Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-03-31

80
REMARKs BY JUDGE DoUGLAs.-The abolitionists
in the habit Of invaldating the nence Of Judge
Douglas, by imputing to him mercenary motives,
such as being influenced in his course by the pos
session of large plantation of negroes Mr. Wade,
of Ohio in the U. S. Senate made the same insin-
uation which drew from Judge D. the following
eloquent and affecting ~emarks:
Mr. President the Senator from Ohio Mr. Wadel
has invaded the circle of my private relations in
search OF materials for the Impeachment ofmy official
conduct He has alluded to certain southern interests
which he insinuates that possess, and remarked,
that where the treasure is there the heart is also
So long as the statement that was one of the larg
est shareholders in America was confined to the
Abolition newspaper and stump orators treated it
with silent contempt would gladly do so on this
OCCASION it not for the fact that the reference
is made in my presence by Senator for the purpose
OF lmputlng to me lnercenary motive for my official
conduct.
Under these circumstances, silence on my part in
regard 10 the fact, might be construed into confess
sion of guilt in reference the impea chmcnt of mo-
tive therefore say to the Senator that his insn-
uaon is false, if he has searched the records or
has any reliable information the subject. [ am
not the owner of slave and never have been, nor
have received, and appropriated to my own use
one dollar earned by slave labor 1t is true that
once had rendered to me under circumstances CRATE
ful to my feelings, plantation with large number
of slaves upon it, which | declined to accept not
because had any sympathy with Abotionists or
the Abolition movement hut for the reason that
being northern man by birth, by education and
IesiucHoc anu iliciulH Always TO remain Sucn, 1t
was impossible for me to know, understand and
provide for the wants, comforts, and happiness of
those people.
| refused to accept them because was unwilling
to assume responsibilities which incapable of
fulfilling. This fact is referred to in the will of my
tathcr-n-aw, as a reason for leaving the plantation
and slaves to his only daughter who became the
mother of my infant children, as her separate ex-
elusive estate with the request that if she departed
this life without surviving children the slaves should
be emanClpated and sent 20 Liberia at the expense
OF her estate but in the event she should leave
yving children, the slavcA should descend to them
under the belief, expressed in the WILL that they
would be happier, and better off witk the descen
dants OF the family with whom they had been born
and raised than in distant land where they might
find no friend to for them. This brief state
ment, relating to private and domestic affairs, which
ought TO be permitted TO remain private and sacred
has been eXtortcd and Wrung from with extreme
reluctance, even IN vnd!cltiUn of the purity Of my
motives, III the performance CT a high public trust.
As the truth compelled me negative the insnua-
ton so Extensively made by the Senator from Ohio
God forbid that | should be understood by any one
as being willing to cast from any responsibility
that now does, ever has attached 10 any member
OF my family SO long as life shall ast-and shall
cherish with religious veneration the memory and
virtues of the sainted mother Of my childreli-so
long my heart shall be filed with parental solicit
tude for the happiness Of those mothcress infants
l lmplore my enemies who rith!cSSy invade the
domestic sanctuary, to do the av,r to believe
that have no aspiration to be considered purer
better than she, who was they, who are slave
holders Sir, whenever my aSSaiiantS shall refuse to
accept a Ike amount of this species of property
rendered to them under similar circumstances, and
shall performs domestic with equal fidelity md
Observation-Disclosures it viii he time enou, for them to
impute merccnary motives TO me in the performance
ofmy official duties.