Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-12-31
CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE.

On Tuesday Of last week Mr.. Smith made his
opening speech in Congress, which was listened to
with the most marked attention by all classes, and
which provoked discussion the slavery ques-
,ion despite its settlement" We give place to
this discussion to the exclusion of much other mat
.sor 1t will be found highly interesting and vau
sble. We are sorry not to be able to give better
report of Mr.. Smiths speech. The number of the
. GioJe on which we relied for it has unfortunately
not come to hand so that We have been obliged to
uso tho more mcager one of the Tribune. We shall
perhaps publish it entire hereafter.
With the exception Of Mr.. Preston, it will bo
seen that the first and most Jealous defenders Of
slavery were from the North. New York and Penn
sylvania furnish the champions who are first in re-
pelling assaults upon its enormites.
Mr.. Smith will have advantages in his Congress
sional discussions which belong to other of his
predecessors or colleagues He mokts no conceS-
sions. He has no party to defend from ultroisms,
or from the charge Of purposed interference Of sa
very in the States. With Mr.. Smith, slavery is
without protection. 1t is OUTLAW in the uni
verse, and may be mutated or destroyed wherever
and whenever found. In n word, he will discuss it
more moral reformer than as politician, and
therefore with necessarily greater power to in6u-
once,
Wm H. Charming, who by invitation is preach
Ing for four Sabbaths to the Unitarian Church, in
Washington City, (hc one to which Mr.. Dewey has
nanstered) writes to the Tribune as follows;
WAsnINGToN, Tuesday Dec. 60 1853.
Lot the friends of freedom in the Union and Of
union for freedom mark to-day with white stone.
Gerrit Smith has not only spoken but, though on
y in brief outline, he has uniolded his whole doe
trno Of tho higher law and universal liberty and
what is more lie has been listened to with earnest
attention and cordial respect, and has been an
swered with manly fianhcss yet high toned cour-
tesy. The whole scene was an omen that the era
sf angry strife between the Free and Slave States is
closing, and that new era OF traternal co-Opern-
,ion IN removing the only source Of Disunion, has
opened
Mr.. Smiths air and manner at once commanded
tho eyes and ears Of tie whole House. His deep
voice filed the room the smile of his countenanee
won sympathy and the grace and dignity ol his mo-
bic person seemed tie symbol of magnamlmlty.
Az the speech will Of course be reported in your
columns, it il unnecessary here 10 sketch his Grgu-
ment 1t will be that his declarations Of prin-
cpe were incorporating, his criticism terribly
severe, his assertion OF t!c claims OF duty us I'M
partial il in the Of the apostle he had been
warning his hearers Cf their responsibility to the
heavenly Judge. But the camness, gentleness,
aud dispassionatc tone with which he spoke dis
armed anger, and elevated his audtors-cycn those
whom his words most WOunucu-lilO u scNCre up
per air of truth where personal lcalOusics section
al feuds and the meannesses Of party politics were
lost sight Of and forgotten. All recognized in the
speaker honest, generous, Christian gentleman,
who, strong in the consciousness of his own intcg-
rity trusted in the honor Of his teow-men.
And his confidence well placed. AS soon as
he was seated Mr.. Preston, Of Kentucky, replied
in speech of great drectness and force. With.
out denying or in any way cavng at the broad
principles of right asserted by Mr.. Smith, he took
oil
the people of the United States TO respect the laws
institutions and usngcs of the several States in en-
tire good faith All who sworc to support the Con
stitution thereby testified their purpose and peged
their honor to observe its provisions uncquivOcaly
What was remarkable in this speech of Mr.. Pres
toms was the admission identicay with that late
ly made in the address Of the Southern Agricultur-
al Convention, that Slavery is transient stage OF
society disciplinary in character and preparing the
way for civilization. The speaker showed that, as
all nations had in their industrial development
passed up through scrvitudc to free labor so doubt
less time would when the black race, trained,
refined and educated, would emerge into freedom
by an irresistible yet peaceful process. lie hnted,
as hope cherished by himself, that the negroes
woul gravitato to the South more and more and
in duo time, by mingng with the mixed races OF
Mexico and Central America, form II new state or
nation under free institutions. Mr.. Preston was
heard with respectful interest by all the AntiSa-
very men in the House for they felt that they
vero listening to the frank utterance of sincere con-
yictions Of highminded thoughtful, true man.
May this brief debate prove an auspiclous aug
ury How soon, how very soon, might this great
nation enter upon course of policy-in which
emancipation might be introduced by Combined
MOVEMENT of the Free and Saveholding States
not only without violence disturbance, or injurious
effect upon any class or interest, but with n new,
heathful, Strengthening influence felt throughout
every department of the national commonwealth
IL only Southerners and Northeners would thus
meet each other in spirit at once frank and frater-
nal.
This Union is not to be sundered yet Slavery is
TO be removed. Let our watchword henceforth be
then, Union for Freedom, Freedom in Union-O
Free Union forever. WHO.