Washington telegraph., 1855-12-26

OF their country. and then conquered from
the savage this fair and noble portion of it.
did not know, then, that these were pecu-
liar men. but | have learned that we'll
enough since. The sons and daughters Of
these men were the playmates Of my earli-
est years. as they haze been the friends and
companions of my subsequent life: l ex-
pect to mingle my dust with theirs hope
their children and mine viii lay me in an
honored grave and my children's children
already stand before me side by side with
theirs. / have differed offen-sometimes
fercely-with these men: have differed
with them about many aspects of this
very question Of domestic slavery. But.
Sir. what is slavery to be compared
with the lives, the fortunes, the honor, the
safety OF these men What is the fate of
handful of poor Africans TO NE. compared
with the fate Of these men =? And SO we
all feel tell you. Sir. it was mainly one
turn of this deep. intense. hereditary feel
ing which prevented this State six years
ago, and prevented it again fifty years be-
fore that-and prevented it at first, sixty
three years ago-from initiating system
Of gradual emancipation. I'VE will not
separate ourselves from the slave States of
the South We will not forsake those who
share common peril with u.s. Such was
their language if not wise, surely most
fatal. And, when the peril is now fearful
ly augmented. and when every just and
manly heart revolts at the perfdy Of the
pretexts and the baseness of the methods
resorted to. is there much reason to expect
that these men will change their nature !
Do you imagine that no stronger bond ex-
lists between these people than exists be-
tween the factions which revel in the vitals
of your own great State? Since the world
began. nc bond ever existed save amongst
Gods ancient people. which bound every
man to his fellow, every State to all the
rest. and all the States to the nation whose
liberties they had conquered, like the boud
which pervades these fifteen Slave States
They will stand by each other, they will
stand by their country, they viii stand by
every man and every party that stands by
the Constitution. Ii it be possible, they
will preserve cur National Institutions pre-
c:sely as they received them from their fa.h-
ers. If inexorable necessity oblges them
TO do it. they viii b2Stise those institutions
n the blood of traitors. At the last extrem-
ity, they viii perish, sword in hand. bat
they will never subvert the institutions OF
their country. nor will they permit you to
do it, without struggle worthy of their
great descent
The foregoing extracts contain the pith
of Mr Disadvantages letter, which is dis
tincuished throughout by unusual ability,
and is both moderate in tone and candid
in argument Mr. B. concludes his let
ter with the expression of the following
sentiments
The question which the American peo-
pie must nov settle, is no less than this
are they desiroas, and are they capable, in
the Few posture Of affairs and opinions. of
continuing any longer one united and great
people ! This question as | view it. is one
wholly independent of any consideration
touching the nature Of Slavery and it is
the evil passions of men, and not The essen
;ial nature OF slavery at all, by which the
people are hurried forward to the ruin OF
their country. Let Slavery be what il
may. it affords 10 rational ground of itsel.
for the separation of the States. and civil
war; and every good, wise, and patriotic
man, let his opinions about Slavery be what
they may, ought to be ready TO crush every
political party which intimates that it does
And such is my faith in human nature, in
the destiny of my country. and above all
in the overruling Providence of God. that
confidently trust we viii be found to hurl
from power, and to cover with public iudig-
nation, every party that shall dare to wag a
tongue against tie great national safeguards
of our independence. our freedom, aud our
progress.
You. Mr. Seward, have much apparent
right to speak in The name of New York
have none TO speak in the name of the
State of Kentucky Yet there are instincts
in the breasts OF upright men which seldom
err, and there are grand truths which can
not be concealed, and will not perish Now,
mark my words New York. the greatest
of the Free States, has the least interest Of
all that slavery should be abolished. Ken
tucky. the most exposed of all the great
slave States has the least interest of all that
slavery should continue. New York will
not abide by your principles-kentucky
sciU abide by mine"