Washington sentinel., 1854-03-08
reply to in way thought right. The sena-

siaVeholuinS region. 1he climate, the soil, the
staple productions, are not such as to invite the
planter of the neighboring States, who is disposed
10 move, 10 turn away from the cotton regions Of
the south, and establish himself in Kansas or Me-
braska. A few domestic servants may be taken
there few farm laborers, il were, sporadcally;
but in the long run am quite sure that il is gen
orally admitted that this is not to be slaveholding
region; and il not this, certainly no part of the
territory still further north"
How did his colleague meet this admission
Why, he says, slavery may and will GO there,
because it is in the same latitude with Mis-.
souri, but he omitted to say that il was in the
same latitude with northern PENNSYLVANIA,
New York, and most of New England He
neglected to say that the elevation of the land
was much greater: that it was prairie coun-
try, on which cotton and sugar are never raised.
have consulted the delegate from that Terri
tory, have consulted officers of the army who
have crossed it, and all agreed that there is no
part OF il where cotton, sugar, or rice can be
cultivated. On only about twenty-five miles
of the Kansas river some hemp may be raised.
\ on cannot raise tobacco upon the prairie
country because the wind is too great.
The slavery question, Mr.. President, seems
to be theme of endless discussion BY political
stockholders, by those who love to indulge in
defamation and the abstract dogmas of fanati-
cism in the land. where the very name of Fiber
ty is adored, that they may have glory OF men
by those who like to attend to other peoples
business who can overlook evils at home and
gaze with throbhing commisseration upon i'm
aginarv evils thousands of miles off. In the
settlement Of it, or in dealing with it, we are
troubled with men of extreme opinions. Ex-
tremes never did remedy extremes, but always
aggravated them. Fanatics in religion and
politics have inflicted more evils upon the hui
man family than they ever aleviated.
Experience and observation have taught me
that there is as much demagogueing over this
matter south as north and that it has been
more than once used to put up or put down
presidential candidates. We all recolect with
what zeal. as | observed before, southern wings
advocated the election of General Taylor in
1913, notwithstanding he refused to declare
himself against the Wilmot proviso, and they
knew if he did he could not get a northern
State; and we all recollect the miserable pre-
texts which were resorted to to defeat the bill
commonly called the CLAYTON compromise) of
my honored friend, the distinguished Senator
from Delaware, Mr.. CLAYTON, in ls4S, upon
which the present bill is modelled. I'll. =.
+ / admit that there are some honest and re-
Ggious people north who look at the matter in
its moral aspects alone, and enormously think
that by the action of this government of limit
ed powers, we can remedy or crcumscribe
what they call the evils of slavery. They seem
to forget that the Constitution recognises and
provides for it. 1t says fugitive slaves shall be
returned, and has a provision respecting repre-
sentation. | hold a seat here, sworn to sup.
port the Constitution, and carry out its pro-
visions for the benefit of all, by the side of
shareholders and the representatives of slave
States, who think slavery humane and bene-
fetal institution. They are my equals, and all
the States are coequal as well as confederated.
| am one of those who believe that the powers
and functions of this government should never
be brought to bear against the property of any
of its citizens. Senators from the north cannot
make war upon the property Of the slavehold
ers of the south, and yet do business here with
representatives. For one, sir, cannot
hypocritically pretend friendship ard respect
when feel none. | would not sit here, and
constantly hear those represent abused and
DETAINED on account of the kind of property
they own, or the sort of business they choose to
follow under the Constitution. Those who
denounce slavery forget that we have over
three millions of slaves, increasing in a fearful
ratio ofrapidity, who cannot be freed or starved
to death, and that the world cannot be legis-
iated into the millennium, Their arguments
would be good against providing for its protec-
tion in the Constitution, and against uniting
with our southern brethren in the formation or
administration of q common government. We
ought to come to some understanding on the
subject. If we cannot live in peace together,
the sooner we know it and provide for the
event the better. This growing at each other,
bandying of words and retorting abuse, is un-
becoming free people or their representa-
tives, and brings our government and republi-
can institutions into disrepute.
But, Mr.. President believe that our north
ern and southern people can continue to live in
peace together under our Constitution, and pre-
serve our Union, which was consummated by
the blood of heroes and the wisdom of sages.
We have the best government ever devised by
the wit Of man, and the finest country the sun
of heaven ever shown upon. The fanaticism or
the convusion which destroys the one must
desoia;e the other. 1t is said that the passage
or the defeat of this bill will raise a storm at
the north which will oyerwhelm every man who
supports it. Sir, am somewhat accustomed
to these storms, and they have no terrors for
me. was member of the House Of Repre-
sentatives when Texas was admitted, and all
recollect what hue and cry was raised. 1t
was said we were annexing slave Territory
.
| tons were passed in Massachusetts, declaring
the Union dissolved, and no person was hurt
Her citizens are now glad to go there, get
cotton and sugar cheap, trade, and make money.
j was also member of the House when we
acquired vast domain from Mexico. The
Wilmot proviso was brought forward, and
nearly every State north Of Mason and Dixon's
line, including my own, instructed their MEM
bess for it. was one Of the few who took
ground against i, and insisted upon bill like
the present, or an adjustment upon the old
basis of the Missouri compromise. believe
,yas the first representative from northern
State who made a speech against it. Well
sir what unprecedented statesman in the country
now will assert that j; WAS wise or judicious
measure? Tie use of popular names are now
and then resorted to. A cry for freesoil and
the rights of free labor is raised by those who
never did days work in their lives. God and
the spirit o; liberty are appealed to, and yet
those who do it DO not eaaal Santa Anna in
his pretended devotion We all kno.y that his