Demoine courier., 1855-09-06
Slavery.

George Washington, The Father Of his
Country. in a letter to La Fayet.e. writ
ten in 1899, the year before his death.
spoke Of the institution Of slavery as fol.
lows:
Il agree with you cordially in your
views in regard to Negro slavery. l
have long considered il q mos, serious
evil, beth socially and politically, and !
should rejoice in any feasible scheme 10
rid our States Of such n burden. The
Congress Of 1887 adopted an ordinance
which forever prohibits the existence Of
involuntary serviiude in our north. west
ern territory. l consider i, a wise mea'
sure; and though il was introduced by a
gentleman from New England it met
with the approval and assen, of nearly
all the members from the States more i'm
media,ely Interested in slave labor. The
prevailing opinion in Virginia is agains,
the spread Of slavery into our new coun
try, and | rus, that we shall ultimately
have 2 confsderacy Of free States.
would. al any time. gladly reIinluish ih e
RICH, Of property in my W slaves, If a
judicious system of emancipation could
be devised"
James Madison. in the convention
Which formed The Constitution Of the
United States, objected 10 the word
''slave' being used in the clause which
was inserted for he rendition Of fugitives.
His objections were agreed to by lhe con.
v%ention, and the milder term Of s.persons
owing service or labor applicable alike
10 white apprentices ard black slaves,
was pu, 10 our constitution. MI. Madi.
son said on that OCCASION:
81 object to the word slave appear
ing in Constitution which. | trust. is 10
be the charter OF free .om to unborn
millions: nor would | willingly prepe,u-
ate the memory ct the fac, that slavery
ever existed in our country. II is a great
evil; and under the providence of God !
look forward 10 some scheme Of eman-
cipa,ion which shall free as from it,
Do not, therefore, lie, Us appear rs If we
regarded j, perpetual, by using in our
free Constitution an odious word oppos.
ed 10 every sentiment OF liberty"
Daniel Webster, in his Marshield
speech, Sept. 18th, ls4s, when alIuding
10 the men who then held the same posi-
ton on the question Of slavery extension
which is now held By Nebraska Demo.
Gratis, said:
IL am afraid, fellow citizens, that the
generation Of 'Jough.faces' will be rs
perpetual as the generation of men
For nv part | 'hink that dough face is
an epishet no, sufficiently rerfoachiul.--
think such persons are dough faces
and dough-heads aud dough souls. that
they are all dough; that the coArses, pat.
tern may mould them at pleasure TO YES.
sells OF honor or dishonor, but mos, readi.
ly 10 vessels Of dishonor."
Mr.. Clay, 10 his las. great speech in
the U. S. Senate, said:
IL repeat it, sir, | never can, and never
will, and no earthly power can make
me. vote directly or indirectly. 10 spread
slavery over territory where j, does moi
exist. Never, while reason holds her
seat la my brain-never, while the hear,
sends the vital fluid through my veins
never"
Thomas n.iBenton said, in the Unite d
States Senate, tina. the "enactmeut Of the
Missouri Cempromise" was:
1.-The highest, the mos. solemn. the
most nomeItous, the most emphatic as
isertion Of Congressional power over slave
ry in a territory which has ever been
made or could be conceived. Ii no, on
ly prohibited it where j, could legally be
carried. but forever prohibited j, where
IL had lopp existed"