Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-07-21

armed parties. In this situation, believe you will
agree with me- there is nothing intiting this way,
esp cially when assure you whole force fit for
duty that are properly clothed and properly equip
ped, does not amount to eight hundred men -
Johason's Life Of Greene, roi. |, pogs Jic.
Writing to Mr.. Narnum, member Of Con-
gress, he says -
"There is great spirit of enterprise prevailing
among the mili'ir of these Southern States, espe.
cially with the volunteers. But their mode or go
ing to is destructive that it is the greatest
folly in the world to trust the liberties Of, people
such preearious defense. ."-Johnsons Lys Of
Greene v,' /. page 397,
Nothing can be more authentic or complete
than this testimony. Here also is what is
said by David Ramsay, an estimabe citizen Of
South Carolina, in his history Of the revolu-
tion in that State, published i'll 1885, only
short time after the scenes which he de-
scrihes -
"While the American soldiers lay encamped, On
the low country near Chareston) their tatered rags
were SO completely worn out that seven hundred Of
them were naked they we're born, excepting a
small strip of cloth about their waists and they were
nearly as destitute Of meat Of clothing - Vol. 2,
pigs 25e.
The military weakness of this "slavehold-
ing community" is too apparent. Learn now
its occasion and then join with me in amaze
ment that Senator from South Carolina
should attribute our Independence to any
thing "saveholding. The records of tile
country, and various voices, all disswn his
suggestion. The State OF South Carolina, by
authentic history, disowns it. Listen, il
you please, to peculiar and decisive testimony,
under date of March 29, l779, from the Sc
cret Journal of the Continental Congress -
"The committee appointed to take into oonsidera-
tion the circumstances Of the Southern States, and the
ways and means for Their safety and defense. report,
that the State Of South Carolina (as represented by
the Delegates Of the said tate, and by Mt. Hugar
who has come here at the request of the Governor
OF the said STATE on purpose TO explain the circun
stances thereby is UNABLE to make any efectual eff
forts with militia, by reason of the great proper
tion of citizens necessary remain at home to peusn
n'urr,o'on among the negroes, and to prevent the
desertion of them to the enemy. That the state of
among Them expose the inhabitants to great danger,
from the endeavors Of the enemy to excite them to
revolt or desert" Vol. |, page los.
| Here is South Carolina secretly disclosing
her military weakness and its occasion thus
disowning, in advance, the vaunt Of her Sem
ator, who finds strength and graduation in
slavery rather than in freedom. 1t was dur
ing the war that che thus shrived herself, on
her knees, in the confessional of the Cont
mental Congress. But the same important
admission was made in debate, on the floor of
| Congress, Both March, 1870, some time after
the war, by Mr.. Burke, Representative from
! South Carolina -
"There is not gentleman the floor who is a
stranger to the feeble situation Of State, when
We entered into the war 70 oppose the British power
! We ucre not only uithom money, unhom any army
military stores, but fsW number and hkeiV
be entaR ged wnh dom.st,cs IN cass N, ,ns,ny IN.
uaded us."-Annais Of Congress, 1853, 1891, voiumc
2, page 1854.
Similar testimony to the weakness engen-
dered by slavery was also borne by Mr.. Madi-
son, in debate in Congress -
] ,,;a a. 4 n
na) receive to their number of slaves, tends to u.ah
them, and render them less capable Of defsrs, -
Annals Of Congress, uoi l, pag. $40.
The historian of South Carolina, DR. Ram
say, a contemporary observer of the very
scenes which he describes, exposes this weak.
| ness
1.-THE forces under the command of Gen Provost
marched through the richest settlements of the state
where the iewest white inhabitants in proportion
to the number of slaves. The helpless Afrleans ai
D-ed uh the hope Of freedon forsOok Their ownsrs and
repaired in great numbers to the royal army. They
endeavorcd to recommend themselves to their new
masters by discovering where their owners had con
sealed their property, and assisting carrying
it of.'-History Of Soueh. Carolina, voiune /, pog
! 3l2.
And the same candid historian, describing
the invasion of the next year, saws -
1.-The slaves a second time focked TO the British
Army. .'-Vol |, page 1886.
And at a still later day, Mr.. Justice John
son, of the Supreme Court of the United
| States, and a citizen Of South Carolina, in his
elaborate life of General Greene, speaking OF
negro slaves, makes the same admission. lie
says
''But the number dispersed through these (south.
ern) States was very great great. to render
impossible for the citizens TO muster esmen enough
,rthstand the pressure Of the BRITISH Volume 2
| pcge i72.
Surely, sir, this is enough and more Thus
lao , fha
contributions Of men, and the military weak
ness of the Southern States, particularly OF
South Carolina, as compared with the North
ern States and from the very lips of South
| Carolina, on four different occasions, speak,
by committee, by one of her Representatives
in Congress, by her historian. and by an en-
| inent citizen, we have the confession not only
of weakness, but that this weakness was
caused by slavery. And yet in the face of this
| cumulative and unimpeachable testimony, We
are called to listen in the American Senate, to
a high-hying boast from venerable Senator,
that American independence was achieved by
| the arms and treasure OF" slaveholding COM
munities an assumption, baseless as the
fabric of a vision, in any way it may be inter-
preted whether as meaning boldly that in
dependence was achieved by those Southern
States, which were the peculiar home OF
slavery, or that it was achieved by any
strength or influence which came from that
noxious source. Sir, speak here for Com
monwealth Of Just renown, but | speak also
for a cause which is more than any Common
wealth. even that which l represent and |
cannot allow the Senator, with his silver
white locks, to discredit either. Not by
slavery, but in spite Of it was independence
achieved. Not because, but thstand,ng ,
there were /" slaveholding communities" did
l l. 4. 4 I.
inspiration of Liberty Universal that con-
Quoted us through the red sea of the Revolu-
tion, as it had already given to the Declara-
tion of Independence its mighty tone, resound-
ing through the ages. - Let it be remem-
bered,' said the nation, speaking by the
voice of the Continental Congress, at the close
of the war, " that it has ever been the pride
and boast OF America that the rights for which
she has contended were TIE RIGHTS OF HUMAN
NATURE!' Yes, sir, in this behalf, and by
this sign we conquered
Such, sir, is my answer on this head to the
Senator from South Carolina. If the work
which ! undertook has been done thoroughly
he must not blame me. Whatever | under
take, | am apt to do thoroughly. But while
thus repelling the insinuations against Mas
sachusetts, and the assumptions for slavery
would not unnecessarily touch the sensibii-
ties of that Senator, or of the State which he
represents. | cannot forget that amid all the
diversities of opinion, we are bound together
by the ties of a common country-that Massa-
chusetts and South Carolina are sister States,
and that the concord of sisters ought to pre-
vail between them but am constrained to
declare, that | have throughout this debate
sought in vain any token of that lust spirit
which, within the sphere of its influence, is
calculated to promote the concord alike of
States and individuals.
Mr.. Sumner vs. Mr. Mason.
After finishing of Mr.. Butler, he (Mr
sumner) turned to Mr. Mason, of Virginia,
the author of the Fugitive Slave law of 1850,
and after remarking on his imperious and