Washington sentinel., 1854-02-24
sNsns -.ese,S

HlSs pclWSen them. III Stanu Dy TIE soiehih
decision, of the people, | must repudiate the act
of 1920.
But, sir, those senators who discourse so elo.
quently about the sacredness of" compromises
were the very first men, at the last session OF
Congress, to introduce propositions TO disturb
it. Here were these two senators, sitting lui,
mediately on nv right, Messrs. SUMNER and
CHASE, aided by two others on the other SIDE
of the chamber, Messrs. HALE and WADE,]
who were ready to demand repeal OF the fu-
pitiye slave law. What would be the inevita-
Bile effect of such a repeal? Is it not manifest
to all that it must be the dissolution of this
Union? Think you, sir, that the south would
remain portion of this confederacy, after a.
distinct declaration upon the part of the north
that they did not intend TO give to the south
any security for their property? Sir, if the
time shall ever come when the north uses Its
power for the purpose of depressing the south
if the time shall come when the north declares
to the south that the citizens of the latter shall
not pursue their property and recapture 1t IN
the territory of the tormer-the time for disso-
luton will have arrived, and ought to arrive.
Mr.. DODGE, of Iowa. Yes, sir; ought TO
arrive.
Mr.. WELLER This shows the respect
which those senators have for compromises,
for the sacredness of compacts Sir, am
native of free State, as it is called | was
educated in free State never resided in
slave State but have no prejudices against
anything that is constitutional. | have been
taught, from my infancy, to regard the Consti-
tuition Of the United States as the palladium Of
our liberties. / have been taught to believe
that that Constitution can be preserved only
by securing TO every section of the Union the
undisturbed enjoyment of its political rights.
have, therefore, no prejudices to overcome;
but, at the same time, you will-alow me to say
that am no advocate for slavery. am not
responsiblefor its introduction into these States
and its continuance must depend upon the vol
untary action Of the people in the exercise OF
their sovereign power. They are better Judges
of what local institutions will conduce to their
happiness and prosperity than am. However
much may deplore It's existence, it is beyond
my contlo'.
Sir, there are mary sickly philanthropists
here, who tell Us a great deal about the Decla-
ration of independence, and that all men are
created "free and elualn IF this be an argu-
ment with them, wly do. they not extend polit-
ical rights to the negroes within the limits of
the free States? Why not suffer them to sit
on juries? Why not elect them to the State
legislatures Why rot suffer them to go to
the ballot-box? Ii they are equal with them
selves, why not extend 10 them the same polit-
ical liberties which they themselves exercise
Ii they are their equals, why not admit them
to social privileges; why not invite them TO
their hospitalities, and make them part of
their domestic circles? Why suffer TIE foolish
prejudices of education to prevent their inter
marrying?
Sir, while / deprecate the existence Of slavery,
you will allow me 10 say that ! have not yet
caap tho dap,oro of tbar stift,-
ton, to which we are so oftea referred. VIII
any senator tell me the south will not compare
with the north? Win you undertake to tell
me that your southern females nave less honor,
less chastity, less Of those high virtues which
adorn the female character, than is TO be found
in the north They may no. usurp the political
rights nor the garb ot manhG9i; they may not
enter the political arena, aud -htrpen their
intellects amidst The passion ard the conflicts
of men; but, contentipg themselves within their
appropriate sphere, they teach he law of kind
ness and affection, and hush up the discords of
life.
VIII you undertake to tell me that amongst
her men there is less patriotism, less devotion
to the national honor, less morality, or less re-
ligion, than is to he found in the north? There
is no man who has the moral courage to an
swer these questions ia the affirmative Al
fuence of this institution, which has been so
often referred to, has escaped my observation.
At the beginning of this government, slavery
existed in all of the thirteen States. As late
as 1890, when the first census was taken, there
were 40,272 slaves in the States which are now
Free In 1900, there were $4,000 slaves in the
States Of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylva-
MIA, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Yer
mont. do not believe, upon my conscience,
that it would ever have been obliterated in that
section of the Union, if they had not found
that their soil and their productions made it
Improbable.
Mr.. President there are only two modes by
which these United States can be held together.
They are force and affection. trust there is
no one here who desires that force should be re-
sorted to in order to maintain this Union. !
know that there can be no affection subsisting
between the States of the confederacy unless
you secure to each section of it equal rights.
This government is based upon an equality Of
political rights Whenever you attempt to dis
criminate, whenever you say to one portion OF
the Union: You shall enjoy certain rights
which we will exclude from another portion,
you have destroyed the very principle upon
which the government is based. If you desire,
therefore, to maintain that degree OF affection
which is necessary to the permanency of this
government, you must take care to do justice
to each, and in doing that you will have laid a
broad foundation in the hearts of the people.
Extend full and ample protection to all, but
exclusive privileges to none.
Mr.. President, the admission of California
into the Union destroyed the balance of po-
lihcai power here. Anterior to the admission
OF that Safe whence / come, the political
power, on this floor was equally divided. But
now the power has passed into the hands of
the free States, and must continue to femain
there. In the House Of Representatives the
free States have now majority of fifty.four.
But suppose that this we're otherwise: suppose
that California had chosen to come into the
Union as a slayeholding State: and suppose
that there was majority Of Representatives
from the slavehoiding States in the other
branch Of Congress, and then suppose. sir. that
some friend of the south should he unius, and
nngenerous enough to seek to use that political
power, that numerical strength, to oppress us
Of the North, Suppose they should introduce
a proposition that slavery should never be ex.
cluded from TIE territory north Of sec 80:
should we, the men Of the north, submit tc
~ L. IL