Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-18

Franklin, particularly the latter but searching ont
the public documents enabled to solve the mystery
1t appears that q memorial by Benjamin Franklin,
Of the Pennsylvania Society for promoting the
abolition Of slayery presented in the Senate ut the
first session of the first Congress held under the Cons
tuition to wit the 18th Of February $780, from which
make the following extract: "That mankind all
formed BY the Almighty being alike objects Of his
care and equally designed for the enjoyment of happ
ness the christian religion teaches us to believe and the
political creed Of Americans fully comedies with the
sition." "They," the memoralists, shave observed,
with particular satisfaction that many important and
uary powers are vested in you that is to say in Con-
gress for promoting the welfare and securing the bless
ngs OF liberty to the people Of the United States and
they conceive that these blessings ought rghuy to be
administered, without distinction color to all descrp
ton Of people, they indulge themselves in the pleasing
expectation that nothing which be done for the relief
unhappy objects of their will be either omitted
delayed" admit, Mr.. President, that bound
sacred observance of the compact which unites US
a nation; should not on the hand seek to
throw slavery by violating its provisions, the other
pervert its true intent and meaning by making it in
srument for the extension of this "great moral and
social evil all this continent Would washing
Franklin and their associates including of course
Jefferson, (who exclaimed, " trembe for my
try when recoec God is just have gone for any such
extension?
Having thus cleared the subject Of all doubt, pre-
pared to give in my adhesion to every word contained in
these resolutions They reflect high honor worthy
Chief Magistrate. embrace them with all my heart.
willing to live and die by them; in short, to make
them relgousy my rule Of conduct and at oil times.
Let what they Slavery rests with the States
in which it exists" True Slavery rests with the Ter
ritories in which 1t exists True! true at is only the
citizens Of such States and Territories that eecuay
influence settle the policy which should be pursued
this RsTplesing sIsjsetn Asscy true Angry external
communities, while it may endanger the Union, tends
rather sustain than destroy the bonds the enslaye
/ True every word true
Mr. President have ever been opposed to this exter-
nal agitation and am STILL ] admit we have no con-
stutonal legal right to interfere with slavery in the
States and think inexpeden to interfere with it in
the Territories where it exists. And admit further,
have no moral right harass and worry the people
of such States and Territories by rutless external aga
ton condemn it utterly but then you must permit mo
say with the Chief Magistrate Of the country that We
regard il rs great moral social and political evil, and
therefore it is not proper subject OF extension 90
not Ike very much to speak Of slavery as moral evil
because it give offence friends who sup
pose up pharsaca pretensons to superior
morality the South. is not admit there are
great moral evils at the North Of which we are try
ing to REFORM such drunkenness, and you may chas
se your hearts content account of such evils
must at least be permitted to think of slavery as great
social and political evil will never unite with you in
considering it the bonunas thing fit to be ex-
tended And here adopt the words Of Henry Clay, to
be found in his speech of the 9Th of February make
them my have said never could vote for my
SELF and repeat never and never will vote, and no
earthly power will make vote, tospread slavery over
territory where it does not exist" Surely the President
take the same view of the subject. Surely he can
not be willing to extend over the land what he has pro-
nounced ga great moral and social evil deplorable
evil Hence the which have reached us that he
is patronsng this measure and using his influence to
promote it, must be foul SANDER His friends ought to
resent it.
Having thus erected my PLATFORM and having found it
sound after an examination plank by plank, am pre-
pared for retirement, and will tell you what shall do
when am far away from these turbulent scenes in
tend to independent position and support the
who is before the country, irrespective Of party
names. will not be deferred from giving him my sup
port because he is called Democrat even because he
is stakeholder provided well satisfied he will hunt
down agtators and demagogues both North and South
Here two Senators me, my friend from South
Carolina, dr BUTLER and my friend from Texas, AIr
HoUsToN either of whom would do well for the country
| g we might 90 further and fare worse"
| have preudices against my Southern brethren;
slavery consider rather the misfortune than the crime
of the South It is only when you become aggressive
prejudice? My honored father, whose remains followed
the grave in the fall of 1885, himsef stakeholder
and earliest recoectons are associated with you
4 have sometimes thought, Mr. President, that the
North is in danger of being sold out and that are to
be reduced to servude. can hardly believe we are in
much danger. 1t is proper however, for to give full
notice that if such unhappy fate is before intend
to myself liberty, that Of choosing my own
MASTER and say he shall be some South
! ern gentleman, and not Northern dough-face, who
would sell his birthright for Of pottage have
understood that Northern men who go South and
turn slaveowners slaververs uniformly prove the
relentless and cruel Of masters Heaven deliver me
from such bondage!
| And finally Mr.. President would inquire where is
oil this to end Are the vals Of the Republic to be in
cessany lasceraed? Is there to be moderation,
regard to pghtsd faith sense Of Justice Who here
after stay the raging elements Of sectional strife? Clay
Calhoun, Webster Woodbury., all gone and few seem
disposed to nterpose and say to the surgng elements
peace, be STILL" have often wished during the pro-
gress Of this discussion that Henry Clay living and
present to participate in it. He would have, opposed to
this measure stern and uncompromsing resistance.
deeply depore his absence. II he were here this day,
with his erect FORM animated countensnce flashing eyes,
fervd accents he would make these arches ring with
his against the folly nay, the Madness OF
your course. Sir, have done wash my hands of all
responsibility for the consequences of this measure
| m r III