Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-04-29
Speech OF HON 2. 8 cLINGMAN,

Concluded
Now. sir. is universally admitted that the Con
stitution the United States itself had nothing 10
to support these anti-sapery views on the contrary
every single provision in that instrument IS pro
slaverythat is, for the protection, and DEFENSE ahe
increase of slavery For example, one OF them y INA
provision by which the slave trade was EXTENDED lol
twenty years, by which the Constitution expressly
forbade Congress to put stop to that trade for thai
period and under which provision most OF the ne
groes were brought into this country. That proyl-
sion it is well know, was adopted by the entire New
England vote in convention with the aid OF South
Carolina and Georgia, against other southern ana
: middle States.
But, Mr.. Chairman, admit that there are many
opinions against slavery expressed by individuals
such as Jefferson and others, as private persons,
and which have been referred to in the discussion OF
this question. No has more respect, than !
have for the opinions of the great men OF that day
all subjects in which they were 1uily
ms to facts hold their Authority on such Guestlons
ms entitled to the greatest weight But no man VIII
pretend that the world has not made prodigious
advance in knowledge since their time. NO sehsl-
bic or enlightened man would go back to Benjamin
Franklin philosopher as he was for information on
scientific subjects, adopt his views as to mechan
les electrical or steam machinery, in preference 10
many men of our day. But among all the great ad-
syances that have been made in human science
whether you take geology, chemistry, or any other
branch of knowledge-the greatest advance, per-
haps of all has been made in the science OF Gov
eminent and of the difference of the races OF men
In the last century, sir many of the leading men OF
the country looked doubt upon the negro as IN
every respect like white man, except that, by
some strange freak of nature the former had black
skin. That idea no longer prevails. The wnole
doctrine of negro equality with white men has been
exploded in day, not merely in the South, but
throughout the United States
The people of Indiana and of Illinois have recent
ly-and that, too by an immense majority-decided
against that equality; and have forbidden any ne
gro to enter into those States In the State OF Con-
necticut too when the proposition to enable negroes
to vote was submitted to the people of that State
few years ago, the question was decided by vote
of nearly four to one against the negro; and they
were refused the privilege of voting merely because
they negroes.
New York has recently done the same thing. In
fact there is not single free State where the issue
has been directly made the question of negro
equality, that the mass of the people have not de-
cided against it; nor can it be made without the
same result.
I happened, Mr. Chairman to be in Connecticut
when this vote was taken found that most of the
newspapers seemed to be the side of the negroes
and many of the literary men of the State and they
anticipated triumph; but when the votes of the
people to be counted, the result was altogeth
er the other way. Why, Mr. Chairman, if all the
literary the earth were to argue that the
rays of the sun the of darkness and cold
they never could convince eople who walk in this
glorious sunshine-that their theory was correct
They might &C lvnce those who live down in the
bowels of the earth-those who work in the coal
mines of Great Britain all their lives. So too these
Abolitionists may convince the people of England
of the equality of the negro to the white man. be-
cause they do not the negro and, in fact, know
nothing about him; but our Americans, who have
seen the specimens, cannot be thus humbugged.
say, sir that the idea of negro equality no longer
exists in the United States as fact care nothing
about theories how this difference is accounted
for. Some of the Abolition brethren, being soft
headed, and easily deudcd on all subjects for ex-
ample SAY that the negro is different from the white
of ofI
and want of opportunity to become civilized &C.
All history and fact is at with these ideas. The
negro has been placed by Providence in that coun-
try and climate most favorable to his health and
well-being, and his opportunities to mbibe OF ac-
qure the advantages of carly civilization were vast
ly greater than those of the northern barbarians
from whom we have ourselves descended. They
WERE more than four thousand years ago. in contact
with the Egyptians, the most enlightened nation of
antiquity. Afterwards the Carthagenians highly
intelligent Phcnican colony of white men, the first
people of their day, overran all Northern Africa
and brought some of the negro into subsection.
Then came the great Roman Empire which civilized
every thing else it touched but made no impression
upon the negroes The Saracens too, the first peo-
pie of the middle ages who gave light to the West
ern European nations, and who extended their con-
quests south of the Great Desert left.the negroes
where they found them-savagcs.
second class of inquirers as to the cause of the
difference between negroes and white men take
Biblical view of the question, and suppose that in
judgment of the Almighty, sentenced to be slaves
forever that it is but reasonable and natural that
there should be distinguishing outward marks in
their organ iZation.
The third class embracing almost all the great
men of science, hold that the negro race is spec-
cay different from the white race. | care not what
view gentlemen take, but the fact may be assumed
as settled in the American mind that there is ma
terlal difference between the negro and the white
man. As Canning said facts are Stubborn things.
There is higher lao, but it is the law CT nature
when God Almighty implants his characteristics
upon natural objects, man cannot change them If
political system is in accordance with those natu-
raj laws, it will be successful The American Con-
stitution has been well framed in accordance with
those principles. But on the other hand, in Mexi-
co and Jamaica, and in other places where thew
have undertaken to upset the law of Providence,
and to establish the doctrine of negro equality moth
ing but mischief has been produced
Since the time OF our revolutionary fathers these
great discussions, supported by innumerable facts
nave shaken the human mind to its centre, and |
brought 1T to conclusion of which they did not
dream. Hence their opinions are worth very little
In TINS debate. Let no man, MI. Chairman suppose |
such topics as am discussing are distractions
having no real weight These considerations. more
or less, are constantly acting the minds of men
and, in fact daily referred to by the opponents
OF the measure under consideration In another |
point OF view, too, there has been great change of
opinion during the present age | speak in refer !
ence to the proftableness of slave labor, and tho
prosperity of slaveholdng countries
The free States have fifty four majority upon this
hoor Under the old apportionment they had fifty-
one gam OF three members over the South in ten /
years Sir, during that time there have been about
Two millions OF foreigners added to the population
OIL TINS country by immigration, and nearly every
one OF these persons have settled in the free States
l,r,,ao