The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-12

treat the sacred institution Of matrimony the
minister leaves out that part which says What
God has joined let no man put asunder.' Fam
lies are separated, and ths husband, after sep
arating FROM his wife gets another, and II may
happen that one man obtains, in this manner, IN
many as forty wives. Yet bis letter Of church
membership is good, from church TO church, and
nothing is said against this violation of the laws
of chastity These facts are notorious IN the
South.
4 A voice Does nobody know that but your.
self! There are men here who have got twenty
wives.
4 Mr. Beecher: | am sorry for IT, They ought
to be emancipated. | ask, what has Christianity
done for the African in the North Here the
speaker alluded TO the prejudice that existed
against free colored people here, by which they
are excluded from many trades and occupations
A white man considered it disgrace to work
in the same place with them. yet knowing this,
said Mr. Beecher, Christianity has not interpos-
ed between these prejudices. A few States have
recognised the rights of property among free
colored people, but many others disfranchse
them simply on account Of the color of their
skin. Christianity has done nothing for their
education, but it has said, (pointing to the emf
grant ship there is the ship, and there is Afr-
ca, and you cannot do better than emigrate--go,
colonize. That is the gospel they have heard
from the church in America, which has already
grown so fat and plethorc that am afraid it
will eventually die Of obesity
And now, having given the dark side of the
picture, ! may turn the brighter side. The
North has been reused upon the subject Of slay-
cry; it has begun to study more the real nature
of the constitution Of slavery. The opinion Of
the North has had great influence on it, and
here let me say, that ii | might have my choice
to go down to the South and preach there, or
stay here and correct public sentiment, and let
it react upon the South, would rather choose
the latter, for believe, that besides saving my
neck it would be much better for the interests
of the slave. The first effect Of the increased
vitality and power Of the North, has been to
render the South fearful lest slavery should be
abolished. This gave rise to political agitation,
and to desire to extend slavery. 1t also origin
ated the Fugitive slave law, and here let me
speak few words in regard to that law
There was, it seems to me, a prospect Of a
peaceful rctrocesson of slavery before this law
was passed; for do not believe that agitation
for the abolition ofslayery made it tirmer in the
South. The day has come when moral thoughts
and truths are to be free air, and these truths
have travelled to the South, and will still have
their influence and power there. The plan |
wished to adopt, Instead Of this law, was to al
low slavery to exist within its old limits, with
out Fictitious help from the connection of the
North with the South. Then, when we had said
to slavery, thus far shalt thou go and no farther
all we intended to do was to employ the inhu-
ence Of freedom and the principles of truth upon
it; which, like the sun shining upon mountains
of ice, would gradually, but steadily, melt it
away.
If slavery is allowed to go to New Mexico and
California, it will become stronger; but the mo-
ment you place it within certain limits then you
have got it where, by the help of brotberly love
and affection, you can eventually overthrow it.
Our heart is warm towards the South, but we
mean 70 preach from the Gospel the blessed
truths of mans liberty, and Gods liberty, and
thus we intend to make slavery burden to
their consciences.
Tie rev. speaker traced the origin of the Flu
gitiye slave law to an internal source. The agi-
tation was first commenced by the devil, who,
he said, for once in his life, came out with his
tail and cloven foot, but when he put himself in
the shape of the Fugitive slave law, he did him
self an injury. Laughter.) ] am opposed to
this law on account of the nhumanty of it.
Now, if it proposed that We should take back
the convict that escaped from prison, or a man
held to service, we would do this for the sake
of the Union; but if we love the Union, we
would not trust it in the hands of the Safety
Committee. Q-aughter) Bat | look at this |
matter not in this light When think of re-
turning slave to the South, it appears to me
the same as if | were to take my child that | |
love with my whole heart and send him off by |
some inhuman captain to India, where he would |
be reduced to slavery, not of body alone, but of
mind. could not return slave to the South |
TO the shambles of lust, where men are re- |
garded as brutes. ] could not take this man !
from where the sunlight has begun to glad his |
eye, and send him back into all the horrors of |
Southern slavery.
Yet this is what We are asked to do, and there |
has been, ! am sorry to say, ministers of the |
gospel so blinded TO its, truths that they have |
taught their congregation to execute the de- |
mands of the law. The speaker here referred I
particularly to Dr. Cox, who, he said, had been /
on all sides Of the question Would any man.
he resumed, In view of these facts send fuei- /
tive back to slavery.
"Yes, would for one" said voice, and
], " said second, and |, and l." said several at
once.
Would any man in his senses do it respond. /
ed Mr.. Beecher. He next referred to the apos-
tacy OF Daniel Webster, wsfom he called great
man in every thing but morality, and said great
many things not hattering TO his late political
conduct He then continued: regard the Fu
gitive slave law as one of the greatest blows
that could be struck against the integrity of the
Constitution. II was the cause of more evils TO
the country than was generally believed After
some further remarks, he concluded by hoping
that none would take offence at any thing he
said, as he had only given expression TO his own
honest convictions.
The resolutions were put to the vote, and
adopted; after which, Rev. Mr. Willis, of To-
ronto, and Rev. Mr. Finncy, addressed the
meeting
RAILROAD TO THE PAc FIc.--A letter appears
IN Galveston paper written by the Hon. V. f.
Howard, member of Congress from Texas, ac-
by communication from Colonel
Albert, of the United States Typographical en-
gineers, in which il is stated that railroad from
the Mississippi to the Rio Grande crossing the
head OF navigation of all the principal rivers of