Washington sentinel., 1854-04-07

ticism has no stopping<place. The fanatics
among you are sowing the wind, and we must
reap the tempest, which you moderates of the
north will not be able to control. Besides,
you propose to do, circuitously and ultimately,
what they propose to do directly and immedi-
ately. You propose to destroy the institution
of slavery by imprisoning it within restricted
limits, and leaving it to the progress of natural
dissolution. They would extinguish it by a
shorter and sharper process. Against both,
the south must sternly array herself. To trans
port our slaves to Africa would bankrupt the
government; to free them amongst US would
make our society "moral hell, ringing with
agony and blasphemy, smoking with crime and
suffering"
Look to the Indian race, and see its con-
diton. That race is fading out and soon must
be extinct. The immiscibility Of the white
man with the Indian, and the independence
OF the latter are exterminating the race. So
it would be with the African. Every race has
risen, eliminated, and decayed, save the Afri-
can. That race has ever been stationary i'm
movable in the spring-hood of advancing civil
lization, and unaffected by the decadence of
nations. The African has ever been the SER
want OF the white man, and his stationary con.
dition grows out of the laws of God and civil
lzation. You cannot change these laws.
Compromise, sir, is the bane of this govern
ment; it is substituting itself for the Constitu-
| tion. That instrument provided for its amend.
ment, but you have annulled that provision.
The parchment on which the Constitution is
written remains, but its spirit is fast decaying.
| You see the forms of the republic, but you de-
secrate its life. Sir, the Roman emperors used
the forms of the Roman republic. Calgula
| used the forms Of Ahe constitution of free
| Rome, when he made his horse Roman con-
sui. free constitution never survives in the
| shape of dead formalties; they are only delu-
slons to mankind, and the mask of tyranny.
Sir, consolidate this government, shut out
from the extrerities the pulses of the heart,
and stlfie the returning pulsations, and what
ever name you give to the regime under which
the people agonize or slumber, it is corrupt
tyranny. A well-balanced Constitution distri-
butes the power of protection through all sec
tons and interests under such one as this
one part will be benumbed with icy cold, while
another is heated into putrefaction and rotten
ness. Maintain State sovereignty, and the ex-
pansive power of your government may cover
this hemisphere your population will roll, like
the Gulf stream, from ocean to ocean; and
wherever its banner advances, civilization will
hover, and beautify hill and vale, like morning
| round the mountain spread. But destroy this
conservative element, consolidate this govern
ment; and some Pretorian band, amid strug-
Cling factions, with shields locked around their
victorious captain, will rear him throne on
his country's ruin.
Mr.. Chairman, | am done. We are told that
the institution of slavery is arraigned by the
civilized world. Sir, this government, if it be
ours, should plead to the bill of indictment.
Government alone can meet government and
this institution, SO vital to us, must have an
organ. Yes, sir, if this government proves re-
creant to its objects; it abdicates its duties
il, instead of pleading to the bill of indictment,
it testifes against us if instead of supporting,
it assails us, then the south must take her
safety into her own hands. Conscious of her
rights, and strong in the justice of her cause,
she herself must meet the foe-meet him with
helmet on, with visor down, and lance couched,
and with the proud watchword ssThe God of
battles, for be will be the God of freedom too"