The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-03-31

sickly seniimenialisi, or fanatic, or some
thing OF iha, kind while, AT the same time,
IL seems 10 be perfectly right and proper
that the other side of,he question shall be
debated at any length, al the desire or con-
, venience of en,lemen-although say, |
DO not intend TO enter into that question:
must be permitted 10 state 10 the honorable
Senator from Mississippi, Mr.. Brown
,ha, the people OF my section OF The country
do no, agree with him, and would not be
much affected by the picture which he has
presented Of the peculiar social advantages
OF the institution. Sir, in the portion OF
country from which you and come, MIR.
Foo, OF VI. being in The chair, labor OF any
kind, il i, is homes, labor, is honorable. In
that section OF The country all men are equal,
POLITICALLY. Their social relations, and
Their social condition and position, they MAKE
for themselves. Every man must find them,
or make them, as he can but !, initiates
nothing against his social position. although
In may change the social sphere in which
he moves-i, is nothing that derogaies from
lany political ryht,or any social right, or any
lo,her right that he has-,hai necessity COM
pels him 10 labor; ay, sir, aud compels
him 10 labor in menial employ
ment. In nv country menial employ
men,, IL il is an honest employment pursued
from necessity and not from taste, however
menial i, may be, is honorable 10 man, ii
it be honestly pursued. We Judge no, The
man by the kind Of labor he follows, or by
the amoun, OF remuneration ne receives for
liz. If he is an honest man, and labors hon.
es,ly, he is more respected even than one
who performs a dishonest service, by the
remuneration ever so high, ay, even although
the reward for il nigh, possibly be the high
est office in the gifl o! the people OF this
country.
This may be vulgar notion, and i, is a
lvulgariiy common IN that section OF the
country, we are willing 10 admit. But al
though our people entertain these vulgar
notions they are not without others. They
are a reading people, and thinking
people. They have churches, academies,
common schools, newspapers, and all The
ordinary resources OF moral and mental edu.
cation. As have said, they read aud think,
and, among other things upon which they
entertain fixed opinions is this ,ha, The ill-
s,i,u,ion of slavery is OF no advantage, IN
any point Of view, 10 any portion OF The
country in which i, exists. They reason
upon this subject, perhaps somewhat from
contrasts. They contrast, Tor instance, The
States oil Ohio and Kentucky, OF Virginis
and New York. They oback 10 the time
when Virginia was far ahead Of New York
in population and power, and they look at
her presen, condition, and see tina, she is no,
inferior in physical and natural advantages;
a.. INF nm nfav
BILE 10 the institution OF slavery IN It's effects
; upon the growth and welfare OF people
They have also another idea, and that is,
tha, inasmuch Us they are part OF This peo-
Pile, inasmuch as they belong TO this coun.
Try, and are part OF the grea, whole, what
ever is injurious 10 the whole becomes
I matter OF inieres, TO them. And sir, they
believe, iha, il All institution injnriously al.
fects the prosperity Of part, lis evils are
felt throughout the whole system. II touch
!, rs them rs citizens, and as having an inter-
Us, in the common welfare; and they have
a righ, 10 consider and think Of il; and not
, only that, bu, 10 express their opinions about
D IL; and when they come here, desiring 10
uphold, within the scope oi the Constitution,
! the rights OF all the citizens OF the country,
e Of all men in this country, with due respect
Z TO every compact in the Constitution or other
n wise-for they are people who regard
k compac is-;hey have n righ! 10 think and
|, speak as they please on this subject of slav-
/ cry, as Of every other through their repre-
a sen,a,ives, in this branch Of Congress or the
: other. And this right they will exercise.
But, Mr.. President, 60 further, and say
: that, call j, what you will-iana,icism, SEN
D iimen,ali,y, or any other name that may be
mos, satisfactory TO gen;lcmen-we claim
!. the right no, only to speak on, our opinions
i in relation TO the institution ofslavery, when.
ever our interests, rs a part Of the great
Z whole, are affected by IL; bu, il there is
Q any portion of this country where our inter-
? ference is not precluded by the provisions
of the Constitution, We have the further con-
; siiu,ional, and legal, and moral right, TO
nc, upon it, and TO act upon II here rs well
: rs elsewhere. Andwe may act, and should
g act, as well with reference 10 those great
: principles Of Justice and equality upon
> which our free institutions are based, as
with regard TO considerations touching our
I national or individual advancement and
. prosperity. Sir, am one Of those who be-
: lieve them all 10 be so intimately blended
,ha, they are, and mus, remain forever, in.
$ separable.
= !, Leaving these general propositions, per.
= mil me 10 observe, Mr.. President, iha, the
:, people OF the free States derive more Pc
culiar and immediate relation 10 this Ques-
ton OF slavery from the Constitution itself.
On looking al It's provisions, they find ,ha,
q the slave power in this country-ifI may
so call it-has the benefit Of tho only ine-
= quality that know Of existing in that in
i sirument. allude 10 the principle upon
which Representatives are apporlioned.-
. Gentlemen all know-for every one is IA.
|, miliar with the provision 10 which refer
! iha, in this particular a very great advantage
is given 10 the slave States. Its effect is to
j REPRESENT in the National Councils that which
in those States are unques,ionably interest
: ed 10 limit the increase and extension OF
D such power, so far rs they can constiiu.
5 tionally do so, whether in old territory or
I, new. Sir, we feel the effects OF this ine-
u quality every day. We feel !, in the great
D er degree OF power exercised by the citizens
u Of one State than is exercised by the same
number OF citizens of another. We feel IL
> IN that unity Of purpose and concentration
OF action which are 50 much more readily
accomplished among smaller than lar.
ger number Of persons, and which we never
tail TO experience when the interests Of
slave labor and free labor are supposed TO
be in conflict. Sir, that unity and concen.
,raiion which the predominant, nature and
, character Of this institution afford, in all
: Iques,ions Of national Legislation affecting il,
or affected by il, are quite enough Of them.
selves, wi,hou, superaddlng the weight Of
an nequal representation. In the free
States we have no such principle of union.