The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-01

force upon the abolition OF the institution itself II
is difficult 10 conceive any other motives than those OF
self interest," OF religious and moral duty, which can
possibly operate upon the northern mind and northern
statesmen.
moment, and consider the effect which their promulga
lion is calculated to produce upon the people OF The South
And, first, that the interest OF the STAKEHOLDER hostile
or antagonsca to the interests OF the free people OF the
-siaveholding States Suppose cOncede the truth Of
The proposition. What then Is il not concession that
there is such conflict in the interests OF the two sections
that one cannot flourish without submission and sur
render OF the interests ami rights of the other section Ii
the North cannot submit to be egsalcd and govern
ed BY what called the slave power 70 some extent
although 1t is the weaker powerf the North procdims
extermnaon TO slavery, in order project northern in
teess does not such conduct justify the South in cling
ing to the institution with the perinaciiy This
idea proceeds upon the concession that slavery initiates
against northern interests whilst it promotes he interests
OF the South Now sir If 1t be true that the existence
sence OF slavery and the slave power is the pivot
upon which The great interests oil the two
slavery builds up interest aud destroys the other
il thers be this eenen, Of perpetual anagonism and
war IN our SYSTEM the Union cannot last The cOntn
ual pulling and struggling at the ends of the rops in diff
feren dIrectIons Will ultimately break it, the resist
end must become SO feeble as to bs dragged
in triumph at the heels OF those whose power shall pre-
vail Now, SIR, do not believe there is particle OF
truth in this idea OF conflicting interests, growing out
OF slave power. On the contrary, think il can be
demonstrated that the manufacturing, navigating, and
commercial interests of the free States emnenly ad
vanced by the TOBACCO cotton and sugar interests Of
the South and v!ce versd whilst the barter and
change of the various agricultural products of differ
ent climates and latudes-the internal trade in grain
live stock, &c, &c -eninenty conducc to The welfare
and happiness oil all the people OF the United STATES
Those, then, who constantly complaining OF the slave
power, and conendng that the institution gives rise to
principle OF anaRonisn In interests between the North
and the South, practical advocates OF disunon and
are destroying the government under which We have so
long and 80 happily lived.
AS to the second idca that it is moral and religious
duty to cramP and strangle slavery by confinement
der 10 force emancipation upon masters: this idea is
based upon the hypothesis, that to conhne slaves in
limited district until their labor is Improbable, and they
are reduced 10 starvation may be just benevolent and
wise policy, because it must end in emancipation Such
cruelty would only end in the destruction OF the
which morbid philanthropy processes to benefit was
affirmed of ST, Paul that he said /" Let do evil that
good may come" The Apostle, however, treated the
mpuation sander; and hs opinion stgmatIzes that
morality and religion which would do good by crowding
slaves upon impoverished ands to starve, to STEAL and
to perish, abomnaton in the sight of God,
the ebooss 70 I % he % o.
ton o~hat curse, they ought to be permitted TO do H. If
il be curss in Kenlucky, should thank them for taking
portion OF il OF our hands But il il be blessing how
blessing' Take it either away it is either blessing
curse II it be curse. let the people Of the Territories
decide Tor themselves and reject It, wish to secure to
them that option II they decide against their inter-
es,s ii they injure themselves, upon whose head. upon
whose shoulders, the responsibility for this error OF de-
cision s upon the man OF Massachusetts, Will rest
upon the of the free States What right has the free
sosier say, responsible for this; have commit
ted sin; have put il in the power OF this people to
give decision which has brought down ruin and dis
uess upon them 1t is nothing but his arrogance ii is
nothing but his self sutciency il nothing but the
sumption on his part OF the r,gh when circumstances
give him the Poper that induces him to prescribe local
laws for the Territories in the organic act c0nfeng upon
them the privilege of self government II slavery be
and the northern leaves it 10 the people
OF the Territories to decide the question for themselves
he not responsible for the declson and which
they commit falls on hum, touches his conscience In
before the people of the Territories, endow them with free
will, and then say, choose ye Old England deprived
our ancestors OF free WILL forced the institution upon
ihem and now both old and new England are preachiAg
damnaon 10 because We do not al their bidding, pull
down the temple erected by helr hands, when we believe
that lts sudden pros,rAion would be our inevitable de-
slructon But II slavery be blessing, AMI We say 10
The people OF the Territories you shall not avail your
selves H." do present ourselves before the world in
any other aspect than that OF ayrannca insulting dc
aior, pocaimhg that The people OF The Territories shall
not exercise the sovereign, segovernng power which
lies AT the foundation Of republican institutions :
Mr President Then ,hs government wa, framed there ere
have since abolished slavery, one alter the other. until
there II equal number oil kavehodlng and non
slayeholdns States At present The number Of saves
in Delaware is no diminished that she may, in lew
years more follow in the wake OF those States which
have abolished slavery But whether she does moi
is not material to what Intended to say.
Will not dwell upon The idea that has been 80 repeat
ejy and nnans weraby aivance that II is impossible,
under the existing state OF thinss TO prevent The non
savehoIding States gong ahead in all the elements o
political power. The idea which wish now to suggest Is
hi. that you permit slavery to become d'used. II will
enable States that have disposition 10 change Their
present conaton and ultimately to become Tree States,
10 do much than they possibly can II you
conhne their slaves within their present limits In
the remarks which made time since said all that
intend TO say the inpossibIty OF lorcng the aboll-
ton OF slavery upon any OF the States where the white
and black population approximaies equality OF numbers
have only TO repeat that equal social and POLITICAL ptvi
eges BY both races IS impossIbiiy. What wish to
say is tna regard 10 the States which are disposed to
get clear OF their black popuaton You are aiding them,
1t you permit by diffusion, portion OF Their slave popu-
lahon to be Withdrawn. .
Sir hold in my hand table which shows the condi'
ton OF the slave population from The foundation OF the
government according to the various ccnsuses down TO
cennia period and, according this table, in 1890 the
slave population OF the United States amounted to
T76l0O per cent OF the total population In the year
fsto 1t had decreased To 1857 100 per cent. You thus
perceive that the increase Of the free population faster
than the slave population by fraction over three per
cent in fifty years This greater increase OF The Tree
population relatively has been going regularly through
each decenna PERIOD from the foundation of the govern
menL The consequence ia, that II II shall continue ~ ~
will get the slave population relatively down to mere
cipher comparison with the free population and when
thus reduced you will. by allowing duslon, place It
in the power OF those who wish to get rid OF slavery TO
do so with greater facility and less expense.
| Mr.. WEBSTER. Have you any reliable data showing
ths decrease OF the slave population the slave States
| Mr. UNDERWOOD Yes, sir; here it is given, both
in the slave States and in the free States II would be
tedious 60 into minute calculation OF every period
OF years Perhaps may present II in my published
remarks. without now OBTAINING the Senate. Bu, Il has
States, every decennal period and You will ond IRON
tho the free popuatlOn IN