The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-20

ted TO State convention in North Carolina, at this
day, not one man would vote for It. Within my
own memory, emancipation Of a slave was mat
ter of frequent occurrence. simple petition TO the
court half sheet of paper at the request OF the
master, alleging his slave had rendered merltorlous
services, and the slave was made free. but THESE
fanatics circulated papers containing IKE
those avowed in the speeches have referred to' ana
the inevitable consequence was that Legislation IN
terfered for instruction was talked Of IN the ma
nous papers of the Abolitonists, and eeiing that
il was necessary to protect our nresaes ana our
homes compelled US to be careful And how Is 1t
nows Emancipation is difficult matter. In ex-
traordinary cases, our legislature sometimes eman
cipates. 0us laws allow slaves TO be emancipated
by will, but not 10 remain in the State. AS the
public mind became excited, our people thought 1t
wrong TO allow emancipation when free negroes
could visit our northern States, and return with
mischieyous intentions; and legislation threw diff-
culties in the way of emancipation.
This has been the effect of men holding the opin-
ions OF the gentlemen from Massachusetts, and
Pennsylvania, (MANN and STEvENs,) and publish
ing them as they have. Emancipation was going on
daily; but not now. Northern gentlemen who
can understand how the whole of their section can
be excited by passing resolution declaring you
shall not petition for any thing and every thing,
can also understand how denunciation, threats ana
impudent interference with our rights, can excite
our people to feeling of resistance. That feeling
has caused them TO oppose emancipation SIR,
remember well when we had negro meeting houses
and negro preachers, some OF whom coud READ anu
would rather look rivers OF blood than that sla-
very should be extended one inch, and have such
horror of chains, shackles and despotism-they
sent ncendiary documents among our slaves, ex-
citing them TO insurrection. As an inevitable re-
suit, education forbidden Self protection re-
quired it-protection for the slaves required It, And
this is another fruit Of your sympathy Tor the slave
But we do not deny them religious instruction.
In one town in my district, the negroes have a
clergyman of their own, and their own church--a
Methodist church. ! wish northern gentlemen
could them. neatly dressed, with cheerful faces,
as they going to worship wish they could
hear their heart rejoicing songs, when they sing
praises TO their Maker. They would think better
Of shareholders and less of Abotionists. Our peo-
pie regard slaves as property, but not as cattle
raised for market.
Meeting houses arc scattered all over our coun-
try, and our negroes attend worship as their mas
tiers do. Many of them are members OF those high
ly respectable denominations, BaPtsts and Metho,
dsts; and when their masters 1--we In very reureu
situations, cergymen employed, in some In
stances, who preach TO the slaves, and instruct
them in their religious duties, in chapels on the
farms know, i am proud TO say, one such In my
district know Of another instance where
large stakeholder, living out OF the reach of
church, has minister OF one denomination en-
ployed by the year TO preach to his negroes-and
that minister not of the same church OF which the
master is a member. These masters are good men,
and are looking forward TO the account they are
hereafter to give for their treatment Of those who
placed under their care Yes, sir; and one
year than a thousand Of your fanatics who lecture
ON the evils Of slavery. These slave owners regard
their negroes human beings, in whose nostris
God has breathed the breath Of fe in whose bosoms
He has implanted living soul; and they treat
them accordingly. Many of our shareholders are
from Yankee land. Many own slaves, who pur-
chased them to prevent their separation from their
families
tell these Aboltionists you are the men who
have ssriveted the chains" But for your efforts
thousands of slaves would have been educated
and emancipated-woud have been returned to
Africa; and Liberia, under the influence of the
Christian religion-would have realized what the
psalmist said: Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her
hands unto Cod
Slavery ia an evil; we know it. II is evil to
the white man. No laboring population in any
country, except our own northern people, SO
we'll taken of well supplied with all the ne
cessaries of life, as our slaves are. Whatever OF
evil there is in slavery has been increased by the
agitation of Abolonists- miserable wretcnes
who denounce as constantly-those sincere dis
unionists, who say the American Union is :" Gov
enant with death" and an agreement with hell, /"
and ought TO be Immediately" dissolved. These
men are sometimes courted by both parties OF the
North in doubtful contests, and therefore made to
appear stronger than they really These are
they who have increased the evils of slavery.
Hut let them alone; in few years more they
will be universally despised and they evil be
buried with the burial of ass, drawn and cast
firth beyond the gates of Jerusalem"
Our people are denounced as blood thirsty gen
with death any one who is guilty of stealing a
slave, of concealing him with the intent TO en-
able him to escape. Two cases have been tried
within three years, in my district. One was an
Irishman, tailor, little over twenty one years OF
age, who was, upon testimony too clear TO be dis
puted, proved guilty. He had not been many
years in the United States, and those slave owners
who were on the jury unanimously recommended
him to the Executive clemency, which was APP
proved by a slaveholding judge, and he was par
doned by slaveholding governor He had slave
owners for bis counsel, of his own selection, who
received no pay; and am happy TO know this man
afterwards stingushed himself in Mexico with
that gallantry for which the Irish remarkable.
The other case occurred within year past. An
Irish sailor boy came TO the seaport town in which
I reside. runaway slave was found on board, az
Ter the vessel had started on her voyage He was
arrested and brought TO trial. He was stranger,
pennyless and without an acquaintance or friend.
lie had counsel Of his own choice, shareholders, who
defended him without reward, the hope Of re-
ward in this world. The jury Of shareholders, far
above the influence of prejudice excited by the
course Of the Abolitonists, when there posi-
bity that this boy, not eighteen old, was the
dupe OF other person, acquitted him. lie
WAS discharged, and treated kindly in that com
munity one of our own people.
And yet, these the people whom the Adolf
tionists Willy, being fond Of manacles, chains-ai
despots.
proyiso shall not discuss the constitutional ques-
lion The subject il worn out. IL would be as gres
an outrage " the southern people to enact IL as i
il were constitutional. The southern people, with
great unanimity, believe, DO that to enact the
Wilmot proyso would be can act Of gross injustice
and wrong" And though private citizen, and
as a member Of our State Legislature, have OPP
posed the suggestion of dissolution Of the Union
should il be adopted yet believe the people Of my
State will feel called upon, If ii is enacted in any
law this session. 10 consult in State convention i
il ia not time TO inquire whether northern breth
rem intend 10 regard equals, or to treat VA
with unkindness? Whatever North Carolina does
shall abide by. She will not without great cause
OF plant, be driven To think Of disunion. be
Ieve the minds Of large majority Of both parties
there regard with horror the thought Of dsunion
but If your legislation here impresses upon tn,
mind of her people that you are unfriendly to us
she WILL without buster threats provide for hei
honor and security in such manner the worl'
will Justify. will not believe you will enact tn
wiinot proyiso. There il necessity for H.
have too good an opinion Of our northern member
20 believei It. All admit that new States after the
are admitted can either tolerate prohibit slavery
Then there is practical question at Issue. tn
northern States stronger than the southern
But hope they will remember, though il is EEK
celient to have giants strength. IL iE tyraDnous
use Il as a giant" And tyrannous Legislation
must produce sectional animosities.
While on this subject wish 10 say few word