Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-11

iona at once practical and humane embodied who
kDew intimately the purposes and aspirations q Wy
Sundersthis veteran statesman then years
age appeared at the bar Of that Congress whose pow
RS he had helped to define and estabhsn, anu ~ sne
asst political act Of his long life soemniy enrea.eu
would be pleased to countenance the y
erty to those unhappy men who alone IN TINS ana OF
reedom are degraded into perpetual bondage ana that
would step to the very verge of the powers vested IN
or pIscoURAGad every species OF tramc In ING
our fellow-men" Only short ane ai'sr uster Ing
his PRAYER the patriot sage descended to the tomb but
q seems still to coll upon Congress IN memoranda Worus
step 10 the rery verge Of the pows Vested IN no discourage
avery and this prayer now soundng from tne tomD OF
franklin proclams the rue - 's
hers Not encouragement, but OF slave
" not its naturalization, but its deaaonal,zanon was
The memorial Of Franklin, with other memorials Of
iIar character was referred TO committee and much
ebated in the House. which finally sanctioned the fol
owing resolution and directed the same to be entered
pom its Journal:
That Congress have no authority interfere in the eman-
patton Of slaves in the treatment Of them within any
az ates; IL remaining NTH the several States 70 proede
APPROPRIATIONS therein Which Humanity and true pocy may
sq9re"
This resolution declaring the principle Of non Inter
eion by Congress with slavery in the States was adopt
" the same Congress which had solemnly affirmed the
rbitisn Of slavery in all the existing territory OF the
njn, and not only by the same Congress, but at the
arb session. SO that may be regarded as the compile
st of the other And is these double acts at the
XII organization Of the Government and the recorded
ailments Of the founders, that take my stand ana
tlalenge all question. -
this time there was strictly dividing line in the
outry between anti-savery nnd slavery Inc anu
Nsery sentiment was thoroughly national, broad, and
ersl peryadng alike all parts Of the Union, and up
ia from the common heart of the entire people The
layery interest was strictly personal ana pscums5y
alaveholders It contemplated slavery only as DO
mic institution not as political element and merely
sdated for its security where it actually existed with
inc States.
I. the original policy of the country, begun under
Standardization and recognised at the initiation Of the
nGoyernment, is clear and unmistakabla. compendi,
oh expressed, it nonterpentoa 6y Congress atth
Ill, IN the States and its prohibition in all the ndhonaSdo-
us In this way the dscordant feelings on this subject
~ reconced Slavemasters were left at home in their
eecye States to hug slavery under the protection OF
laws without any interference from Congress- while
alpposed it exempted from any responsibility
,hefor in the national domain. This, sir is the com
nj ground on which our political fabric reared |;
MI donot hesitate say that il j. the only ground on
viii jcan stand in permanent peace.
isbeyond question, sir that our Constitution was
fr,e by the lovers Of human rights that it was ami
me- by their divine spirit that the constitution Of slave
rvs regarded by them with 50 that, though
cdty alluded to, it was not named in the instrument
m according to the debates in the Convention they
fed to give it any sanction and looked forward to
icertain day when it would be oblterated from the
~ But the original policy Of the Government did not
Mprevai. The generous sentiments which hlled the
Not their power. The blessings of freedom being al
r1 secured to themselves, the freemen Of the land
eyindiferent to the freedom of others They ceased
ftInk of the slaves The elavemasters awaited them
lvy of this Indifference, and, though few in numbers
onnred with the non-slayeholders, in the slave
tst accordng to the late census they fewer than
srehundred thousand they have, under the influence
amagined sefnterest by the skilul tactics party,
an themselves, swaying by turns both the great poll
ticaparties, succeeded through long succession Of
veal in obtaining the control of the National Govern
men bending it to their purposes, compelling it to do
thelwil, and imposing upon it policy friendly to
slauy offensive to freedom only and directly opposed
to q sentiments of its founders Our republic has
swpn in population and power, but it has shrunk in
chapter. 1t is not what it at the beginning,
repic merely permitting while it regretted slavery
toetng it only where it could not be removed and in
terding it where it did not exist but mighty propa
CAN'T openly fayoring and indicating it, visiting also
Wit1ispleasure all who oppose it.
81 our country early reached heights which it could
not ep It's fall gentle but complete. At the
sionf Congress Immediately following the ratification Of
the hbition Of slavery in the national domain trans
fer 1.-THE territory constituting Tennessee
cept from North Carolina, april 2, 1902 loaded with
the press condition that regulation made or to be
madshond tend to emancipate slaves" formal pro-
visa which, while admitting the power Of Congress
ovosyery in the Territories, waived the prevailing po
lic,f executing it. This followed in 1913, by the
trafr from Georgia of the region between her present
veen limit and the Mississippi under similar cond-
thery terms of the transfers. and in the fact that the
repn constituted part of two States where slavery ac
tuy existed though it will be confessed that here
the was descent from that summit Of freedom on
Thh the nation had SO proudly rested:
-AFrom Morn
To noon he fell I; from to dewy
A summers day; and, with the setting sun,
Drop'd from the zenith like falling star"
It. without tracing this downward course through its
successive stages let refer to facts which too papaby
rew the abyss that has been reached Early in his
torno man was disqualified for public Office by reason
of lis opinions this subject; and this condition
connued for long period. As late as 1921 John W.
Tabr representative from New York, who had press
ed it much energy, not merely the prohibition Of
slay in the Territories but its restriction in the State
Of ssouri was elected to the chair Of Henry Clay
Spder Of the other House, 1t is needless to add that
no emncd supporter Of the Wilmot proviso at this day
cou expect that eminent trust An arrogant and unre
lentg ostracism is applied not only to all who
pref themselves against slavery, but to every who
wilht be its menia novel test for Office has been
intrhced which would have excluded all the Fathers Of
theIepubc, Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin
Ye#ir, startling it may be- but indisputable Gould
theI ilusrious men descend from their realms above
andevst the land which they had nobly dedicated to
frem they coald not, with their well-known and
cord opinions against slavery receive nomination for
theresidency from either Of the old political parties
Notoud John Jay, first Chief Justice and great
emhr Of judicial virtue, who hated slavery as he loved
;uste be admitted to those duties with which his
nan IN earth is indssoubly associated To such low
est eep has our Government descended.
Tee things prepare US to comprehend the true char
acte the change with regard to the Territories In
17e0A the existing national domain promptly and
unaIsously dedicated to freedom, without opposition
Griffin. The interdict Of slavery then covered every
incho soil belonging to the National Government Lou
isaian immense region beyond the bounds Of the orr
ginAl ates, was subsequently, acquired and in 1920