Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1852-03-20
CONCLUDED.

Mr. Cabell 1 only wish to ask the gentleman
If the gentleman of whom he is speaking lis the
sameone who is now Chairman Of the Demo-
cratic Comm ittee?
Mr.. Rantoul. 1t is the same man-what is
called attile North, a Hunker Democrat laugh
teri Now, SIR, was saying, and cannot 60
over the matter that had intended to mass over
that this issue Of slavery is great national isse
TO be met with national, constitutional principles.
We have got 10 see what has to be done with il.
say 1t is lce say that it is not one third Of the
On.on that is 70 settle this subject, if The United
States Government take it up. 1t will be settled
by two-thtrds OF the people Of the United States.
and not by one-third. Yes, sir, gentlemen should
remember that the State of Massachusetts has
greater white population than any State sonth OF
Mason and Dixon's line, and vet Massachusetts Is
small State at the North. Are these States that
contain one-third part Of the white population. 10
say that the General Government shall take hold
OF this subject That is the first proposition.
Second: When they take hold of it are thew 10
do what they demand-they being one-third Of
the people, and we. The other two-thirds, shall
humbly submit TO it TO the end Of our DAYS? They
Will make that demand, but it Will not be granted
that is all. Is II wise to make it? Is it not better
70 look about little, and see what you can do
before you embark in enterprise of that kind?
see but three issues 10 this great question of
slavery. will PROFOUND them 10 few words,
DOR see my time Is very short There are,
say, three issues.
lt.may result in civil war aud anarchy / saw
that is possible; bat in my opinion it Is mere
possibility. But it is possibility that prudent
anen ought to lock at, because bad management
may drive the chariot off the preclpce, when,
with the slightest degree of prudence and skill
the course would be perfectly safe. 1t may re-
suit In civil war, if badly managed indeed, with
out any seTt of prudence. Then, what are The
.4wo- ether issues in which it may result? WHY.
there is Federal, and there is a Democratic is
sue. Slavery wall not last forever; for the seeds
of its death are within itself Now almost the
whole civilized world have got rid Of it, and that
portion of the civilized world Of which speak
for Isay nothing Of the barbarians-which still
retains this institution, retains Temporary institu-
ton, and it must look about te see how, with the
least Inconvenience and suffering 10 itself, that
temporary institution Is TO come to aH end. That
is the great question for Southern men; and if it
is to be pressed upon this governmeut-and /
think ii ought not be-then IL is the great cues
aion for northern men. And say there are two
issues-a Federal issue, and Democratic issue!
What Is the Federal issue! That the Federal
Government be forced, day after day, to take
more and more interest in this subject of slavery,
and to interfere more and more with it, by at one
ofmy constituents to be the catchers of runaway
negroes, which isrepugnant to my people. They
do not like it Or, by an arrangement which
they say IS constitutional, and 10 give the great
capitalists OF the North, opportunity to raise
an amount sufficient for the exlgency, either by
taking the national lands, or making a great ma
iional loan, TO build up great national debt,
greater than that Of Great Britain, which they
would delight TO do, to buy up the negroes of the
nv (: ~ L / . q
you are tending now By and by gentlemen will
see this tendency more strongly developing ITSELF
Il is of no avail for gentlemen to try to shut their
eyes to it. When tie Federal party see that
slavery must come to end, they will endeavor
TO prevail upon the General Government to buy it
up. Against that protest beforehand Wien
that is dones it makes a complete revolution ia
the whole nature of the Government Il builds
up debt as great that Of England. It gives
the President power which makes the Republic
an Empire, even though your forms remain an
changed, as France has been transformed into an
Empire, from the great patronage existing in the
hands of one magistrate. But what is the other
issue? The Democratic issue is, that you take
your stand sterny upon the Constitution, and say
that the Constitution of the United States does
not allow-does not justify the Federal Govern
ment touching the institution OF slavery in the
States. SLAVERY, AND THE EXTRADL- |
TON OF SLAVES, MUST BE LEFT TO
THE STATES. That is the doctrine 4 maintain
at home. II is the only doctrine upon which this
question can be settled, without one or the other
of two resus-either civil war, or else The build
ing up of a debt which would crush The United
States forever. say, them stand upon State
Rights, and say, sternly and inhexibly, that the
General Government shall not NEEDLE with the
institution Of slavery in the States; and ask gen.
temen to look, to see if they have not made ia
tai mistake in constituting clause of the Counsti-
tuition with regard to fngltiVes from labor That
clause allows the United States Govern
ment to enact law for the rendition of runaway
slaves, to employ its officers for the rendition Of
slaves, than it would allow this Congress to enact
law to send its officers into the port Of Charles
ton to rescue free men O. color seized there, and
sold slaves, because they cannot pay their jail
fees. ask gentlemen if they would think that
was constitutional can make out as strong
Of constitutionaliiy for that, as any gentle
man BIAS yet done for the other. The principles
you adopt in the one case, must cover the other
l say then, if you have already nfringed upon
d Constitutien-lf you have already violated it,
hereafter cease to do SO. Yon have already en-
tered the point of The wedge. Do not drive it
home, by a continual urging upon Congress this
question Of slavery. What have we heard Of all
this session. 'tQuieting agitation;'' and quiet
ing agitation is the noisiest business we have
the very noisiest; and also the NEST irritating
Sir, agitation is not to be quoted by hard words.
Hard words will have very little success on either
side. This question of slavery en- be quieted
only in two ways. One way will be for the South
to let talone; and then il everybody at the North
would lei 1t alone, which no man can promise, it
would be qnieted. The other would be TO talk
about it like reasonable men. Take it up as yon
take up any other great national interest, and try
TO get at the merits Of it. When you do that, it
will be then as quietly approached and treated,
any other subject, and by the blessing of Provi-
dence on your honest endeasors, way will be
found to pass through that transition Of the social
system, through which most Of the nations Of Eu-
rope have passed within a comparative recent pc
Rod.
Here the hammer fell ~