Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-24
Modern state Legislation.

Inc coutSo VI the MASSACHUSETTS, Legislature
at It's present session, and OF the New York Leg
islature at the one which has recently terminated,
Is the subject OF severe adimadversion among
substantial people of both States. Although
Doth bodies are looked upon as the very worst
that ever assembled in either State vet both have
been rabd in the extreme on the subject of
slavery Both have been hasty, incautous, and
extravagant IN regard to temperance, seriously
damaging the cause which professedly they aimed
to promote. Mr.. Wendell Philips, an Abolition
orator OF the first rank, told his anti-s slavery au
dience at the Metropolitan Theatre, that he
would not allow single member of any Legis-
iature to be elected second time, from the GER
tainty that however fresh and pure at the outset,
they would be corrupted before the close of the
first term. lie must have had a very lust con-
ception OF the Legislature of Massachusetts, and
New York, but we ask him to look at the exam
pie furnished by the long experience of that por-
ton OF the Union which he daily stigmatises as
the slaye-hunting South. Members chosen for
their local Legislatures and for Congress- are no.
toriously returned for years together, not only
without single blemish upon their names, but
with the highest advantage to their constituents;
the result OF a conscientious and honorable expe-
rence in legislative duties. The difference re-
suits mainly from the fact, that the small mean
mon who have reached power through the tenn
perance and anti-slavery excitement, go into pub
nc life for objects of personal gain, while the
Southern legislator, pressed by the circumstances
OF his condition-surrounded by population
who are kept in restraint by the constant exercise
OF the power OF government-enters public life
to secure to the Southern States those blessings
OF quiet, peace, and order, which now 50 widely
prevail. We unfortunately have no predominant
interest to call for constant watchfulness, pru-
dence, and care; and the alarming fact develop
ed in the experience of Massachusetts, and New
York, stares us in the face, that most of those
who are sent to the Legislature Representatives,
hnnn unfit IN hnr IL. IA
single years experience in public service The
most eminent examples Of integrity in public life
among Southern men, are those of Randolph, of
Roanoke; of Mckay, Of North Carolina; and of
Calhoun, of South Carolina Whilst Northern
members yielded to the clamor of their constitu-
ents IN advocating such measures increased
the expanding power of the government, they
were invariably on the side Of economy, safety,
and care. Each Of these representatives was
continued in Congress from their year Of eligibility
to the close of long and useful life proving that
the great body of the people fully approved of
the principles on which they invariably acted.
If we are told that this policy was forced upon
them as the necessary result of their condition,
and that the opposite policy in the North proceeds
from our exemption from conspicuous dangers of
any kind existing among our population, does not
the fact OF the existence of uniform intelligence
and integrity in one quarter, and of uniform i'm
prudence in the other, show that the Union is
We ask Mr.. Phillips whether, if his views of uni
versal freedom were rapidly extended to an igno-
rant black population, the South would not soon
be lowered TO the same condition of legislative
degradation that we exhibit so as to require as
he thinks we of the North do, that representa-
tives as general rule should not be reelected,
What commentary is Mr.. Phillips speech on
our b0asted freedom He informs us that the
very experience which is required in the South
to fit men for public life, and which there is at
tended with the best results, is the worst pIepa-
ration in the North which our present represen-
tatives can possess.
The discussion which the slavery question
must now receive throughout the country, while
it Will develope instances of occasional hardship
and damage sufficient to affect weak minds will
in the end convince considerate men, that it fur
nishes a balance wheel to the action of the gov
eminent, and represses what would otherwise
constitute an irresistible popular movement pro-
ceeding from the ignorant demagogues in North
era States, who are annually hoisted from low
condition into public eminence and power
Journal Of Commerce.
What the Abolitionists think OF each
other, and what they think OF Southern
Men.
/ From the published proceedings of the late anti
slavery anniversary in New York
DIR. Snodgrass, Vice President of the Kansas
Emigration Society of New York, next took the
floor. He said he had never been able to act
with this (the Garrison) section of the anti
slavery party but still he would have done every
thing In his power to help it along. Their lead
ing principle was the dissolution Of the Union,
but that proposition was hitherto intangible and
indefinite. For one, however, they had a propo-
siton now before them to build an institution in
lieu of that which they would pull down This
IS question practical in its issue, and therefore,
for the hrst time, he could cooperate with the
Garrsonians. He proceeded to oppose the reso-
luton, referring to the Northern confederacy;
and in the course of his arguments remarked
that while Northern men in Washington and the
South were untrue TO their duties, and were
easily corrupted, Southern men were incorrupti-
BILE
Mr.. Burlegh, Indignantly Shareholders
are easily corrupted, too, and have 5000, 900 900
in the slave trade.
Mr.. Snodgrass. They are incorruptible, while
the Northern men skulk like set of bathrooms.
Mrs. Rose. Do you think that if the interest
was taken away from the South, so that the
holding slaves, that he would then be the self
sacrificing man for the sake of the principle of
slavery. [Appause]
Mr.. Snodgrass. will say this as the best an
swer | can give, that some of the men of the
South, who have not single dollar invested in
slaves, and who never expect to have-educated,
as they are, in the belief Of the Calhoun school,
that slavery is all right and Gods given institu-
tion--are among the most ardent, sincere, un-
hnching sustainers Of slavery.
Mrs. Rose. They may expect to have some
Mr.. Snodgrass. ! speak Of persons who have |
not dollar invested in slavery, and never ex-
pect TO have.
Mrs. Abby Kelly Foster. | would inquire |
whether the white people of the South are |
not the property in very considerable sense of
the shareholders whether the 5000 ,000, O09 of |
property does not control not only the action of |
the shareholders, but the conduct Of the non
saveholdersi whether the non-slaveholders are /
not completely subservient, from the very nature |
of the institution, to the slaveholders' 4
Mr.. Snodgrass acknowledged that to a very
great extent this so; but stated that the peo-
pie of the free States who have gone down South
are much worse, and place more barriers in the
way of progress than the Southern people them
selves. He appealed to the President to protect
him from further interruption. In answer TO
some suggestions Of Mr. Garrison, Mr.. s. asked
whether he did think they would have slavery or
freedom in Kansas, in Of the establishment |
Of Northern confederation
Mr.. Garrison. Freedom, of course
Mr.. Snodgrass. l am not so sure of that. Mr.
5. continued his remarks in relation to the pal