Washington sentinel., 1854-03-03

nornern men expressed their opinion on slavery
without thinking whether they belonged TO one
section OF the Union or the other. They Were
philosophical statesmen, not sectional adversaries,
ana dealt with slavery as an element that must
enter into the Judgment that was TO form and con-
troll the destinies of confederacy of political
equals
Sentimental policy is of recent growth.
II was said of Rome, Mr. President, that when
her morals Were most corrupt her Legislation was
most sentimental. Juvena who describes in
SUCH VIVID eolers the degeneracy, the debauchery,
and The corruption which prevailed in the days of
The emperors of the Roman people, in two lines
mas drawnthe contrast between the simple virtues
OF the time when Cato lived and when Tiberius
reigned. l7recolect that, in of his satres, he
says: the same star that shone upon Scipios le-
gions marching to victory found the degenerate
youth OF hls own day strangers TO their couches; !;
youlh consuming the day In sloth, and wasting
the night in vice. Quintillan, think, has said
that the Attic style which prevailed when Cicero
spoke, and Atticus wrote, and when republican
purity and simplicity gave tone to taste, no longer
survived when Asiatic splendor and gorgeous ex-
travagance We're employed to express sentiment.
more than thought and virtue. will not say that
ihe honorable senator from Massachusetts Mr..
oUMNER1 mas adopted the Asiatc in preference to
the Attic STYLE because would not do him in
justice upon any occasion but will say what is
The truth, that this pseudo philanthropy which is
Oh the north, was unknown 10 the hardy morality
OF our forefathers Theywere practical statesmen
that could deal with all the elements of different
society with justice and not rhetorical dialecti-
cans, who would make such elements themes,
for their mere eoquence and professions of phlan-
tnropy--such as would free the slave. and after
wards subject him to starvaton-a philanthropy
that Is heated into flame to hate the aclite
race than TO preserve the black; philanthropy of
adoption more than affection one that processes
Ityifb In,,nr
and short performance.
am however, entirely satisfied that majority
of the northern men disposed TO do Justice, and
willing TO understand the institutions of the south,
would be the very last men TO put those insttu-
tions under the ban of prescription, with reckless
indifference TO consequences and truth. II NAV be
assumed as fact, more frequently in private than
publicly expressed, that those best acquainted
with the institutions civilization and social habits
of the people of the southern States, are better
reconciled to them than are those who stand aloof
and hold up an ideal standard OF morality embla-
zoned by imagination and sustained in ignorance,
or, perhaps, more often planted by criminal am
bition and hearlless hypocrisy.
appeal 10 those who hear me, if gentlemen who
have gone TO the south, who have lived amidst
Shareholders, who have partaken of their hospi-
taity, and have seen the administration Of Justice
and all the graver forms Of civilization there; are
not better reconciled 10 the institution of slavery
than that class and school of persons who read
Cabin?'
Sir, there various isn,s at the north and
there is but one of them for which have any re-
spect, and that is Purtanism, The Puritan, who
came to this country with the sword in one hand
and the Bible in the other was all honest man.
though he may have made mistake in some of
his peculiarities; but when we come to abolition
ism, Maine-iquor-law-ism, to strong-minded wo-
mansm, Boomerlsm and all the isms which now
pervade some portions Of the north, / am far from
shots L. r. - -
tenn anything like healthful action, No, sir; they
are the cankers Of theoretical conceit Of impudent
intrusion, and cheerless nfdelity. They are the
fngi of selfconstitued societies. or the organiZa-
ton OF church and State. They are impudent
usurpers. The most extraordinary development
OF that class OF persons and that temper of society,"
that gives rise to such isms is to be found in con-
yentons OF women, who step from the sphere pre-
scrbed 10 them by God 10 enter into the political
arena and claim the rights Of men. have pro-
found respect for woman in all the true relations
for which she is fitted. Man always has respect
for woman. So long as she confines herself within
the Jurisdiction prescribed TO her by the Almighty
she fulhs the ends of her existence; but when she
passes those lines, and undertakes to intrude her.
sell into jurisdiction not assigned to her, re-
gard her as committing an impious tram sgresson.
Her sphere is higher than that of man--more sub.
lime IN spirit and more useful in moulding society
10 the obligations of virtue, the influence of reli-
s,on' and the happiness Of ahse'ion and friend-
and benevolence. What bounds are there to the
sphere of mothers love- daughters and sisters
tenderness, or a wifes devotion? / know of
none.
Washington Irving has beautifully remarked,
that the "heart is the womans world" II is there
her ambition should seek for empire, and her ava
rice seek for hidden treasures. But when she un-.
sexes herself and puts on the habiliments and
claims to exercise the masculine functions of man
in society, she has lost the position which she
should occupy.
Sir, am now speaking on subject which, as
think, is intimately connected with the sentiments
which the honorable senator from Massachusetts
(Mr SUMNER) has put forth and with some Of the
sentimentality which he has expressed. If were
10 say any one thing more true than another on
this point, it is, that when woman violates the law
which God has given her. she has no law, and is
the creature of hateful anarchy. She may be the
worst or the best Of human beings. She may APP
proach the angel, or she may assimilate herself 10
the demon.
Sir no one understood the feelings and senti-
ments of human nature better than that poet who
has so often been quoted here--William Shaks-
peare. When he chooses to exhibit a being Civ
ing herself up 10 her criminal ambition, and to
tertain disposition which even a bad man could
not he has drawn it with remarkable effect in the
play of Macbeth. When Macbeth himself
disposed to recoil from the horrors of committing
treacherous murder, he was urged on by Lady
Macbeth to the last extremity. On his replying to
her
"I dare do all that may become a man,
Who dares do more is none"
Her reply has always struck me one of the
most powerful illustrations OF that criminal trans
gresson of the jurisdiction Of woman. He said
c. have given suck and know
How tender tits TO love the babe that milks me:
would, while 1t is smiling in my face,
Have pucked my nipple from its boneless gums,
And dashed the brains out, had SO sworn, us you "A
Have done, to this"
These are sentiments which are likely to pre-
vail, if these women in mems clothes are to take
upon themselves the jurisdiction which they claim.
These part of the isnas which have resulted, |
may say, from aboltionsm. They are, at least,
the symptoms Of dangerous revolution in the
cial organization.
Whilst have given some attention to the re-
marks Of the senators from Massachusetts and
Ohio (Messrs. SUMNER and CHAsE,)1 cannot, in
Justice 10 myself pass over some of the remarks
of the senator from New York, (Mr. SEwARD)
He entertains opinions, and is intoxicating doc
trines which are, perhaps, peculiar TO himself
He is a kind of Moses, so far as regards the posi-
ton which he has taken, one having right to
give law by Communication with Divinity.
Whilst Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Morris,