The republic., 1851-09-10
THE REPUBLIC.

said, in public meeting, that the aboliiiOnists
ioere seeking to destroy our happy Union.
The New York Journal Of Commerce, Of
that period, attributed the following language
to Chancellor Walworth, while speaking Of
colonization ''The emancipation, to which this
resolution directs your attention, is not that
unconstitutional aud dangerous emancipation
contemplated by few visionary enthusiasts,
and a still fewer reckless incendaries among
US, which cannot be affected without violating
the rights of property, secured by that Consti-
tuition which we have sworn to support-that
emancipation which would arm one part of the
Union against another, and light up the flame
ofciyil war in this now happy land"
Ii was at this period that the late David b.
Ogden, of New York, one of the most eminent
men of his time, proclaimed his opinion, as fol-
lows:
81 avail myself of this opportunity to enter my
solemn protest against the attempts which are
making by few fanatics, who, without looking to
the fearful consequences involved in such issue,
are advocating the immediate emancipation of
slaves in the southern district AS citizens of the
United States, we have no right to interfere with
the claims of our southern brethren to the property
OF their slaves The Constitution of the United
States recognises their right to it; and they have
not only and undeniable right to that pro-
perty, but they entitled to the full protection Of
ment of it. Let US talk no more of notification;
the doctrine Of immediate emancipation is a direct
and palpable notification of that Constitution we
have sworn to support
The dangers then apprehended induced the
editors of The Courier and Enquirer, in their
journal Of December 27, 1884, to propose a
course of which by no means approve, and TO
which | refer for purpose that will be appa-
rent TO the reader presently, The editors say:
"We do say. and say in all earnestness of con-
viction, that meeting of aboitionists should ever
be suffered to go on in the United States. When
ever these wretched disurbers Of the public peace,
and piotters of murder rapine, and dissolution Of
the Union, have the impudence to hold meeting,
il s the duty of the rational cizens-always a vast
majority-to go to that place, and there, by exer-
cislng the right of every American citizen, make
the expression of their disapprobation and disgust
loud enough, and emphatic enough, to render it
impossible for treason to go with its machina-
tons. Let sedition be driven from its den us often
as Its minions congregate"
In 1885 | read book, then recently pub
lished, by Mr.. William Jay. This book con-
| talns much information of Importance. In this
work Mr.. Jay refers to every one of the quota
tlons which have here presented to the read
er, and complains of them all as utterly unde-
served by the abolitionists He complains, like
gentleman, in terms of respectful courtesy.
lie AYERS that the allegations are unfounded
and the apprehensions Of evil are imaginary
that abolitionists are not fanatics that their
designs are not ncendiary that they have no
purposes of evil; that they respect the Const-
tuition that their measures are measures of
mildness, and that their paths are the, paths of
peace; that they abide by the Constitution and
all its provisions; that they believe the rights
of the South, as settled by the Constitution, TO
be inviolable over their slaves; that the opin-
ions Of Mr.. Webster, expressed in his letter of
May IL, 1888, to Mr.. Bolton are, as far as ii
goes, "THE POLITICAL CREED OF THE ABoLI-
TIoNIsTs" The capitals are Mr.. jays.
Now, have no doubt that Mr.. Jay, himself
an aboitionist, uttered these opinions in per
fectly good faith. He supposed the abolition
lists, as body, were as patriotic and as honest
as himself 1t seems not to have occurred to
him that a youilg abolition, like the young
England we once heard of, was springng up
around him, whose members would neither
walk in the ways nor respect the obligations of
their fathers.
Let us hearken a little unto Mr.. William
Jay, and see for ourselves how much of wis
dom there was in his opinion, that the state
ments and apprehensions of Mr.. Frelinghuy-
sen, and of Chancellor Walworth and Of Mr..
David b. Ogden, and of other wise and patri-
otic citissss, were nnfounded. some eighteen
years ago. SIGMA.