Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-02

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sentry march along the main street-might
still in my little day be seen and recognised in
the old town.
THE SLAVE QUESTION
REMARKS OF Mr.. PRESTON. OF KENTUCKY.
DsiiOered IN the Ho. Of Rps, Dee 20, 1858.
The House being in Committee Of the Whole
on the Presidents Message, Mr.. GERRIT
SMITH addressed the Committee Having
concluded
Mr.. PRESTON said:
have listened, Mr. Chairman, not without
a certain degree of interest, to the gentleman
from New York Mr.. SMITH, who has just
addressed the Committee, and now desire itH
indulgence for brief response, though nothing
could have been further from my intentions
than the design Of offering any remarks to-day
in relation to any subject that engages the
Legislative attention.
Living, as | do in State recognising
Slavery, and firmly convinced, asJ am, Of the
propriety OF protecting our property in slaves,
yet ! do not desire to reply in any intolerant
spirit to the views which have been advanced
by the gentleman from New York. ! feel con-
scious that the great and wise men who ushered
foundations deep in truth and justice, were not
inferior in religion or philanthropy to those
who assail the rights Of the Southern members
Of the Conlederacy, assai their institutions, and
decry their people. And although may feel,
with strength of conviction that my language
cannot adequately express, the injustice Of as
sailing those rights, yet it is far from me to
desire to evade or strangle discussion by de-
nunciation or violence. trust to the power Of
truth to show that the men of the South are
not the representatives Of i people enduring
the odious tyranny that the gentleman asserts;
that they are not men tolerating and fostering
wrong against every dictate of humanity and
Justice, but entertaining far wiser and more
practical views than those misguided enthu-
sasts who would shake to its centre Govern
ment planned by patriots and statesmen, and
cemented by the public prosperity.
Enthusiasm, Fir, is respectable, even in error.
II is attractive when clothed in the fullness of
appropriate language, and marked by eloquent
delivery but this should not blind us to the
pernicious sentiments contained in the remarks
we have heard. The gentleman from New
York has sought to institute parallel between
the principles Of Abolition and those contained
in the letter Of the Secretary Of State TO the
Cheyaler Hulscmann, in relation 10 the sur
parison which would unite principles so dissim-
liar, would bn TO create monster in the polit
ictl world more deformed than the Siamese
twins in the physical world
The sum Of the doctrine in the Koez.a letter,
as asserted by the American Secretary, il, that
Martin Koszta, having taken the initiatory steps
TO become citizen Of the United States, and
having fled his declaration of intention in our
COURT, became clothed with such nationality
thai, having gone into the city Of Smyrna in
the peaceful pursuit of business or OF pleasure,
that he was still under the protecting power
OF the American flag and beyond recapture
by the power of Austria. But, let me ask the
gentleman, IL q treaty had existed between
Austria and the Government OF the United
States, by which the solemn faith Of the Amer
icn Government were pledged TO restore snch
refugees as wc s.ipulate for the extradition Of
felons with Great Britain, undor the Ashburton
treaty. whether, without violation OF faith,
we could have refused 10 surrender the fugi-
tivel There can bc but one solution to the
question. Yet have not the States Of the
American Union something moro solemn and
more obligatory than mere treaty 10 compel
the extraJition Of fugitive slaves; something
more than compact as Webster expounded
il in his memorable reply to Hayne; some
thing moro solemn and more binding than
treaty or compact-the very Constitution itself
upon which our Government existsa A sov.
ereign can recede from treaty or a compact,
add no tribunal on earth but itself can Judge
il; but in our Constituticn---the most solemn
form Of obligation that society kuows-a tribu-
nal, the Supreme Court, ia established to assist
IN the enforcement OF the rights Of the people
composing the Coniederacy. This Const'tu-
ton, solemniy ratified, guarantees to the slave
holding States the protection Of their property,
and the cxtraditen Of fugitive slaves, when
they cscapc into sister States where the insti-
tusion IL not recognized Shall those solemn
promises be fulfilled Tor shall the pseudo
philanthropst, with the Bible in his hand--the
Bible upon which the founders Of our Govern.
ment, and the two hundred and thirty.
gentlemen here assembled, were sworn to sup
port tho Constituton-nvoke our body to dis
regard its precept and commit meditated per.
jury by violating its provisions? Yet such is
the morality that fanatical enthusiasm pro-
poses
The logic Of the Secretary OF State has been
assailed, upon the ground that he has chosen
to place an unwarfantcd limitation upon the
Divine injunction, that you should " do unto
others as you would they should do unto you I"
yet would ask Of tho gentleman who has 80
keenly criticised the expression, il II is not a
plain matter to an unsophistcatod mind, that
VIC should fulfil the promises that We make TO
othorsi And iG under this principle, the rco-
pic of the North are not morally bound to
Iulfll their promises to their Southern breth-
rent
The correspondence in relation tothc seizure
of Koegta does honor G., the Administration and