The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-01

with winch we cannot interfere. except NJ wv
expense Of the constitutional rights OF the
North
To this view of our constitutional obligations
both the great political parties Of the nation
are committed. | need only quote the reSolu'
ton of this House in December, 1888, which
is in the following words:
That this Government is a Government Of limit
ed powers and that by tho Constitution OF the nj
ted States Congress has no jurisdiction whaicle ct
over the institution of slavery in the several states
of this Confederacy.'
This resolution was introduced by a distin-
guished Democratic member, and was sustain
, ed by vote of 1913 yeas to nays: nearly
every member of both parties voting Tor 1t,
The Baltimore platform contains resolutions
substantially embracing this doctrine and now
the entire Democratic party Of the nation
stands pledged before the world to maintain
this important right of the people of each
State, to maintain just such an attitude, in re-
gard to slavery as to them shall appear just
and reasonable Such too were the positions
of the Wing party, generally, up to the pas
sage of the Compromise measures, TO which |
have referred Indeed, the Wings were more
strongly committed TO this policy than were
the Democrats The free Democracy at Buffalo
adopted this great leading principle of State
Rights as the basis of their organization. But
the distinction which marked that party as
separate from both the others was, and still is,
a determination to bring into practice tins I'M
portant doctrine upon the maintenance OF
! which the liberty and che rights of the people
depend; while both the other parties have,
practically, deserted their professed and avow-
ed principles
To the maintenance Of the Compromise
measures az final settlement of the slave ques-
ton, the President, in his message, exhorts the
people to adhere The Wing and the Demo-
cratic parties are each striving to 60 beyond
the other in their devotion to this plan for ST.
lencing all further agitation OF the questions Of
liberty and slavery. The Wings at the COM
mencement of this Congress, apparently got
the start of their competitors in servility. They
! passed resolutions, pledging their party to the
support of the Compromise. And here in this
! Hall certain leading members publicly boosted
of the fact, before we had even commenced the
election of our officers. do not say that the
whole Wing party were present at the caucus,
but the act has gone forth az the act Of the
party. Those individuals who were present
evidently thought that servility to the Slave
Power was the only means Of securing pOliti-
cal success But we are given to understand,
by leading Democrats and by the press of that
party, that their National Convention will do
that which their Congressional caucus refused
to do, by passing resolutions, pedging their
party and their candidate to maintain the
Compromise measures On the other hand we
are now told that the Wings will play dark
that they will make no avowal of principles
but will select as their standard-bearer gen
tleman of acknowledged military renOwn; will
spike his cannon, take the 1ats from their own
muskets and 90 forth to the conflict without
music, but with the silence of funeral
And now, Mr. Chairman, the question comes
home to every eectOr of this nation to every
man, woman, and child, whether bond or free
What riH be the effect of maintaining The Conn
promise What the effect of slencing further
agitation of the slave question These are
important inquiries, which, as yet have never
been answered nor have they been discussed
in this body.
The first consequence resulting from the sup |
port of the Compromise will be TO maintain |
SidUerg and The SIdUe hdde IN MiS District.
As already observed, in 1901, Congress pass
ed law by which the institution of slavery
in this District with its attendant commerce
in human flesh, was continued and established
under Congressional enactment. That law re-
mains in force to this day, Here, sir, under
our own observation, within our own jurisdic-
ton, by virtue of our own laws man is degra-
ded, robbed of his intellectual enjoymonts, kept
in depOrable ignorance, and disrobcd of his
manhood BY virtue of those laws he is trans
formed into chattel, brutalzed, and sold like
SWINE. Here, sir, men and women are bred for
market. Beings III human shape follow the
business OF rearing boys and girls for sale:
and by that business sustain themselves and
families, and accumulate wealth.
TO sustain the Compromise is to sustain
this revolving practice to give these slave
breeders license and encouragement to pursue
an occupation abhOrrcnt to every feeling of
Christianity and of deccncy Yet sir, the
Wing members of this body, on the first day
OF our session, resolved, distinctly and emphat-
caly to support this practice, which is spurned
and held in disgust by Mohammedan Govern
ments | wish to be understood, and there
j fore repeat that the support of the Compro
mise measures is identified with and insepara-
bic from the support Of slaye-breeding and slave
dealing now carried on i'll this District. To
sustain the Compromise il to sustain these
practices. To prohibit the slave trade here
would violate this pretended Compromise. 1t
is required, understand Of each of the Demo
cratic cand dates for President that he shall
sustain the Compromise, and thereby lend his
whole official Influence to uphold and eucour-
age the breeding and sale of slaves in this
District Unless pledged to this he cannot
receive the support OF that party; while the
! Wing candidate is to say nothing about it, to
express no opinion in regard to it, to stand
neutral upon the subject. To stand neutral
to do nothing il to lend an influence in favor
of this growing human flesh for market. This
traffic in the bodies of females depends on the
voice of Congress. If we say stop it ceases
forever if we are silent it continues To re-
nam supnely silent is to continue it
Now, do not think there is member on
this floor from free State who dare speak out
boldly and say to this House and to the coun-
try that he is in favor of this breeding of man
kind Tor market, that he approves of this trat-
nc IN Gods image. If any member from the
free States should do it, think it would seal
his political fate. Yet gentlemen do not hest
tate to rise here and declare their intention to
support the Compromise, thereby lending their
entire influence to sustain this business OF breed
ing human cattle for the shambles | respect
fully ask the gentleman from New York, Mr..
Brooks who first publicly swore allegiance to
this Compromise whether he is in favor of sus-
tanning this traffic in human flesh | desire
w hhuelStuhu lhc postum Oh gentlemen, anu
hope they will stand up manfuly and avow
their doctrine and their policy | therefore
respectfully ask the gentleman to say what he
) will do in regard to this slave tradei VIII he
) vote to continue or to abolish it 4 await his
answer.
lnasmuch rs that gentleman remains silent
} respectfully ask any other Northern man. who
snstans the Compromise, to say whether he i,
willing to sustain this traffic in human flesh
, | repeat, that understand the Compromise tC
= embrace this slave. trade that if we sustain
the Compromise we must sustain this traffic
, And ! desire to see gentlemen stand up like
, honest, honorable mon Ike the Rcnresentn