Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-03-29

peaceful cXtirpaton. But | will adopt none
but lawful, constitutional and peaceful means to
secure even that end, and none such can or
will forepo
Nor do know any important or responsible
body that proposes to do more than this. No
free State claims to extend its Legislation into
slave State. None claims that Congress sh II
usurp power to abolish slavery in the slave
States. None claims that any violent, uncon-
sttutionll unlawful measures shall be re-
sorted to. And on the other hand, if we offer
no scheme or plan for the ado ton of the slave
States with the assent and cooperate of Con
gress, it is only because the slave States are
unwilling as yet to receive suggestions or even
to entertain the question of emancipation in any
State.
But, sir will take this occasion to say, that
while cannot agree with the honorable Scna-
tor from Massachusetts, in proposing to devote
eighty millions to remove the free colorcd po-
puation from the slaves, and thus, as it appears
to me, iortify slavery, there is no reasonable
limit to which am not willing to 90 in apply
ing the national treasures to effect the peaceful
voluntary removal of slavery itself.
have thus endeavored show that there is
not now, and is not likely to occur any ade-
quatc cause for revolution in regard to slavery.
But you reply that nevertheless you must have
guarantees. And the first one is for the surrcn-
der Of fugitivcs from ubor That guarantee
you cannot have, as have already shown, be-
cause you cannot roll back the tide of social
progress: You must be content with what you
have: If you wage war against us, and then
all you can get will be a treaty, and that you
have already: But you insist on a guarantee
against the abolition of slavery in the District
of Columbia or war. Well, when you shall
have declared war against us, what shall him
der us from Immediately decrceing that slavery
shall cease within the national capital
You say that you will not submit to the ex-
cluson ofslaves from the new territories. What
will you gain by resistance? Liberty follows
the sword, although her sway is one of peace
and bcncfccncc. Can you propagate slavery
| thcnby the sword?
! You insist that you cannot submit to the free
dom with slavery as discussed in the Free
States. Will war,-a war for slavery, arrest or
even moderate that discussion No. sir, that
discussion will not cease. War would only
lnhamc it to greater height. 1t is a part OF
the eternal conflict between truth and error, be-
tween mind and physical force the conflict of
man against the obstacles which oppose his
way to an ultimate and glorious destiny. 1t
will 90 on until you shall terminate it in the
only way in which any State or Nation has cv-
er terminated it, by yielding to it-yieldlng in
your own time and in your own manner indeed,
but nevertheless yielding to the progress of
emancipation.
You will do this sooner or later, whatever
may be your opinions now; because nations
not more udent and humane and wise than
you are have done already
Sir. the slave States have no reason to fear
that this inevitable change will 90 too far or
too fast for their safety or welfare. 1t cannot
4 Ia,
oft is war of races.
But it cannot 60 too fast. Slavery has a re-
liable and accommodating ally in party in the
free States, which, though it claims to be, and
doubtless is in many respects, party Of prog
ress, finds its soles ecurty for its political pow
err in the aid Of slavery in the slave States. OF
cousre do not include in that party those who
are now cooperating N maintaining the cause
of freedom against slavery. am not of tina,
party of progress in the North which thus lends
its support to slavery. But it is only Just and
t candid that should bear witness to their fdel.
ity to the interests of slavery. Slavery has
moreovera more natural alliance with the ars-
, tocracv of the North and with the aristocracy
of Europe. So long as slaveryshal possess the
cotton fields, the sugar fields and the rice field:
OF the world, SO long will commerce and CAPT
tai yield its liberation and sympathy. Eman
cipaton is democratic revolution. 1t is cap
tal that arrests all Democratic revolution. |
was capital that in single year rolled back the
: tide ofrevoIution from the base of the Carpathi
f an mountains, across the Danube and the Rhin
. into the streets of Paris 1t is capital that is
rapidly rolling back the throne of Napoleon int
the chambers OF the Tuilleres.
Slavery has guarantee still stronger thar
these in the prejudces of caste and color, which
induces even large ma critics in all the FREE
? States to regard sympathy with the slave as al
act OF unmany humiliation and ESTABLISHMENT
although Philosophy meekIy expresses her dis
/ trust ofthe asserted natural superiority of thu
the white race, and confidently denies that sucl
a superiority, if Justly claimed, can give it'll
/ to oppression. There remains one more guar
2 antee-one that has seldom failed you and vii
| seldom fail you hereafter. New States cling il
f closer reliance than the older ones to the tede
/ raj power. The concentration of the slave pow
= er enables You for long periods to control tn
| federal government with the aid of the new
I States. | do not know the sentiments OF thu
. representatives of California, but my word 70
| it, if they should be admitted on this floor to
n day against your most obstinate opposition, the,
would, on all questions really affecting your in
terests, be found at your side. With these al
lies and aids to break the force of emancipation
there will be no disunlon and no seces sion.
l. do not say that there may not be disturbance
: though do not apprehend even that. Absolute
i regularity and order in administration have no
i yet been established in any government, an
t unbroken popular tranquility has not yet beef
: attained in even the most advanced condition
i of human society. The machinery OF our sys
c TEN is necessarily complex. a pivot may ia
G out here-a lever may be displaced. there,-bu
e the machinery will soon recover its regularlt
: and move on just as before, with even bette
- adaptation and adjustment to overcome new OBJ
f structons.
f There are many well disposed persons VIII
: are alarmed at the occurrence of any such dis
= turbance.
2 The failure of legislative body to organic
: is to their apprehension, a fearful omen,and "a
: extra constitutional assemblage to consult uF
on public affairs, is with them cause fol des
t peration. Even Senators speak of the Unto
y as if it existed only by consent, and, as
4 seems to be implied, by the assent of the Leg
Y islatures of the States. On the contrary, III
n Union was not founded in voluntary chico, no
d does it exist by voluntary consent
S A union was proposed to the Colonies b