Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-28

manitya Jesus Christ, my Master, - not
ashamed to call them brethren, and can have
any partnership in an attempt to trample them
under foot The Union itself becomes to me
an accursed thing, If must first steep IT in the
tears and blood Of those for whom Christ died.
But more than this Hundreds of thousands
of these black and red men, whose dearest
rights are sacrificed by this bill, are, in the
strictest sense, our Christian brethren. Some
are Episcopalians, some Presbyterians, but by
far the larger part are Baptists and Method
lists. They ait down with us at the same table
of the Lord they are, equally with us, mem
bers Of his body they share with US the same
gift Of his Holy Spirit, and hope with US to be
ever with the Lord And can Christian men
join hands with the oppressors Of their broth
rem? Can we allow it to be declared in our
name, as American Christians that through
out this vast region our Christian brethren
shall be delivered over to brute violence, and
that it shall be made a crime to teach them to
read the Word Of their Saviour and ours? Can
we do this, and hope to be forgiven?
And here let me appeal to Christians at the
South | have conversed with many of them
on this subject. They have confessed Slavery
to be wrong, and they have mourned over its
blighting influence on religion and morals.
They have told me, and believe them, that it
is their daily prayer that this curse may be re-
moved; that they would cheerfully make any
sacrifice for its removal, but that at present
they see no way of escape from it. But could
my voice reach them, | would say, brethren,
can YOU, as disciples OF Christ, aid in extending
and perpetuating what you know to be wrong
Can you pray God to remove Slavery from our
country, while you are seeking to fasten it up
on the country forever?
Could address Southern statesmen, would
address to them a similar appeal. have con-
versed with many Of them, men OF whom any
country might DO proud. They have told me
that Slavery was the curse of the Southern
States; that, utterly indefensible in principle,
in practice it wrought unmixed evil in everv
relation of life civil social, and domestic |
would say to them, can you, as lovers of your
country, extend over this vast Territory an in
stitution which you in private allow to be an
unmeasured evil an evil already 80 gigantic
that you are utterly unable to cope with it !?
Nay more are you willing, in order to extend
and perpetuate this wrong, to overturn tho
foundations Of the Constitution, and violate
your solemnly plighted faith2 Can you ex-
pect that after this we can look upon you as
brethren? If you will trample on the essen
tial principles of the Constitution, and annul
q contract which you declared should be bind
ing forever, in order to attain uncontrolled
power over the free States, how may we expect
that power to be exerted after it has been at
tained2 IF such things are done in the green
tree, what shall be done in the dry!
Once more. Could | hope that my words
could reach the ear of the President Of the
United States with the respect due to the
Chief Magistrate of my country, would ad
dress him somewhat in this wise: at has
pleased Divine Providence, sir, to place you in
the most responsible situation now held by any
man on earth. Il rests with you to decide
whether this vast Territory, comprising, it may
be, twenty independent States. shall become
the abode of happy freemen or Of down.trodden
slaves; whether man shall be recognised as a
being formed in the image of God, or, degraded
to chattel he shall be sold in the shambles
like the beasts that perish; whether in the
conflict between Freedom and Dsspotism, for
which the civilissd world is preparing, the
mighty influence Of this great Republic shall
b thrown in favor Of tho oppressof On tho OPP
pressed You hays the right to arrest this
measure - . grave departure from ths peinci-
pies Of the Constitution, and violation Of SOL
emnly pledged national faith. Let me, then,
entreat you to look beyond the mists Of passion
bndt bufTOuuu yuu, anu gaze III - iAoiiOus WI
that eternal justice which is the habitation Of
the throne Of the Most High. Decide this
question in such manner as will be most
pleasing to that great Being, the elements Of
whose character are spotless holiness and in
finite love- Can you as patriot array your
country 10 opposition to every attribute Of the
eternal God? Remember also that your life
will have q page in this worlds history. An
impartial posterity will judge you by your ac-
tions, and will assign you place with good
men or with bad, with the benefactors or the
enemies of your race. And, more than all, you
must soon appear before tribunal where you
can claim no precedence whatever over the
meanest slave that the sun shines upon. The
millions whose moral character has been af
fected for veal or for voc by your act will
meet you there face to face, in presence of the
universe Of God. IL is my earnest prayer that
you may, by divine grace, be enabled to decide
this question in view Of these solemn realities
80 that ut that day you may review this trans
action with JOY, and not with grief and that
the plaudit may await you, well DONE good
and faithful servant enter thou into the joy Of
thy Lord'D
ow-citizens, | rejoice that this meeting
has been held. Come what will, il will ever
be to US an unspcakabe satisfaction that, to the
utmost of our power, we have washed our
hands Of this iniquity. Let us cease not to be-
seech the God of our fathers to defeat the coul,-
sells OF misguided men, and If the worst shall
come, that nc will grant to the free States the
wisdom, temper patriotism, and union, which
may be needed in this grave emergency.
GENERAL HousroN HoMgwARD BousD.--
The Hollidaysburg PA Register and Netrs Of
the 22d instant says
aGen Sam Houston, United States Senator
from Texas, passed over the mountain on his
way homeward, to visit sick wife, on Friday
last. He attracted considerable attention
wherever he was known, and was cheered at
various points along the railroad. He is 6no
portly man, with face 'unshaven, unshorn
and wears very white hat, and red blanket
around his shoulders. Houston's Senatorial
career has been very creditable, and greatly
added to his hold on the popular affections and
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