Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-05

SPEECH OF HON. EDWARD WADE,
OF OHIO.
In The Hoass Of Representatives, Nay II, 1854

The reader will see that a part of Mr.. WADEs
speech which was printed in the Era of Saturday
Is reprinted to-day. 1t is done in consequence
of a transposition in the latter portion of that
which appeared in Saturdays paperl
But, let us probe the gentlemen's craftsmanship
little deeper, and see what win come Of it. The
power TO prohibit Slavery is germ Of despot-
ism !" so the power to prohibit piracy, murder,
robbery arson, rape, burglary, larcency, and so
on through the criminal CODE arc also germs OF
despotisn." Alas Mr.. Chairman, if this be sound,
logic, and it must be since II comes from states
men" then there must be 'germs OF despotism
enough in the free States to seed with oppression
all the nations of the earth. The gcntleman's
reasoning produces another result equally as
tounding that is, that the only States truly free
are those where Slavery exists, and where the
constitutions are purged of so despotc germ"
as the power to abolish it. I'm this wise, sir a
" statesman with logical handspike, turns hui
man institutions topsy -tnrvy.
But, seriously never until listened to this de-
bate, could realize how profound the obscura-
ton, how total the eclipse Of the moral and intel
lectual vision on this great truth, Of the sacred
ness OF human liberty caused by perpetual con-
tact with the gigantic wrong and wickedness of
Slavery. SIR the shareholders denounce with
merciless severity, despotic Governments, seem
Mortified at the bare idea that Congress should ex
ercise power in which may Turk the minutest
"germ of despotism,D and nevertheless seem ut
terlyssunconscious that the system of Slavery, to
which they cling with desperation bordering on
madness, is the most 0dious, insulting, and cruel
" despotism I" which now curses Gods foOtstool !;
or that this Inconsistency and mental blindness
Ito characterize them by no harsher epithets) ex-
hibit the shareholders of the United States a
laughing-stock to the civilized world. Nay, sir,
snch is the obliquity Of moral and intellectual Wis
ion, produced among Southern statesmen, ESQ
they style themselves that civil society and gov
eminent are only seen by them upside down, like
the reflection of landscape from the calm surface
OF the lake; and hence, on perceiying in the Or
ganization Of Government power TO prohibit
slavery the fellest Of all the forms Of despotism,
this feature of it is presented to them rs the very
perfection Of despotic power-one to which the
gentleman from Kentucky declares the South
never will submit" when applied to the organ
ization of the Territories That ! may not be
suspected Of caricature, | give the gentleman's
own language:
" But again: cannot the North, with her over
whelming numbers, compete with us on these
new theatres in the race Of settlement and civ
ization-and must she not only violate the
Constitution by shutting out half the States,
common property holders with her-but in the
name of liberty outrage liberty by erecting
despotism over the Territories? Sir we never
will submit to tive will resist it to the last"
Yes, sir, such is the threat of INSTRUMENTATION
and disloyalty to the Union, and such the cause
of it. This abidgment of the liberty of the OPP
pressed stakeholder, and the dealers in human
flesh and blood this oppressive tariff the bust
ness Of huckstering in husbands and wives, moth
ers and their children, will never be submitted to-
Well, sir, in reply to all this kind of buster,
would respectfully ask, what kind of unsubmissioe
ness in the premises, do the shareholders intend
to manifest? Is the old cry of wolf to be raised
to brighten the doughfaces, which has, on so
many occasions, and so successfully, been resort
ed to by Southern politicians-the cry of dssolu-
ton of the Union2 Let me say to the gentleman
from Kentucky, that we OF the free States have
grown too familiar with this hysterical i'll humor
of the South II has ceased to carry with it any
terrors, but, the contrary there are mnltitudes
now at the North and their number is rapidly in
creasing who speak in no smothered tones Of
separation as necessary, not only to the honor,
but the interests of the free States. And, sir,
the mark of CAIN the brand of traitor, is in store
for that son of the North either in this House or
wherever else, by whom whose aid or counsel,
this deed of shame may be consummated. Sir,
morally, and ultimately politically, il will have
been "better for that man that he had never been
born
The gentleman from Kentucky, IT seems, would
set off against the popular outbreak Boston
Common, and the multitudinous other demonstra-
tons at the North of intense hostility to this afro
cious bill the approving resolutions of q minori-
~ Of the Legislature of Illinois, and so thankful
is he for so small favor, that he breaks out in
bitter taunt against the East and North and per-
petrates n towering compliment TO, and glowing
prediction of, the growing power of the West
This is his language.
Did you hear Of the Infatuated mob that
basely hung the author Of this bill in efiigy on
Boston Common But did you note soon after
the cheering tones of approval the west wind
brought from his prairie State Remember
-,
the political power Of this country is now climb
ing the SUBMITS of the Allegheny mountains
and before this decade closes, will have pursued
its unreturning course far into the valley of the
Aississippi-that vast region richer than the
delta OF the Nile, and whose millions, and ever
increasing Millions destined to political
unity as lasting as civilization and commerce.
bound forever together by the double tie of in
terest and Affection
II is all so, Mr.. Chairman but, alas, for poor
old Kentucky, unless she devise some means by
which 10 east from her bending shoulders this
"Old Man Of the Sea- this eating cancer, this
consuming curse Of Slavery, she dooms herself to
premature old age, and in her youth and young
manhood, TO fall the lowest, and become the least
nthe bright galaxy of States which is to form this
stupendous central power Yes sir the political
power OF this nation Is pursuing its unobstructed
way to its resting place in the great valley of the
Mississippi but let the gentleman from Kentucky
remember let every Shareholder on this floor mark
my words utter them in all kindness, but with
a solemn conviction Of their truth-ihe pathway
of this march OF power will not be moistened by
single tear Of the cofied slave. Onward, sir
and still onward, is the remorseless tread of en-
pre to her rightful home but no crack ofthe over
seers bloody lash, shrek OF the lacerated slave,
groan Of the despairing mother, torn from the
child she has borne in sorrow, is mingled with, or
mars the shouts and anthems Of, the free. No, sir
mol The pillow, the anvil, and the loom, the Ak,
the scythe, and the reaper the chisel the saw and
the trowel, with all the multitudinous equipments
OF civil liberty-these, sir, with songs Of praise
and Thanksgiving TO the Great Emancipation for
the priceless gem Of personal frcedom-these,
these are the accomplishments the music Of that