Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-05
DAILY NATIONAL ERA.
DEaArEs On SLAVERY IN CONGRESS


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 inoivilities," remarks that
the House has long been accustomed to give
latitude and freedom Of debate on Slavery as
well as AL other topics:
Ever since the time of John Quincy Adams,
and the reelection Of Mr.. Glddings, il has
been virtually established that any man with
brain enough to think, and soul enough to utter
his thoughts, could be heard on that hoor--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
will find that in almost every Congress the
subject Of Slavery has been up'for discussion
in some form or other; and that no attempt
was ever made to suppress discussion respect
ing il, till Mr.. Calhoun, selling upon the reyi-
val Of popular Ant-Slavery feeling in 1893
used it as pretext for infiaming the people
Of the South, and organizing them distinctly
ON the Slavery platform, SO that through this
concentration Of power he might control, if
not obtain possession Of the Administration.
Then commenced tho era Of gag-law and
mob-law For the first time in the history Of
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 allayed Was the ordinary business
Of legislation promoted? Everybody knows
that just 30 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, and 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 such courtesy. tt IL like 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 reimpose 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,
sufficient cause for treating him with contume-
ly and violence. To this ignoble class belongs
the Richmond Va) Enquirer, which denounces
Mr. Preston of Kentucky, for having borne
himself in the late debate on Slavery, in the
House, like a gentleman
aHe not only assented to Smiths claim to
recognition as gentleman--he not only gave
consequence to Smiths opinion by combating
them--he not only salnted his reviler and con-
temner, and the reyiler and contemner Of his
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 he
had displayed in denouncing everything which
a Southern man must prize and respect The
South win not thank Mr.. Preston for ths.o
Mr., Preston is o scholar, and his reading
we presume, has not been limited to the reso-
lutions Of '9s, As stakeholder, he defended
Slavery with what force Of argument he could
command and the courtesy of his department
added TO the impressvencss Of his argument
No train Of reasoning, however ingenious, can
strengthen q system 50 utterly in conflict with
the spirit Of the age, the fundamental ele-
ments Of our institutions, and the principles Of
Christianity; but the Enquirer may rest as
sured, that the course ID recommends would do
infinitely more damage 10 Slavery than that
pursued by the gentlemanly member from
Kentucky. Anti-Slavery men cannot be brow
beaten or hectored into Submission. Insult
viii only make them defiant, 1t may be, CON-
temptuops. As there must be controversy, let
not personal amnesty be mingled with it.
Il uo Bfaoo W S'ufsoJ, 10 ufShoJon W WI,
Smith and Mr.. Preston, must always tend to
alIay the bitterness Of strife, if il does not
remove it's GAUGES.
A LIFE BoAT--We ars informed, that when
the revenue cutter Hamilton was driven ashore
on Folly Island, near Charleston, the officers
and crew took 10 two boats The long boat
and it, occupants have mover been hoard from
since. Franciss Corrugated Metallic Boat
was found with one man in u, James Hogan
who had dashed himself TO it. Had his COM
paniens used the Same precantion, they would
have been saved. Had both boats been Of this
kind, and had a little precaution been exercised
by oil, not life would have been lost This
boat cannot subdue q tempestuous sea, nor
has Il intelligence, and the power to embrace
and hold on TO its passengers, in defiance Of