The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-03-08
THE ADAPTATIONS OF SLAVERY.
SPEECH OF WILLIAM H. SEWARD
SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
Bal 10 Protect Officers Of tie United States.
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NR. PREsIDRyTI

".
The scene before me, and all its circumstances
and incidents, admonish me that the time has
come when the Senate of the United States is
about to grant another of those concessions,
which have become habitual here, to the power
of Slavery in this Republic. For the second time,
In period OF nearly three months, the brilliant
chandelier above our heads is lighted up the
passages and galleries are densely crowded all
the customary forms Of legislation are laid aside.
The multifarious subjects, which have their rise
in all parts of this extended country, are sudden
ly forgotten, in a concentration of feeling upon
single question of intense interest. The day is
spent without adjournment. Senators, foregoing
their natural relaxation and refreshment, remain
in their seats until midnight approaches. Ex-
citement breaks out in every part Of the Chamber.
EXAMINATIONS and determinations, and denuncia-
tons of Senators individually, and Of Senators by
classes, equally of those who have participated
in the debate, and of those who have remained
SILENT CRATE harshly upon the ear. Such as these
were the incidents that heralded the passage of
the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Such az these
attended the abrogation of the MISSOURI Com
promise in 1854 know full well that the fall
of Constitutional Liberty is as certain to follow
| these incidents occurring now, as it followed the
| like incidents on the sad occasions to which
have referred. And for aught know, the teem-
| ing gun, which proclaimed those former triumphs
| of Slavery, is already planted again under the
caves of the Capitol, to celebrate another victory
| Ny course, on this occasion, has been the same
as on all former occasions of a like character
have forborne from engaging in the debate, until
near the end of the controversy, that the country
may know who it is, and who it is not, that dis
| turbs the public harmony, and breaks the public
peace, by the agitation of Slavery in these Halls ;
| and shall speak now, less in the form of an ar
gument against the bill before u.s. than of pro-
| test, upon which shall take my stand, to abide
the ultimate judgment which shall be rendered
| by the American People.
For myself, there is painful association con-
| nected with the rise of this debate. | arose in
my place at eleven o'clock this morning. stimuli
| taneously with the honorable Senator from Con-
| necticut, Mr.. ToUcEY, and each of us demanded
| an audience, which was assigned by the Chair to
him. He announced this bill, which, however
obscure in its language, was, as we all instantly
knew designed for the protection of officers of
the United States who are engaged in executing
the Fugitive Slave Law On the other side, I
held in my hand proposition, to be submitted
| to the Senate, for the erection of a bronze monu-
ment, fifty feet high, in the city Of Washing
ton, which should illustrate the life and the
death of THOMAS JEFFERSON, and commemorate
the immortal names Of the Signers of the Decla-
ration of American independence. 1t was a new
acknowledgment which was about to ask from
the Senate of the United States to the great fact
on which the liberties of this country and all its
| Constitutions rest---that all men are created
equal. Sir, the success which the honorable
Senator from Connecticut Mr.. ToucEY] obtained
over me, when the floor was assigned to him,
was ominous. The Senate Of tho United States
will erect no monument to the memory Of JBT-
FBRsoN who declared, that, in the unequal contest
between Slavery and Freedom, the Almighty had
no attribute which could take part with the OPP
pressor. But the Senate will, on the other hand
promptly comply with the demand TO raise an
other bulwark around the institution of Slavery
Mr.. President as there 10 nothing new in the
circumstances of this transaction, 30 it has hap
pened now, as all similar occasions hereto
fore, that everything foreign from the question al
issue has been brought into the debate. The in
PRODUCTION of these foreign matters has, as here
tofore, been attended with profusion OF re-
! proaches and calumnies and epithets, as inappo-
site to the occasion as they are inconsistent with
} the decorum and dignity of an august Legisla.
ture. Those of us upon whom such denuncia
| tons, calumnies, and epthets, have been show
! cred, have endured them long, and | think NJ
I one will deny that we have endured them pa
, tiently. To such Senators as have given utter
) ance to their opinions in that form of argument
|. | make, for myself, only this reply-that tina
field of debate is relinquished exclusively Il
] themselves Now, on similar occasions here
tofore the relations of political parties and thei
, respective merits and dement's, have enteret
iargeiy INTO the discussion. SIR, shall forbea
from entering into that part of the debate for th
8 reason that am addressing, not politicians, blu
e statesmen. So far as the jnstice or expedienc,
{ of the measure under consideration is concerned
( | it can make no difference whether those who ad
vocate it or those who oppose it are Wings or ar
Democrats, or belong to that new class of mel
. who are popularity called Know Nothings. Argu
' ments based on such grounds may have thei
j weight somewhere else-outside of this Cham
r ber-or possibly up here-[pointing to the gal
leries but certainly not down here. Inquistio
has been made concerning the circumstances an
influences which attended the recent elections
: members not only of this House, but Of the Hous
. Of Representatives, for the purpose, ss it seems