The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-05
DEBATES ON SLAVERY IN CONGRESS.

The NeO York Tribune, commenting upon
the statement that the speech of Gerrit Smith
was the first Anti-Slavery speech ever listened
to in the Honse of Representatives, "without
interruption or other incivilities," remarks that
the House has long been accustomed to give
latitude and freedom of debate on Slavery as
well as all other topics:
Ever since the time OF John Quincy Adams,
and the reelection of Mr.. Giddngs, it has
been virtually established, that any man with
brain enough to think, and soul enough to utter
mis- thoughts, could be heard on that floor-not
to mention those to whom both brains and
souls are wanting"
The truth is, from the first Congress of the
United States under the Constitution, down to
this hour, freedom of debate on the Slavery
Question has been the rule in both Houses,
and the denial Of it the exception. Let any
man consult the Journals Of Congress and the
reports Of the newspapers since 1890, and he
VIII find that in almost every Congress the
-suAje& Of Slavery has been mp fe- dssonevio-
in 'ome form or other and that no attempt
was ever made to suppress discussion respect
night till Mr.. Calhoun, seizing upon the revi-
val of popular Anti-Slavery feeling in 1893,
used it as pretext for infaming the people
of the South, aud organizing them distinctly
on yhe Slavery platform, so that through this
concentration of power he might control, if
not obtain possession Of the Administration.
Then commenced the era of gaglaw and
10 he Grsk -, kbo n
Congress, it was attempted by violence, trick
cry, usurpation, and gag resolutions, to exclude
petitions on the subject of Slavery, and to sup
press freedom of debate. What was the re-
suit? Did the South gain anything? Was
Slavery made popular and more stable
Was the Union strengthened? Was excite
ment allayedl Was the ordinary business
of legislation promotedl Everybody knows
that Just 80 long as that gag system was at
tempted to be enforced legislation was OBJ
structed, dire discord reigned on the floor of
Congress- to enforce order was an impossible
ity, blackguardism was rampant, and the
American Congress was constantly disgraced
by scenes of violence. Not till the final repeal
of the gag as it was called, the full recogni-
ton of the right of petition, aud of absolute
freedom of debate, did this state of things
cease. From that hour it has been true of the
American Congress, that
"There is no other legislative body in the
world where extreme and conflicting opinions
are expressed with such freedom, or listened to
with snch courtesy 1t is Ike the country at
! large in the recognition of each mans right to
| his own view, and to state his reasons for hold
ing it. whatever they may be-"
And yet, few infatuated people deprecate
such freedom of debate in Congress. They
would re-impose the shackles which Congress
shivered to pieces; they would restore the
reign of terror, and make hostility to Slavery
on the part of Representative or Senator, a
sufficient cause for treating him with contume-
ly and violence. To this ignoble class belongs
the Rich { Va.) Enquirer, which denounces
Mr. Preston of Kentucky, for having borne
himself in the late debate on Slavery, in the
House, Ike gentleman:
{" He not only assented to Smiths claim tC
recognition as q gentleman-he not only gave
consequence to Smiths opinion by combating
them-he not only saluted his revier and con.
temner, and the reviler and cOntemner of hi
country, with the courtesy due only to the
knight without reproach-but he even bore
gratuitous testimony to Smiths character, and
paid voluntary tribute to the genius which ht
had displayed in denouncing everything which
Southern man must prize and respect The
South will not thank Mr.. Preston for this"
Mr. Preston is scholar, and his reading
we presume has not been limited to the reso
lutiOns of 49, AS STAKEHOLDER, he defended
Slavery with what force of argument he coult
command, and the courtesy of his deportmen
added to the impressiveness of his argument
No train of reasoning, however ingenious, cal
strengthen system 80 utterly in conflict will
the spirit of the age, the fundamental ele
ments of our institutions, and the principles O
Christianity; but the Enquirer may rest as
sured, that the course it recommends would
infinitely more damage to Slavery than tina
pursued by the gentlemanly member fror
Kentucky. Anti-Slavery men cannot be brow
beaten or hectored into submission. Insul
will only make them defiant, it may be, con
temptuous. AS there must be controversy, lie
not personal animosity be mingled with il
The grace of courtesy, as displayed by MI
Smith and Mr.. Preston, must always tend t
allay the bitterness of strife, if it does nc
J remove its causes.