The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-06-20
FREE STATES.
States composing Il.
Free pop.
ulAtion
SLAVE STATES

From the above table, MIR Chairman, we arrive
at the feet, that though the slave States embrace
something less than half the aggregate free popu-
lation, they have the circuits 80 arranged that
they have five out Of the nine Judges! Thisissuch
a very plain case that | would suppose that even
my honorable colleague Mr.. Ross would join
with me in concluding that the South has con-
trolled this matter with much adroitness, and ut
least secured their rights in the organization Of
this Court and that this is at any rate not an In
stance of aggression on the part of the North
Sir it must be painful to the ear and sickening
to the soul of every true friend Of liberty, to
Northern men crouch and cringe 30 low ut the
foot of the Slave Power, as TO proclaim, on this
floor that the South has never aggressed upon
the North do not mean to be personal, but II
is time the proper rebuke should be given.
Again, Mr.. Chairman, If any one should make
the inquiry in whose hand has resided the practi-
Cal control of this Government for the past sixty
years. he need but look at the facts. At the close
of the present Presidential term, the South will
have held the Presidency ifty-two years, while
the North have only had IL for twelve years. OF
the ccsrrsaries Of State for tA.y period,
fourteen have come from the slave States while
but FIVE Of them were from the North. Thirteen
Judges of the Supreme Court have been appoint
ed from the South, and but twelve from the
North. As before stated, the slave States have
always had a majority of the Judges Of the Su-
preme Court, and the Chief Justice continually
during the nineteenth century. But, to render
the charge still more clear, that the South have
managed to control the National Government, |
will give for the benefit Of my colleague, extract
from leading Southern paper, written during
the Presidential campaign of 1874. | quote the
Charleston Courier of October 30 in that year;
"Our past experience has shown that the
weight of the South has been heavily felt in the
political balance and has almost always monopo-
lized high federal Office
"The Southern or slaveholding States have
given six out Of ten Presidents TO the Union.
The Northern or non-slaveholding States have
given but four; and, out Of these four, the two
last were chosen by large majority Of Southern
votes, and the last was native Virginian, fially
devoted to the rights and interests Of the land Of
his birth; and even the two first enlisted strong
Southern support.
"Again-of the six Southern Presidents, Eve
were reelected to their high Offices, and each oc-
cupied 1t fer eight years, and only one will have
occupied ID but four years. giving In all to the
saveholding interest the possession and control
of the Presidency for forty years out OF fifty
elk, while Of the four non -ssvehoding Presidents
three occupied the Presidency but four years
EACH and one ouly little month, giving in all to
The non-slaveholding interest the possession and
control of the Presidency for only twelve years
tut Of ffty-six.
$50 Of the Chief Justices of the Union The
South has had three, and the North but two out
If the FIVE incumbents of that august judicial
,eatD
Another item Of Southern admission which
yoes TO prove that the South has controlled the
IL the very frank confession which,
,hort time since, was made by the honorable men,
Der from Virginia. lMr. MEADE, who boastingly
,aid in his speech, Though tie South haze been in
numerical minority for ths last fty years, me hare
Managed 10 control ihe GovernmentW Gould my
colleague require more 70 arouse his sense Of jus
ice and his Jealous pride as Pennsylvania
But, sir, | believe one of the most cruel and
selfish demands ever made by the institution Of
slavery and its propagandists, wns the removal Of
some Of the peaceful tribes Of the aborigines Of
he soil, with whom the Government was in treaty,
while, on various occasions, making appropria-
ions for their improvement In agricultural and
he mechanic arts. In some instances, these SIM
pie Children Of the Forest had made many i'm
provements In their manner Of living. They
were increasing In civilization and enjoying COM
fort and happiness. But the mandate went forth
from the Slave Power, and their behests were to
be obeyedl The North, as usual, hastened to
the assistance Of their oppressors, and these poor
Indians were driven from their homes, and all
tHey nelu most ueur, peyoho INC amer vi wa
tiers, and slavery was extended over the soil that
covered the bones Of their fsthersl
Again, we see by the acts Of Congress Of 1896,
that slavery demanded a slip Of free territory
north of $50 30, to be added to the slave State
Of Missouri, and that, too, In direct violation OF
the Compromise Of 1890 The North, like span
iels came into the arrangement, and the object OF
the South was accomplished Thus six Of the
most beautiful counties In the Platte country
hitherto free territory were added TO q slave
Statsi This, Mr.. Chairman, is another instance
of Despo,sn's victory over Freedom, whereby
the black flag Of Slavery was made TO wave over
lands which national law had declared should
The purchases of Louisiana in 800, and Florida
In 1919, and the annexation Of Texas In is45,
(al darling objects Of the South are 90 many In
stances Of the aggressions Of the Slave Power,
which has managed to extend the curses, and
crimes and cruelties Of slavery, by lie last con-
summated plot, more than 1000 square miles
Sir, when We remember that the Anti-Slavery
feeling found home In the South, and 3 warm
and devoted friend In the Sage Of Montlcello, 20
early AZ the year 1859 and when We further re-
member, that In the same sunny South, there vas
general and prevailing opinion, at that early day.
that u should not only 90 no farther but that the
Southern people themselves were even consider
Ing the propristy and sxpedisncy Of its sboli-
tion ~ well ~ thai Of The slave trade II cannot
be subject Of surprise, that, In the year 1857,
Congress did, without single dissenting State,
pes an Ordinance prohibiting the extension Of
slavery Into the Northwestern Tsrritory-from