The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-05

ent'ciyiiizatlon exist together, the superior ex-
terminate or enslave the Inferior. The indo-
clhty OF the Indian will cause him TO be swept
from the face of the earth. Slavery seems to
De the price that Ignorance pays to intelligence
for its tuition in the arts of civilization.
Nothing can be more disastrous to a State
than the premature acknowledgements of an
enslaved race. They gangrene upon the face
of it's society, until it perishes under the afjlic
ton. 1t is a historical fact and worthy of note.
that the first Abolitionist was the first per
son who introduced African Slavery upon the
shores of America. Las Casas the Bishop of
Chiapas, after Cortez conquered Mexico. felt
the deepest compassion for the Indians who
were allotted as slaves to his Spanish adyentur-
ers. He petitioned the King of Spain, that
these Indian slaves should be enfranchised. and
that the more robust and hardy negroes of the
African coast should be imported His PRAYER
was granted, and it is to him the thraldom of
the African in America is to be first attributed
The misfortunes of Mexico at this hour are
in my opinion, attributable in great measure
to the indiscreet philanthropy of Las Casas.
The barriers which separated the races were
cast down, the Castilian blood no longer ran
pure and unpolluted in the veins of the peo-
pie. The great preponderating Mestizo, or
mixed race, was engendered: and he who will
walk through the streets Of Mexico, will see
all the hOrrid results of debased amalgamated
race, as he sees the Mexican of pure Spanish
descent spurn from him with his foot as he
would some beast, the loathsome Meztizo that
obstructs the way
But let me turn for a moment from a consid-
GRAFTON of this picture, and ask if our forefa-
theirs had framed the wise and benefcent Gov
eminent we enjoy, if tomorrow the Ohio were
the military line Of demarcation between the
North and South, as the Rhine between Ger
many and France if forts were erected. Gus
tom houses established, and armies posted-if
union were proposed to remedy all these evils,
would it be accepted If we were assembled
as delegates, and the South were to demand
the same terms our Constitution guarantees
and the regulation of our own domestic insti-
buttons, can we for moment doubt that after
all the benefits we have experienced the North
would not be willing and anxious to accede to
its provisions Or would we of the South
forgetfui OF the gallant spirit of our forefathers
who planted the Southern Colonies, and whose
descendants, surmounting the crests of the AL
leghanies, bore civilization and religion into
the primeyal forests of the West until they
were borne over Kentucky and Missouri, even
to the golden shores of California--prove rec
reant to the glorious memories of the past, and
submit to dishonorable dictation?
| respect the generosity of emotion that
seems to move the gentleman from New York
decisively as | differ from every sentiment he
utters; but | must say, that the abolition of
African Slavery, and its agitation, are fraught
only with the most pernicious consequences to
our common country. live in a State in which
the institution of Slavery exists in which we
have stood by our Southern. brethren, and
will stand by them in the defence Of our
rights; and that if Slavery be not perpetual
the hand of Time will do more for the cause
than the misdirected efforts of philanthropy
or fanaticism. We may aptly say, when we
point to the ameliorat;ons wrought already by
Time in the condition of our slaves,
"Turno, quod optanti Divdm promittere ncmo
Auderet, volvenda dies attutil utro."
trust, Mr.. Chairman, that this topic may
no longer be the subject of agitation; for
feel assured that if it is continued it will over
whelm the institutions we have inherited from
our wise and patriotic ancestors, in irretrieva-
bic ruin.