Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-11

certain time, should their arrival a. certain age become
free and by this very gradual process the institution al
most impercep'bIy undermined We worked our way
believe, would have been very much retarded il not pre-
vented had foreign emssares been permitted
teaching and preaching they have DONE the
dern doctrines Of immediate emancipation II fathers
with few slaves among hem found the subject delicate
TO be dealt with, should we not draw from lesson Of the
most careful fobearance and faithful performance of
constitutional duties towards those States which have hun
dreds and Of this population be dealt with where
we had but one /!
The many petitions got up often by arul managers and
pressed upon Congress- for the abolition Of slavery in the Dis
Of Coumba for the last few years. the hope that Con
gess would thus act indirectly upon slavery in the adjoining
States through the District when the Constitution does
permit their direct action upon the States has doubt done
much bring the present crisis upon the county. Here,
too, have wisdom to learn from the pasfor the subject
of slavery in the District is which any Administration
may be embarrassed with at all times if the opposition
scupulous enough ring the changes necessarily upon it.
This brought before Congress early 1906
not in proposition for immediate abolition in the District
the panacea Of modern phanthropybu merely that the
children born of slave parents, and belonging citizens of
the District Of Columbia, should become free their arrival
at certain age The Administration then in Southern
hands during the Administration of Mr.. Jefferson,
who, all know had in The House of Representatives
very talented and skfu opposition The leader Of that
position from the State of Connecticut aude of
q
intellect and spoess honor However tempting the occasion
might have been to Of less honorable bearing turn the
antslavery feeling against The Administration, yet be bore
himself far above any such patry policy and when the ques
ton taken he with those Of his colleagues from Connec
ticut who present the occasion, voted to
promptly against the proposition That vote of delega
ton cenured by the eemen Of Connecticut and
the whole subject put al rest for the quarter OF century
that followed Subsequent agitation has brought where
The act Of 49, formed in good ath and for many
years executed in good faith had, by reason Of esnsa ag
ation, become imperative. Il depeoded for its execution
principally State magistrate whom the General Gov
eminent had CONTROL and who could not be required
the law effect though the gave them the power
if they chose State legislation also came null
lily their proceedings, and make the act practically dead
letter upon the satae book This defect has been emeded
by the new law, which provides for the appointment Of Unit
ed States commissioners it, instead of ma
gsrate and the penalties for obsrucng the proceedings
are increased from $500 to $1,000 and imprisonment
exceeding six months 1t is in principle the same substan
TALLY as that of '93.
The only question now is my fellow citizens whether we
will abide by and support this act with the others which
rightly named of peace and compromise fair
honorable, and smcabe adjustment Of this dstracrg sub
ect II there ever was time when men should slep out
Of the ranks Of party and stand by the institutions of the
country, now is the day and now the hour. When
the most eminent of both political parties in Ma
onal Councils, such Cass Webster, Clay, Dickin-
son, Houston, Bell Fooe, Douglas and Pearce and others
hardly less distinguished forgetting party in united ert
respond The throughout the length and breadth
Of this land The President of the United States has,
his subject, faithfully and fearessy done his duty Not
the division in public sentiment in the Empire
State from which he comes be has hesated in the midst
Of the raging elements unfu the flag of the Union-to
breast the storm, and fling his banner to the breeze
His message this agtang subject, at the opening of
the present session Of Congress- does honor to his head and
heart say this the willingly because, my fellow
citizens all know, do not belong the political party which
assisted 10 place the President in the position which has led
to his present Advancement and from his Administration
Of course expect nothing personally myself ask for
thing hope for nothing. But should despse myself if
should permit my political preferences to deter from
doing justice to the Of any political party who dare be
honest in the Of times.
Yes, feow-cizens and should do injustice the
soldier and civilian who upheld the banner Of my party n
the late Presidential contest and who in the heat Of it, de-
clared f not truck with judicial blindness, shall
cling to this constitution the mariner cngs to the last
plank when night and the tempest close around him {;
statesman who Notwithstanding has dared with
him who dare arhe in defence OF that Union which the
patriots OF another age have committed to keeping.
Let US then resolve, far it may depend us, that
=" THIS UNION SHALL PRESERVED" Political mar
tyrdom would he preferable than s republic disme
bered and its gloies gone. Yes better die thousand
deaths than that the land Of Washington, Of Jefferson and of
land Of Jackson and of Tayoshoud become foreign land
with sesacricng devotion worthy of the best DAYS
of the Republic, will ay Better would it be to die while
The honor of the country is untarnshed and the flag of the
Union still flying heads, than to that honor gone
forever and that flag PROSTATE in the dust"