The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-12-15

! life Of the slumberiDg and the heiPies-. Nv
wonder sir, that the gentleman from Bruins
WICK. IMr. Gholson with his sensibiitle
aroused by the acts and the full energies o
snch an enemy as this, should have said tina
d" thew filed the mind with the most appalling
apprehensions"
WHY, from the earliest period of our history
10 the massacre of Southampton, was silence
deem and awful as that of death, observed upor
this subject Why was it forbidden in legis
latiye debate or to the public press, and spoken
only in mysterious whispers around the domes
tic hearth Because sense OF security re
ouired. or was thought to require, this course
Why, sir, is this mystery now dispelled Why
has the grave opened its "ponderous and mar
bic Jaws ~ Why is the subject openly and
freely discussed in every place, and under every
form9 Because general sense OF insecurity
peryades the land, and our citizens are deeply
Impressed with the belief that something must
be done. The numerous petitions and memo
rials which crowd your table furnish abundant
evidence of this truth. They may mistake the
remedy, but they indicate most clearly that
some action is imperiously required at our
hands-that the evil has attained a magnitude
which demands all the skill and energy OF
prompt and able legislation. IL is commended
on the other hand that nothing efficient can
be accomplished, and that any proceedings by
this Legislature will reduce the value of prop
erty, and eudaoger the security of the people.
With respect TO the first consideration, he would
SAY that the price of property can never be in.
juriously affected by system which would
operate on that portion only Of the slaves who
belong TO masters DESTROYS to lberate them, or
to sell them for their own benefit, at reduced
price. The effect if any, upon the residue,
must be to enhance their value. As to the
other and more serious objection, he would re-
mark that it constitutes, and must forever con-
stitute, an obstacle to abolition requiring all the
wisdom and discretion of Legislature and
people: but the removal of free blacks, or the
purchase and deportation Of slaves, can involve
no danger If, indeed, the whole fabric shall
totter to its fall, when touched by the gentlest
hand, it must rest on precarious foundation.
If danger turks under just, benignant legisfa-
ton, aiming 10 relieve both master and slave
to combine justice with humanity-will the
period ever come when it will be safe to act ~
But, admitting the subject cannot be ap-
preached without danger nOlo, the great ques-
ton for us to determine is, whether, by delay,
it may not become fearfully worse, and in pro.
cess of time attain magnitude far transcend
ing our feeble powers. We owe it to our chill
dren to determine whether we or they shall
incur the hazard Of attempting something.
Gentlemen say, Let things alone the evil will
itself. Sir, we may let things alone,
but they will not let US alone We cannot cor
rect the march of time, nor stop the current of
events We cannot change the course of ma
ture, nor prevent the silent but sure operation
of causes now at work"
Extracts from the speech of Philip A. Boiling,
of Buckingham.
The time will come-and it may be sooner
than many are willing to believe-when this
oppressed and degraded race cannot be held as
they now are-when a change will be effected,
by means abhorrent, Mr.. Speaker, to you, and
to the feelings of every good man.
The wounded adder will recOil, and sting
the foot that tramples upon it. The day is fast
approaching, when those who oppose all action
upon this subject, and instead of aiding in de-
vising some feasible plan for freeing their coun
try from an acknowledged curse, cry impOs-
stbie" to every plan suggested, will curse their
perverseness and lament their folly.
bosoms. aud "roll it as sweet morsel under
their tongues" have been very lavish in their
Of all who are for stirring one
inch on this subject
There is sir, still, small voice." which
speaks to the heart Of man in tone too clear
and distinct to be disregardec 1t tells him
that every system of Slavery is based upon in-
j ustice and oppression. If gentlemen disregard
it now and hull their consciences to sleep, they
may DO aroused to sense of their danger
when it is too late to repair their errors
However the employment of slave labor
might be defended gentlemen would not, could
not Justify the traffic in human beings. High
minded men should disdain to hold their fell
low creatures as articles Of traffic, disregardng
all the ties of blood and affection, tearing asun-
der oil those sympathies dear to men--dviding
husbands and wives, parents and children, As
they would cut asunder piece of cotton cloth.
They have hearts and feelings like other men.
How many broken heart how many Rachel,
mourns, because her house il left unto her des-
oate The time has come when these feelings
could not be suppressed-the day would come
when they could not be resisted. Slavery was
and had long been, offensive to the moral feel
ings of large proportion Of the community
Their lips had been sealed, but their minds had
been unfettered many had thought, and
thought deeply, on the subject This, sir, ls q
Christian community. They read in thei,
Bibles, {" Do unto all men as you icouid hdp,
them do unto you :" and this golden rule anc
Slavery are hard to reconcile Gentlemen may
perhaps, curl the lip Of scorn at such consider
atoms but such feeling existed in Virginia.
Extracts from the speech of Charles J. Faulkner
Of Berkley.
Mystery in State affairs, have always con
sidercd impolitic and unwise. Ii is unsuited t.
the genius of this Government which is baseC
upon the rights of the people to free and ful
examination of whatever concerns their inter
est and happiness. Sir, they pay you fer you
counsel they have right to it. If there b
danger, let us know it, and prepare for tn
worst IL Slavery can be eradicated,
let US get rid Of it, fit cannot
let tina. melancholy fact be distinctly ascer
tanned and let those who are, we have bee
told, now awaiting with painful solicitude til
result Of your determination, pack up thel
household goods, and find among the forest
and praires of the West that security and re
pose which their native land does not afford.
Wherever the voice of your people has bee
heard, since the agitation Of this question,
has sustained your determination, and calle
for the present inquiry ! have heard of court
meetings county petitions, and county memo
rails, have heard from the north, the east
and tho south They are all, with one voice
against tho continuance of Slavery-nOne 70
it, The press, too-that mirror of public sen
tmcnt--that concentrated will Of whole com
munity-has been heard from one extremity 0
the State to the other. lts power il with us
its moral force is united, efficient and encour
aging
Again, sir | ask, what new fact has oc
curred-what new light has dawned upon tn
gentleman from ELECTROMAGNETIC We shoul
be called upon to retrace our course, and /
disappoint tho hopes which our first manly dc
cision gave Does not the same evil exist |
it not increasiugl Does not every day give
permanency and force! Is it not rising, lk
a heavy and portentous cloud, above the hor