Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-03-21

As great as is the disproportion of the ex.
ports from the slave and the non-slaveholding
States, that disproportion is UNNECESSARILY in,
| creased in the amount of duties received in the
! respective ports of the north and south.
The general average of duties in 1852 was
| fraction over twenty-five per centnm, and the
total of imports amounted to $2l2,945,442.
Of the duties collected there we've re.
ceived in northern ports 81 ST. a36
And m southern ports but. .......... 5,4GT,39O
Making the amount received from i'm.
ports NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. SIT. 40 32E
Now, sir, if there be any truth in the doctrine
that the producer of exports pays in reality the
duties upon the imports, although the imports
be credited to northern ports, the account be-
tween the two sections will stand thus: That
while the southern States produce hoo-thirds of
the entire domestic productions of the country,
we collect but One-ninM of the duties on i'm
ports. Nor is this all; for, according to the
record, it appears that four-ffihs of the public
moneys thus collected have been appropriated
to the non-sayeholding States for government
purposes and internal improvements, (ncluding
bounties to fishermen, to lighthouses, buoys,
river and harbor improvements custom house
expenditures, public buildings, mail routes, &c.)
But again: The total value of the domestic
and foreign exports of the United States in the
year 1852 was $209,65s,3 1856, and the total.
value of foreign imports $2l2, ,442, making
an aggregate Of 1922, 603,S08. In the carriage
of this amount of goods to and from foreign
countries were employed 1887 American yes
sells, with capacity of 3,230,59 tons, and en-
ploying 1928 men and 1880 boys How
many of these vessels or of their crews belong
to the south it is unnecessary to ask.
have not hpan able nrOpura full ra,,orto
Tor 1858; but the duties accruing on imported
merchandise show an increase over those Of
1852 of $l3,625, 598, and, as a consequence, II
proportional increase Of the value of slave la
Dor to the people of the north.
Sir, venture to declare the opinion that sla-
very has been the strongest bond of union be-
tween these States. Every section Of the con-
federacy has reaped its blessings, and the PEG.
pie of the north have been too long accustomed.
to levy black-mai upon it now to deny them.
selves SO fruitful source of thrift and Of profit
The south has been the goose of the golden
egg to the north, which freesoilers, in their mad
cupidity and fanatical tamperings, are threaten.
ing to destroy.
1t by some CONFUSION of nature the slave
States could be sunken beneath the level of the
waters, it would involve millions Of the inhabit-
ants OF the north in bankruptcy, and ruin, and
unutterable miseries
Your lordly merchant and fattened manu-
facturer, your omnibus men and porters, might
all, with truth, exclaim--
g Othello's occupations goncm
Your cities, now your pride and strength. would
dwindle into towns; your crowded harhors grow
empty and wild; and thousands, who now live in
contentment and comfort, would beg for bread.
Reverse the picture, and suppose the FREQ
States blotted from creation. Why, sir the
fact would be felt only by our railroad conduc-
tors, captains of steamboats,, and few politi
Clans with national aspirations. Our harbors
would be filed with foreign shipping3 our ma
rine towns grow into cities, rivalling in their
magnifcence and prosperity the present condi-
factory would spring up over our streams our
revenue would be collected and erpended
among the people who now bear an unequal
burden in supporting this government, and who
are unequally protected by it.
Mr. Chairman, the cry that the Union is in
danger has been so often raised that men have
ceased to regard it. But, sir, disunion may
come while we are sleeping in security. Be-
fore God, believe that if this bill, which sim.
ply establishes the principle that the people in
their condition OF sovereign States should be
permitted to decide for themselves upon all
matters affecting their internal government.
fails to pass this House, we will be in greater
danger OF disunion than at any time since the
formation of this government.
| mako no threat of disunion The fa;lure
Of the passage of this bill may not so result.
hut sir, our young men are becoming familiar
with the sound of word which was breathed
by their sires only in secrecy, or forced from
their lips by the agony Of accumulated wrong.
The south is now united, and she is sustained
by the intelligent and gallant spirits Of the west
The southern backsliders of 1850 have van
ished before the breath of popular Indignation
like "clouds before Biscay gale" and their
seats have heen filled by true men.
tell you, sir it is dangerous season to
preach constitutional heresies, and more dan.
gerous to enact them, use the word danger
because / feel it, and am not unwilling to en-
terrain the emotion whenever the stability Of
this government is threatened. | know. sir.
that there are thousands at the soutb who
goaded by repeated acts of unequal legislation,
thirst for disunion as the hart pants for the
water brook. But, sir, | am not Of them vet !;
and it IS my fervent desire that no circumstance
may occur which will drive me into their ranks.
we have too great country for me to con-
template its ACKNOWLEDGMENT without solicitude
and pain. We have country great in its his
tory and its institutions, great in its science
and arts, great in its statesmen and warriors,
great in its wealth and the variety of is re-
sources. We will continue to have grent
country country, continuing and increasing
in greatness-ifwe are but true to the principles
OF the Constitution, 1t is distinct in letter and
equitable in spirit. II is sancti6ed by the
blood and the wisdom of patriots, and has