The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-14

the end. The Abolitionists ought themselves To
that they will never be satisfied. l myselffeel that
no bill can be ever framed that will not be distaste-
iul TO me. do not like to send back the fugitive
slave any terms II do it, il ID painful duty.
hate this absolute dominion of man over man. The
idea OF ownership OF a man-of the power to buy
and sell him as property-is offensive to me beyond
expression. | wonder, and have always wondered,
that the southern people do not describe this terri
bic fact a relation established between them and
their people, and never name in connexion with
man the hateful word property
1.-The question, then, is not about this particular
law; it is essentially about any compact OF this ma
ture: it is question for the future-t is a perma-
question; and, therefore, whether there be any
present danger not, am willing to come here and
to offer my poor thoughts upon it. say my poor
thoughts, not out Of feigned modesty, but in pure
sincerity. / have no boast TO make OF being right.
may be wrong. but have made up my mind that
] can comply with some such compact take no
responsibility in doing For the system of my
southern neghbors simply say that will not in
terfere with their consciences with their inter-
ests in the matter that will not protect or defend
their people if they come to me; that the system
shall be shut up to themselves exclusively. But it
is plain to me that they cannot consent to any
union without this condition, unless they imlnedi-
ately free all their slaves; and | do not see how
they rightly do that. Their people must be
prepared for freedom before it be a blessing TO
them. Till then, for them to allow that touching
our soil shall make their people free would be a
thing utterly at war with their institution, their
plan, their interest, repose, and safety. cannot
expect it; would not consent to il if were one Of
them.
But whatever might do, doubt
what they will do, and what they will not do.
They will demand Fugitive Slave bill; they will
not do without it, Sir, / have those men,
talked with them, heard them speak. l believe
they in earnest. 1t is said they can't separate
from US; that their interest binds them to us. But
passion edo you not know?) is often stronger than
interest. And they have not only passion, but a
sense of right-a feeling of being grieveously
| wronged. And, besides, do you not hear what
they say?-that they may sell their cotton to Eng
land, and take her manufactures in exchange, and
cut off ours; that they may have Cuba and Mexico,
| and make the most glorious empire under the
sun, while dwindle to nothing? All false, if
you please, but plausible; and they believe it.
Alas how do misunderstood one another
| and how fatally, it may be, They say we are iana-
tics, and we say they blustercrs; but the truth
is, both terribly in earnest And little will
it comfort another day-be that day near or dis
| tant-if the dark and bloody veil of disunon shall
be drawn across this land, and standing armies
shall pollute holy SOIL and shall ensue, and
taxes shall crush down to almost worse than
African bondage, and successive revolutions shall
rend shattered States, and the star Of this en-
pre Republic be set forever, and the world shall
wall or mock at fall-little will it comfort 10
think that never believed that all this would
happen, and were blind to the awful hours that
were drawing onto the awful fate that shall
have plucked down upon ourselves"