The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1854-01-04

question
MIR. SoLLERs.-I want to know what is the
subject before the House.
The CBAIRMAN.-The suIj is the reference
of the Presidents message.
Mr.. SoLLERs.-The gentleman from New 7 ork
is making an abolition speech. and do not its
relevancy to the question before the House.
The CHAIRMAN.-The gentleman from New
York is entitled to the floor, and he is in order.
Mr.. SMITH.-The gentleman from Maryland
says that l am making an abolition speech.
hope he will be patient under it. In turn, will
be patient under anti abolition speech.
1 will suppose, too, that there vas statute in
Turkey providing that every might be kid
mapped who is American born then. according to
this doeirine of the Administration, we could not
rescue American citizens if kidnapped in Turkey
But, sir, suppose the Secretary of State himself
were kidnapped, or even the President of the
United States? then, according to the doctrine of
the Administration, we could not reclaim either of
| these great men. Now, the suppositior that such
great men may be kidnapped ensas ed is by no
means absurd. The great Cervantes was en-
salVed; the great Arrago was enslayed; and it
may be that even those great men to whom have
|
such men casting their mighty influence for
African slavery, and for the multiplication of its
victims. know, that they dream not of the pos
sibty of their ever being enslaved-of that chalice
which they present to the lips of others being ever
returned to their own; and yet even such retri-
button, or one yet more terrible than this life can
afford, may be the retrbution for such stupendous
treachery and hostility to the human brotherhood.
| Napoleon, whO when at the zenith of his great
ness, had the noble but i'll -fated Touissaint l'Ou-
venture carried across the waters to die in prison.
little dreamed that he himself, in few short
years, would be carried across the waters to die in
prison.
Sir, that last great day, for which as has been
sublimely said, 'ali other days were made," when
men shall be judged for the deeds done in the bo-
dy, let me not be among the number of those, VINO
have welded civil power to bind and multiply the
victims of oppression. When consider the ten
dency of power to such perVerson, confess that
| shrink from possessing IT, lest l too might be
tempted to lend 1t TO the oppressor, instead of the
opposed. 80 l returned says the wise man,
land considered all expressions which are done
under the sun; and behold the tears of such as are
oppressed, and they had con.fDrter; for the
side of their oppressors there was power but
they had no comfort
Again, sir, this doctrine of the Administration
goes blot all over that page of history of which
Americans so proud. refer to that which re-
cords the brilliant achievements of Decatur and
his brave companions in tho Mediterranean. This
doctrine of the Administration, that we should do
to others would have them do to US, except
when under legal restraints; this doctrine, say
being right would justify the Alg-rines in that
case for insulting American citizens, and would
condemn US for chastising the Algeines; and, by
the way, let me say that they were very severely
chasised, considering that, being the most igno-
rant ofal classes of shareholders, they were the
least guilty.
Sir, this doctrine of the Administration goes to
condemn every that we have been en-
gagged il; for when have we waged war against
any others than thoeeacting under legal restraint"
When-tell me when! Alas! sir, what pitiable
spectacle does our Administration present in thus
wifuy corruptng Christianity for the sake of sa-
vipg so vile and abominabe thing as slavery. And
then, sir, what pItiable spectacle DO the Amer-
can people present in choosing such an admins
tration, and in remaining patient under it. How
deep, and broad, and glaring the brand of hypoc
risy upon the brow of the American people,
Here stands America, holding in ons hand that
blessed book, which declares that God ss has made
of one blood all the nations of men that dwell on
the face of the earth," and holding in the other,
that emphatically American paper which declares
that " All men are created equal :" and, at this
time her feet are planted on the necks of millions
whom she has doomed to all the horrors and ago
nies, and pollutions of slavery. Recollect too,
that America is the nation that owes more than
any other to liberty, and Christianity, and knowl-
edge, and that, therefore. she s bound to surpnss
every other nation in the enlightening and blessed
influences of her example, Other nations begun
their existence in unfavorable periods; they laid
their foundations in ignorunce and despotism, and
superstition. But knowledge, and liberty, and
Christianity waited upon the birth of America, land
breathed into her the breath of life.
But, sir, my hour is up and will bring my re-
marks to close. After all, the Administration
has done US good service in attempting TO quality
the divine command "do unto others we
would have others do unto u.s." In attempting
this for the sake of saving slavery, the Admins
tration impliedly admits that the naked COM
t go free.
But DO command of God is suceptible of qualif
cation at human hands; and this attempted qualif-
cation; therefore, falls 10 the ground; and the Ad-
ministration have, in effect, quoted the naked
command, and so joined the abclitionists, of whom
l am always ready to declare myself to be one
The Administration, in quoting this divine COM
mand, has quoted authority for destroying all sla-
very. I know that it did not quote it for this pur-
pose. 1t quoted it to serve purpose against
Austria and it lattered itself that, by means of a
few qualifying words it would shelter slavery from
] the force of the quotation. The Administration
D should have remembered that the Bible is holy
weapon, and is. therefore, fitted to anti-slavery,
t insead of o-slavery hands. 1t should have re-
{ membered that such weapon cannot be used
u without great danger of great detriment to a bad