The daily union., 1854-03-04


mpous" BY such men Washington suEfouDded,
while from his own Virginia the voice OF Patrick
Henry amidst confessions that he master OF slaves.
crying will not, cannot justify IT, However culpa
bic my conduct, viii so Tar pay my deyoir to virtue
TO own the excellence and reclude OF her pvecepls and
lament my want OF conformity 10 them" Such words
as hese hy coming from our leaders, belong 10 the true
glores OF the country.
While sncb preeedents boast at home,
Keep thy fabricius and thy Cato Rome !!
The earliest Congress under the constitution adopted
tory, and thus ratified the prohibition OF slavery in all
the existing Territories of the Union In the list OF those
who sanctioned this act were fresh from the abors
OF The conventlOD and therefore familiar with its policy
But there IL another voice which bears testimony ia the
same direction. Among the petitions presented TO the
Sns sv "i FSanhn Z.
dent This venerable vOlary OF freedom, who through
out long life had splendidy served his couny Al home
and abrOsd-who as statesman and philosopher had
won the admiration of mankind-who had TsyisAed the
lightning from the skies and the sceptre from the tyrant
whose name sgned TO the Declaration OF Independence
added Importance even 10 that great instrument and
then again signed to the constitution of the United States,
filled it with the charm OF wisdom-in whom than
IN any other man. the true spirit OF American institutions,
al once practical ana humane, was lmtodled-WhO knew
intimately the purposes and ASPIRATIONS OF the founders
this veteran statesman then eghiyiour years OF age ap
al the bar OF that Congress- whose powers he had
helped TO define and establish and by the last political
act ol his long life soemnly enlreated "tha it would be
pleased 10 connenance the restoration OF liberty TO those
unhappy men, who alone in this land of freedom are
step 10 the very verge OF the power vested in for DIS
cogRAoSo every species Of traffic in the persons Of our
fell0w-men" +" Only short time after utering this
prayer the patriot sage descended to the tomb bui he
seems s, to call upon Congress- in memorable words,
10 step TO the very verge OF the powers vested in it to
discourage slavery; and this prayer sounding from
the tomb Of franklin proclams the true national policy
of the fathers Not encouragement. but encouragement
Of slavery its nasonaIsaion, but its dsnaonasa
The memorial OF Franklin, with other memorials of a
similar character was referred to committee and much
debated in the House. which finally sanctioned the fol-
lowing resouon and directed The TO be entered
upon it's journals: e
That Congress have authority interfere in
emancipation OF slaves, or in the treatment Of them within
Of the Staes It remaining with the several States
provide any regulations heren which humanity and true
policy may require"
This resolution. declaring the principle OF non inter-
venton by Congress with slavery in the States, was
adopted BY the same Congress which had solemny al
rmed The prohibition OF slavery in all the existing terri
tory OF the Union and not only by the same Congress,
the session. thaone may be regarded the
complement of the other and is these double acts,
at the first organization OF the government. and the
corded sentiments OF the ounders that take my stand,
and allenge all question.
AT this time there strictly no dividing line in the
country between anti slavery and pro slavery The anti
slavery sentiment was thoroughly national, broad, aud
general, pervading alike all parts OF the Union, and up
sing from the common heart OF the entire people The
pro slavery interest strictly personal and pecunary
and had lis simply in the selfinefest Of individual
Shareholders. i, contemplated slavery only domestic
institution, not as political element and merely stpu
lated for its security where i actually existed within the
States
Sir the original policy of the country begun under the
confederation, and recognised at the initiation OF the
government rs clear and unmisakable. Compendously
expressed, II by Congress with sIa
very the States and its prohibition all the national do
main. In this way the discordant feelings on this sub
ect reconciled Slave masters were left al home in
their respective States TO hug slavery. under the proec
ton OF local laws, without any interference from Con-
gress while all opposed TO 1T were exempted from anyre
sponsibsy therefor in the national domain. This er,
the common ground which political fabric
reared and do hesitate say that il is the only
ground on which It can stand IN permanen, peace
II is beyond question, sr, that constitution was
framed by the lovers of human rights that it ami
mated by their divine spirit; that the institution OF sa
very regarded by them with aversion that,
though coverly alluded TO, it not named in The in
strumen,; that according TO the debates in the
ton, they refused TO give any sanction" and looked
forward TO the certain day when IT would be oberaed
from the land, But the original policy Of the government
did not long prevail. The generous sentiments which
filled the ear patriots. giving 10 Them historic grandeur
ng already secured to themselves the reemen of the
land grew indifferent 10 the freedom OF others They
ceased TO think OF the slaves The slavenas,es avaed
themselves of this indifference, and though lev in num-
bers compared with the the slave
Sales (according 10 the late they fewer than
three hundred ihousand) they have under the influence
OF imagined selinterest, by the skul tactics OF par
| iy, and especially by undertaking, perseveriDg
union among themselves-swaying by turns both the
great political partes-succeeded, through long sue;
OF years, in obtaining the control OF the national
government bending TO their purposes, compelling II 10
do their WILL and imposing upon Ii policy friendly TO
slavery offensive to freedom only and directly opposed
| TO the sentiments OF its founders. Our republic has
swollen in population and power bat il has shrunk in
character IL is not what IL at the beginning
republic merely permitting while regretted slavery
,oeaung It only where could not be removed and in
ierdictIDg it where 1t did not exis-but mighty propa
gandis openly iavoring and vndIcatng visiting, also.
with dspleasure all who oppose Il.
Sir our country early reached heights which il could
not keep Its fall was gentle but complete. AT the ses-
sion of Congress Immediately following the ratification of
the prohibition OF slavery in the national domain
fer OF the territory constituting Tennessee
cepled from North Carolina, (Apn q 1900 loaded with
the express condition that regulation made, 10 be
made, should tend 10 emancIpa,e slavesa formal pro-
vision, which, while admitting the power OF Congress
slavery in the Territories, waived the prevailing
policy OF executing it, This followed, in 1895, by
ent western limit and the Mississippi, under similar
condition In both these apology may be found
in the very terms OF the transfers, and in the fact that
the region constituted part OF two States where slavery
actually existed though will be confessed that even
here there descen, from that summit OF freedom
which the nation had proudly rested:
--s From morn
To noon he fell from noon TO dewy eve
A summers day, and with the setting sun
Drop'd from the zenith like falling star
But without tracing this downward through it's
successive stages lei refer 10 facs which too papably
reveal the abyss that has been reached Early 10 our
hi ory, disqualified Tor public Office by
son OF hs opnlens this subject, and this condition
continued fof a long period As late as 1921, John w
TAYLOR from New York, who had pressed
with much energy, net merely the prohibition OF sla
very in the Territories, but its restriction In the State OF
Missouri was elected to the char OF Henry Clay, as
!