The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-02
SPEECH OF THE HON. WIN. B. SHEPARD.

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ly adjective to their masters. "The destruction
Of this property in our midst" he says, "wll in
volve in one mass of ruin and insolvency both
States and communities; both those who own
slaves and those who own only lands; both those
who liv. by their own labor, and those who live
| by the hbor Of othersn And this he thinks too
apparent to require argument So far from this,
we hold that no argument can make it even APP
pear reasonable. If by "the destruction Of this
property he meant the annihilation Of thSslayes
constituting the laboring population Of the State,
what he says is true enough. Destroy the Labor
of any community, and bankruptcy follows as a
necessary consequence. But, he does not mean this
BY the destruction Of this property he understands
the substitution Of voluntary for involuntary SER
vice. of wages labor or labor by contract for unpaid
coerced labor This might cause temporary en-
barrassment in the State, and unless the Legsla-
ture should make an equitable appropriation,
bankrupt those whose sole property consisted in
slaves But, no other classes would be injured.
On the contrary, the owners Of land would be
benefited by the rise 10 the price of real estate
and those who live by their own labor, by the
increase in the responsibility and wages Of labor.
The abolition Of slavery would not diminish
the amount of labor in the State, but it would
augment its capacity, and stimulate its produc-
tveness
Mr. Shepard is wonder-struck at the apathy of
the People of North Carolina in relation to the
pers that beset slave-property. One would sup
pose that they were the most apathetic or philo-
sophie race on earthp The fair inference from
this complaint is, that the good people Of North
Carolins, despite Nashville Conventions and Bun
combe oratory, see none of these threatening
clouds in the distance which their politicians in
form them will ere long burst in ruin over their
heads. We hope they will preserve their equa-
nmity.
Mr. Shepard attributes their indifference to
the fact that they are generally an agricultural,
and therefore unexcitable population, and to the
ypisreprcssasaopsa al tia Aaaia.! Lssll sai
Washington Onion, papers that are constantly
crying peace peace when there is no peace.
These journals he charges with concealing the
true state Of things at the North and the attacks
threatened from that quarter upon the institutions
against such an imputaton. The National Intel
Igencer is quite prompt enough to notice hostile
movements against slavery, and the Union is 80
overly Jealous that it is continually racking the
nerves Of the South with the cry of Fire. Fire !!
if it see but the smoke Of chimney, or the blaze
of a shaving In the most trifing movement at
the North, it dscerns startling portent and its
editorials are always in an agony of apprehension
or expectancy. An Abolition lecturer cannot
open his mouth, but you hear the echo of his
voice in the Union and there is no rumor, how
ever wild, of hostile designs on the part of anti
avery men, which is not invested with air of
probability in its columns. We commend the
Washington Union to the agitators Of the South,
as worthy of their most liberal patronage.
Mr. Shepard refreshes our memory concerning
certain resolutions of North Carolina, passed two
years ago, good while before the passage of the
compromise measures Of the last session of Con-
gress Among them was one declaring that the
passage Of any act by Congress abolishing slavery
or The slaue trade in the District of Columbia,
would be an act mot only of gross injustice and
wrong, but the exercise of power contrary to the
true meaning aud spirit of the Constitution
Another affirmed the willingness of the People of
North Coroina to support the Missouri Compro-
mise Line Mr.. Shepard calls attention to the
fact that "the late compromise" was passed in
" entire contempt aud disregard Of the resolu.
tons of the Legislature. Certainly it was pass
cd in disregard of the two resolutions we have
noticed-but what Of tbat2 Was it not also passed
in entire contempt and disregard of the re-
solves of fifteen other State Legislatures in favor
of the Wilmot Provisol
Southern politicians at times inadvertently
make admissions which etfectually expose the
futlity of their complaints against the North and
Federal Government For example, Mr.. Shepard
says
"The Southern people now ereteo confoi table
and prosperous to resist the action Of the Federal
Government with any other weapon than resolu'
tions and mass meetings, which have ceased to at.
tract any attention. When the action Of the
Federal Government begins 10 tear opsnly upon
their prosperity, when 1t is visible to the dullesi
capacity. they may then rise in their might, bu,
Il will be like the rising Of Samson after he had
been shorn Of his strength 10 his hours Of dsl
lance; they may pull down the temple Of Liberty
but they will not be able to preserve or strength
en- itn
The Southern People are comfortable and pros
porous, and the Federal Government has not yet
begun to bear openly on their prosperity. What
then, are you driving at, Mr. Shepard al was
we'll, and wanted TO be better, and took physic and
died.n Samson yet glories in his strong locks
the Philistines are not yet upon him but M,
Shepard Is anxious to prevail on him to attempt
some deed of mischief II 1t be nothing more thar
fastening Rrcbrands - foxes tails.
Mr.. Shepard clings with fond tenacity to thu
Missouri Compromise line, and really seems t.
imagine that il may yet be run to the Pacific, Cal
ifornia to the contrary Notwithstanding. 81 con
tepd,n he says, moreover, that this is the only
way to settle this great question, without bring
ing inconceivable evils on the country, evils O.
untold magnitude, which no legislation can rene
dyp We must make up our minds, then, to sub
init with good grace for the Missouri COmpro
mise line Is among tho things that we're ant
there II will stay.
MIR. Shepard, like many others Of his class, deal
literally in random assertions "The slave prop
erty Of the SOUTH he remarks, dis worth, upor
a moderate estimate one thousand millions of dol
lars; is the source Of two-thirds Of the wealth o
the whole Union.p Wonderful to hear More