The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-21

{ Oh where could genius find a nobler picture
grander idea Of moral heroism, than that pa
triotic old statesman, as bravely riskng popular.
ity, power, all that render political life dear. he
uttered those memorable words, and from his per.
ilous stand looked round, all uudismayed IN
friend and foe, and smiled his old, conciliatorv
ooncessionary, compromising smile.
To speak seriously, Mr.. Clay betrays. by bis
anxiety to put the enormities Of slavery ont q,
sight, Consciousness that its "deeds are eyilp
and dread of looking its horrors in the face
Mr.. Calhoun would have made no such concss-
sion to the fanaticism of the North. H. sccsr,.
slavery, with all its consequences its enormities
and disgraces II were still the beloved insttnl
tion with him, though all other champions forsooL
it, and the whole world cried shame upon II and
he would neither disguise one ugly feature nor
betrsy one smallest interest of the system for the
highest honors in the gift of the Republic. Rut
he has at least audscty and consistency in wrong.
doing sort Of unrighteous uprightness, and hon.
edy which covers multitude of snsn
hope from my soul that whenever this or Ike
resolutions may come before the House that
every Northern member will vote against them
yes, oppose the abolition of the slave trade in the
District of Columbia. If we are to support this
institution, with all its aids and belongings let IL
be openly, before Heaven, and in the face of the
whole world. Let national legislation on this
subject have, at least, defiant dignity in its in.
justice, and not be ever pointing to the sneaking
quarter Of the moral compass would have
Washington the most important slave market in
this Republic; | would have the chained slaves
and the representatives of free people pass
down the Avenue together; wonld have the slsy,s
prisons and the slave auctions among the regular
lions OF the capital city | would have the Hun
rian exiles politely shown through them; the
Austrian ambassador should be allowed to 20
their rounds before receiving his unsolicited leave
of absence from Government too liberty loving
and magnanimous to have diplomatic relations
with foreign despotsms.
For many and obvious reasons, Washington
seems the city of the whole Union best fitted for
an extensive slave market. Isl not conveniently
central Is it not here that large slave owners
men in the cotton trade and tobacco line &c most
do congregate ~ Is it not the place that stran-
gers first seek, to obtain clear and comprehen-
sive idea Of the spirit and action of our free in
stitutionsl
Then here should be the last haunt of the
dealer in the bodies and souls of men - here
should the last slave be knocked down to the last
bidder for that particular sort of tieshand-blood
property.
But probably there will be little need of the
Scsih protesting against such measures. Tko
South will doubtless be as much alarmed at the
proposition TO Danish the slave tra2e from Washe
ington to Alexandria, Petersburg, Richmond
Annapolis, and Norfolk, as was the worthy mother
of Cuddie Heddrigge, at the threat of her son to
flee ava into some far country, perhaps twsl or
fifteen miles off" She will see that it is kept safe
and cosy enough under the protection of the ma
tional fag-under the wing of the national eagle
In npAA tknt Zee koIt H.
too slightly esteemed; "sure it's no harm for a
man to labor in his vocation" She will see that
it has jails and prisons sufficient for its need !;
she will see that its chain-gangs have the right
way down Pennsylvania Avenue.
1t seems that Mr.. Clay's speech could hardly
have been correctly reported, for in one place be
admits that Northern opposition to slavery is
" dictated by the purest philanthropy and human
ity," yet in another speaks lightly of it, as
"a mere sentiment for mere abStraetionn
Surely the great speaker would not SO contra
dict himself
The peroration of this speech is little on the
tragic order. The orator draws terrific picture
of the horrors of an instruction" dwelling
houses in flames, rafters cracking breaking, fall
ing-women and children rushing wildly through
the flames shriekng for help from Heavenw &c
Then he solemnly asks:
"Is this in the North No; but in the slave
States, and produced not Intentionally, but by
the measures introduced by you, and carried fur
Their than you had any intention they should pro-
ceed On the one side there was sentiment, and
sentiment alone. On the other property, life, and
the whole social fabric, likely to be involved in
RUM
Let us see. How was it in West Indian insur-
rections? Were they brought about by Reform
agitation, by Congressional discussion, by Anti
Slavery associations, by the fearless preaching Of
the Gospel of Liberty, or the eloquent rebukes
of free literature2 Or were they the legiti-
mate results of long years of oppression, of con-
tempt, and insult and cruelty rousing at last the
just though terrible vengeance of an outraged
humanity?
The piece Of high tragedy referred to was evil
IDENTIFY the peroration proper; but it was followed
by something in the melo-dramatic line-ths re-
lation of "thrilling incident" the presentation
to the speaker of fragment Of Washington's
coffin. From this happy little incident the orator
evolved singular and startling meaning. "Was
it portentous that it should be presented to him
Was it a sad presage of what might happen to
that fabric which Washington's virtue patriot
ism, and valor, established (" | own cannot see
the peculiar beauty and fitness of this figure,
which drew dears from veteran politicians
or, at least, drew their bandkerchiefs to their
eyes If the Union is the coffin, enclosing dead
patriotism, the ashes Of true national virtue, and
this is to he at last-though Heaven avert the
day as long as may be-broken into fragments,
still may there be enshrined in more safe and
sacred keeping, that ideal of patriotism, liberty,
and republcanism, which is the Washington Of
free people. GRACE GREENWOOD.