The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-03-19

I
had been residents of the slaveholding states,
about twenty-five were from the non-save-
holding states, and the remaining ten mem
bers were either native Callornians or old
settlers in that country. This prohibition
against slavery, it is said, wa, inserted with
entire unanimty.
Mr.. Hale VIII the Senator give way
until order is restored? ?
The Vice President The Sergeant at
Arms will see that order is restored and no
more persons admitted TO tho floor.
Mr. Cass. | trust the scene of the other
day will not be repeated The Scrgeant-at
Arms must display more energy in suppress
ing this disorder.
Mr.. Hale. The noise is outside the door.
MIR, Webster. And it is this circumstance,
sir. the prohibition of slavery by that con-
vcntion, which has contributed to raise-I
do no, say it has wholly raised--ihe dispute
as to the proprieiy of the admission of Cali
lornia into the Union uuder this constitution.
It is not to be denied, Mr.. Presidcnt---no-
BODY thinks of denyng-that, whatever
reasons were assigned at the commencement
of the late war with Mexico, it was prose.
cuted for the purpose of the acquisition of
territory, and under the alleged argument
/ lllNA lnt ttSTlOi Va ACiiiVAs was wv Nh's
! form in which proper compe nsaton could
he made to the United States by Mexico,
for the various claims and demands which
the people of this country had against that
government. A any rate, it will be found
that President Folks message, at tic com
mencencnt Of the session of December, 1S47,
avowcd that the war was to be prosecuted
until some acquisition of territory WIS made
| u, I, bp eoutb ff
the line of the United States, in warm eli
mates and countries. it was naturally, | sup
pose. expected by the South. that whatever
acquisitions were made in that region, would
be added to the slavcholdng portion of the
United States. Events have turned out as
was not expected, and that expectation has
NOT been realized; and, therefore, some de-
cree Of disappointment and surprise has re-
suited of course. In other words, it is OBJ
vious that the question which has so long
harrassed the country, and at some times very
seriously alarmed the minds of wise and good
men, has come upon us for 4 fresh discussion
the question Of slavery in these United
States.
Now, sir, propose, perhaps at the expense
of some detail and consequent detention Of
the Senate-to review historically this ques-
ton of slavery. which, partly in consequence
Of its own merits, and patty, perhaps most
ly, in the manner it is discussed in one and
the other portion Of the country, has been Il
source of-so much alienation and nnkind
feeling between the different portions of the
Union,. We all know, sir, thai slavery has
existed in the world from lime immemoral
There was slavery, in the earliest periods of
history, in the Oriental nations. There was
slavery among the Jews; the theocratic gov
ernment Of that people made no injunction
aeains. it. There was slavery among the
Greeks, and the ingenious philosophy of the
Greeks, found or sought to find, justfica-
tod for it exactly upon the grounds which
have been assumed for such a justification in
this country that is, a natural and original
difference among the races Of mankind, the
inferiority of the black or colored race, to
the white. The Greeks justified their sys-
ten of slavery upon that ground precisely
They held the African, and in some parts
the Asiaiic, tribes to be inferior to the white
race but they did not show, ! think, by any
close process of logic, that, il this were true,
the more intelligent and She stronger had
therefore right 10 suhiugate the weaker.
The more manly philosophy and jurspru-
dence of the Romans placed the justification
VI elWNOIN Oh ClllFSlN ulllcFtut HlpuHdo'
The Roman jurists, from the first and
down to the fall of the empire, admitted that
slavery was against the natural law, BY
which, as tfey maintained, all men, of what
soever cline, color, or capacity, were equal
but they justified slavery, first, upon the
ground and authority of the law of nations
-arguing, and arguing traly, that at that
day the conventional law of nations admitted
III. In.
to the notions of the times, were at the abso-
lutte disposal of the captors. might, in ex-
change for exemption from death, DC made
slaves for life, and that such servtude mi At
descend to their postelity. The jGrsts OF
Rome also maintained that by the civil law
there might he servitude-slavery, personal
and hereditary-frst by the voluntary act
of an individual who might sell himself into
slavery second by his being received into
a state of slavery by his creditors in salts
faction of debt and thirdly, by being
placed in a state of servitude or slavery for
: crime. AT the introduction Of Christianity
into the world, the Roman world was full OF
slaves, and suppose there is TO be found nc
Injunction against that relation between man
and man in the teachings of the Gospel Of
Jesus Christ, or of any OF his Apostles. The
object of the instruction impaired to man.
kind by the founder OF Christianity, was to
touch the heart, purify the soul, and improve
the lives of individual men. That object
went directly TO the first fountain of all po.
litical and all social relations of the human
race-the individual heart and mind of man
Now. sir, upon the general nature and
character and influence of slavery, there cx-
lists wide difference between the Northern
portion of this country and the Southern
1t is said on the one side that if not the sub
ject Of any injunction or direct prohibition
in the New Testament. slavery is wrong
that it is founded merely in the right OF the
strongest; and that it is an oppression, like
all those conflicts 10y which mighty nation
subjects weaker nation TO their will A.; and
that slavery, in its nature whatever may be
said of it m the notifications which have ta-
ken place, is not in fact according TO the
meek spirit Of the gospel. 1t is not kindly
alleciloned, it does not seek anothers and
not It's own" 1t does not "let the oppressed
20 free" These are sentiments that are
cherished, and recently with greatly aug
mented force, among the people of the North
crn states. 1t has taken hold Of the religious
sentiment of that part Of the country, as it
has more or less taken hold of the religious
feelings of considerable portion of man-
kind. Tie South upon the other side, hav-
ing been accustomed TO this relation between
the two races all their lives, from their birth;
having been taught in general TO treat the
subjects of this bondage with care and kind
ness-and | believe, in general, feeling for
them great care and kindness-have yet not
taken this view Of the subject which have
! Nt.s s.ssNaa Il.