majortes at all times
force their rights by the exercise Of their power and
they should be admonished. by the highest dictates of
justice and generosity, to treat with marked deicacy
and indulgence the rights of those who are, all but
n L
anxously contemplated this question in all its bearings
and Notwithstanding do not hold the South exempt
from error in her reciprocal polcy-notwithstandin
she has, well ourselves, her ultraisms for ultra
ism always hunts in couples and each its
terpart-notwi thstanding portion of her statesmen
have occasionally abandoned, as have thought, her
strongest ground to stand upon her weakest and most
impraccable have long believed that. in all that
ates to this sectional strife, she has been more snned
sgs;ns, than shining tAppaase The institution Of
times painfully sensitive, and there no offence on earth
which humanity brooks with little patience exter
Act 81 onr an legally s;ynsIized when so
cetes were organized in our midst and presses were es
tabshed with the avowed purpose Of putting down the
institution IN other States Missionaries went forth upon
their GRAND Of mischief, and every means OF vexaiion
and annoyance that ingenuity could devise and vigilance
execute employed to sap, and undermine, and
der valueless the institutions OF the South and to dis
urb the relations between master and servant Voice
Trucl We repealed, unnecessarily and vexatously, our
laws which permitted our southern friends to bring with
hcm tneH nousenou servants, when VlslunR our State
for few weeks upon business or pleasure, and, in the
judgment OF our courts violated the constitution by
legislative enactment in endeavonng to throw obstacles
IN the way OF their recovering summary, according to
previous legaized usage their fugitive slaves And il
will be found 10 be painful yet Instructive truth, that
the darkest passages in the history OF human servude
have been written there from a necessity imposed
Of a misguided or spurious philanthropy. AS a sem
lnent, there is no doubt that the northern people,
Of all classes and all parties, regard with disavor the
transfer OF slavery from the States TO the Territories
and in that general sentiment have often declared my
concurrence. II Is not however, because have more
old; for in suc oh change his health and comfort would
probably be promoted but il because believe the
moral POLITICAL and social condition Of the whites much
better without than with IL and while have
ployed liberty and freedom cant phrases TO sgnaze
ny superior philanthropy, and do not propose 10 do
experience high qualification, when see new State IN
oupding her political organization, adhere 10 what
ion which, or later must bring more OF embarass-
nent and evil than il oil even imaginary good
Yet since il constitutional right, upon the broadest
principles OF free sefgovernment am quite willing
hat each political community should judge for itself
whether II will have Il or not Cheering But while
hus concung 10 sentiment with those whodo not favor
he transfer OF slavery the newly acqured Territories,
quite free to declare, that much sooner than see
his otherwise happy and heaven-favored conederacy
than single in constellation
dotted from the rmamentsooner than the fraternal
citations which ought to exist between this ssierbood oil
States turned systematic and angry eproaches,
would see every member OF this unfortunate race bond
md free, well provided and provsoned for the journey
n one dark and mighty clould march from the old
states to the new Territories any other section OF the
Jnion there reside, II the inhabitants would permit
hem lCheering II this be treason, let those who will