Washington sentinel., 1854-02-03
extracts from Speech Of Thomas L, An

2ih Of December, 1853.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: In compliance with an invi-
tation extended to me by the "Marion Associa-
tion,n rise for the purpose of presenting to
your consideration nay views upon the subject
OF slavery. And, after expressing to you my
thanks for-the high compliment paid me, allow
me to premise that | deeply regret that emer-
gency which has imposed upon you the neces-
sity of organizing an association for the pur-
pose of furnishing better security to our slave
property, which seems to be your exclusive OBJ
iect. This species of property, naturally inse-
cure, is rendered much more SO by our prox-
unity to the adjoining State of Illinois, especi-
ally on account Of our vicinity to Quincy one
of the most populous and fourishing cities in
that great State. Fanatics, from thence, under
protessed conviction of what they call ere
ligious duty" have for some time carried on
secret intercourse with our slaves; and, as con-
sequence, numerous slaves have from time to
time disappeared from this county and become
lost to their owners, and very recently fifteen,
including men, women and children, fed the
county in single week, and were hurried off
10 Canada, although hotly pursued by scores Of
our citizens Yielding to that necessity which
is the first law Of our nature, you have organ
lied this association, whose object and aim is
TO adopt measures which may perchance arrest
this system of robbing and wrong. In such a
crisis, can any citizen hesitate to determine
what his duty is Among my friends are some
who appear desirous OF my political preferment,
and they have admonished and advised me that
fearless and manly expression of my long
cherished opinions on this delicate subject
mi hit initiate against me in this respect. For
these 4 entertain sentiments of high regard and
profound gratitude; but to them, to you, sir,
and to this large concourse of my fellow-citi-
gems, with whom have been on terms of inti-
macy for more than twenty years, / take the
liberty to say, that home, with its pleasures and
endearments, has ever presented to me more
charms and attractions than the agitating scenes
and strife Of political life, with its uncertain and
feeting honors.
An honest, independent expression of my
"home-born" convictions, in support Of the
Just rights of my wronged and injured neigh
bors, fellow-citizens, and friends, is productive
Of higher degree of solid satisfaction to my
own feelings than the highest honors public
station could bestow. This community have
lavished upon me favors without numbers all
am and all have is the product of their
confidence and liberality. Should /, can /,
merely on account of consequences personal to
myself, shrink from the duty owe to you and
to this entire community? No, sir, never!
Speechless be this tongue, and palsied this
right arm, if ever shall fail to raise my feeble
voice in defence of the outraged rights of q
people SO noble and generous, and to whom !
acknowledge myself under the most lasting OBJ
legations. In this connexion it may not be
amiss for me to state, in this public manner,
and to this vast audience, that have been ad
yised of design, entertained By one or two
selfconstituted political leaders, to impeach my
orthodoxy and unwhig me if dared to make
this speech and raise my arm in support oi
our State-rights flag on this occasion. You
win likewise pardon me for adding that conf
Dental letters have been written to certain
newspaper editors in this State, instigating
them to anticipate this expected speech, and
encouraging them to impale me for treachery
TO the whig party if dared TO make it. /,
who have without solicitation and without de-
sire been honored with the nomination CT
elector upon the whig ticket in the presiden-
have time and again contested every county in
this district, from the Iowa border to the Mis-
souri, river, with the concentrated talents and
most powerful debaters in the democratic ranks
with what success, leave the public to Judge,
simply remarking, that this is the only electo-
raj district in the State of Missouri that ever east
a majority for whig presidential candidate
j, who have never shrunk from the duties o
any post assigned me, and have carried the
tattered but never Gishonored whig banner
through the severest conflicts ever waged by {
party in any country without quailing-I, who
have devoted my time, my talents, and money
to the support Of the whig cause at every sue
cessive election for twenty years, and have
never asked Office either for myself or friends
now to have my whig orthodoxy questioned, fol
repeating in tones louder than whisper the
same sentiments have enunciated for years
publicly and privately, is, to me, confess
somewhat provoking. Without stopping, how
ever, to calculate the chances Of personal or
partisan results, under sacred consciousness
Of my own purity of purpose, this day raise
my voice against the invasion of our institu-
tons, the robbery Of our property, and the des
ecration Of our hearth-stones. In consequence
of existing circumstances. the question of do
mestic slavery is made to assume an aspect il
this immediate vicinity the results Of which
reach far beyond all other questions of nationa
or State politics.
The foundations of this vast government have
more than once been convulsed from centre tc
circumference by it; and although concessions
and compromises have temporarily stayed the
march of the invaders, and measurably restored
quietness and security, the question is not set
tied. Every accession Of territory, the admis
sion of new members into the federal Union
and each succeeding presidential election
serve to open new issues on this agitatine
question; and during the intervals organized
bands of fanatics, with banners flying, are march
ing and countermarching on our very borders,
whilst their hired emissaries are prowling among
our negro quarters and stealing our slaves.
The citizens Of the slaveholding States are not
responsible for any Of the disturbances created
by this agitation. AL they have said and
done has been in defence Of their natural and
constitutional rights. Whilst the southern
States have generously yielded and submit.
ted to infringement and invasion, max
ing compromises and concessions for the
sake of peace and to preserve the Union, mil
lions of dollars worth Of property have been
stolen from the south, aud political rights, as
sacred and absolute as the Constitution could
furnish, have been surrendered. Laws have
been passed by Congress, and conventions as
sembled to nominate candidates for the presi
Dental Office have adopted resolves and pro-
claimed acquiescence. All this amounts to