The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-05-09
Judge Douglas and His Slaves.

EdHuCG Prom HtS OprccH on tHe Dhl 10
ProtectOGcers and other Persons acting
nnder The Authority of The United States,
4 inrep!y to Senator Wade, OF Ohio.
( Mr.. PRESIDENT: The senator from OHIO
Mr.. Wade] has invaded the circle of my
private relations in search OF materials
for the impeachment OF NY official action.
lie has alluded 10 certain southern inter.
ests which he insinuates that | possess,
and remarked, that where the treasure is,
there the heart is also. So long as the
statement, that WIS one Of the largest
shareholders in America, was confined to
the abolition newspapers end stump ora.
tors, treated it with silent contempt. !
would gladly do so on this occ aston, were
il not for the fact that The reference is
made in my presence by senator for the
purpose Of impu,ng TO me a mercenary
motive Tor my official conduct. Under
these circumstances. silence on my part
in regard to the fact, might be construed
into confession of guilt in reference to
the Impeachment of motive. | therefore
say to the senator, that his insinuation is
false and he knows it to be false. if he
has ever searched the records or has any
reliable Information upon the subject. |
am not the owner Of slave. and never
have been, nor have ever received, and
appropriated to my own use, one dollar
earned by slave labor.
|, is true that | once had rendered to
me, under circumstances grateful to my
feelings, a plantation with large number
of slaves upon it, which | declined to ac-
cept, not because | had any sympathy
with aboli,ienists or the abolition move.
ment; but TOR the reason that, being
northern man by birth, by education and
residence, and intending always TO re-.
main such, it was impossible for ms to
know, understand end provide for the
wants, comforts and happiness OF those
people. / refused to accept them because
was unwilling to assume responsibilities
which was incapable OF fulfilling. This
fact is referred to in the will Of my father
in.law, as reason for leaving the plan
ta,ion and slaves to his OILY daughter.
who became the mother OF my infant
children as her separate and exclusive
estate, with the request that if she depart
ed this life without surviving children, the
slaves should be emancipated and sent to
Liberia at the expense of her estates; but
in the event she should leave surviving
children, the slaves should descend TO
them, under the belief. expressed in the
will, that they would be happier and bet
ter off with the descendants of the family
with whom they had been born and raised.
than in distant land where they might
find no friend 10 care for them. This
brief statement, relating 10 private and
domestic affairs, (Which ought to be per,
mi,tsd to remain private and sacred, has
been extor;ed and wrung from me with
extreme reluctance, even in vindication
OF the purity Of my motives in the per
formence Of high public trust.
As the truth compelled me 10 negative
the insinuaton so Extensively made by the
Senator from Ohio, God forbid that !
should he understood by any one as being
willing to cast from me any responsibility
that now does or ever has attached to any
member Of my family. So long as life
shall last-aDd | shall cherish with reli-
gious veneration the memory and virtues
Of the sainted mother of my children-so
long as my heart shall be filled with pa
rental solcitude for the happiness Of those
motherless infants, implore my enemies,
who SO ru,hlessly invade the domestic
sanctuary, to do me the favor 10 believe.
that have no wish, no aspiration. 10 be
considered purer or better than she who
was. or they who are. slaveholders. Sir.
whenever my assailan's shall refuse TO
accept like amount OF this species ol
property rendered to them under similar
circumstances, and shall perform do
mes,lc trust with equal fidelity and disin-
tereste dness, it will be time enough for
them TO impute mercenary motives TO me
in the performance ol my official duties