The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-05-30
Misfelllnruns.
MR.. sEwARp's SPEECH.

We give below the eloquent conclusion Of
Mr.. SrwARD's speech in the Senate, on the
9th ult
Either YOU will not establish African slay-
cry in Kansas, or you will do it at the cost
ortbo sacrifice Of all the existing liberties Of
the American people. Even il slavery were,
what 1t is not, boon to the people of Kan
sas, they would reject it If enforced upon
their acceptance by Federal guns. The at
tempt is in conflict with all the tendencies
of the age. African slavery has for the last
fifty years been giving way, as we'll in this
country as in the islands and on the main
land throughout this hemisphere. The po-
litical power and prestige of slavery in the
United States is passing away. The slave
States practically governed the Union direct
ly for 6fty years. They govern il now only
indirectly, by the agency OF Northern hands,
temporarily enlistsd in their support. So
much, owing to the decline of their power,
they have already conceded to the free States.
The next step, ifthey persist in their pres
cnt course, viii be the resumption and exer-
else by the Free States of the control Of the
Government without such ccssions as they
have hitherto made to obtain il. Through
out a period of nearly twenty years the de-
tenders Of slavery screened 1t from discussion
in the national councils. Now they practi-
cally confess TO the necessity for defending
1t here, BY Initiating discussion themselves.
They have at once thrown away their most
successful weapon, compromised and worn
out tha. one which was next in effectiveness.
thrcnts or secession from the Union. /: Is
under such unpropitious circumstances that
they begin the new experiment Of fcxtending
slavery into free territory by force, the arm
el power of the Federal Government. You
will need many votes from free States in the
House of Representatives, and even some
votes from those States in this Housc, to
send an army with a retinue of slaves in Its
train to Kansas. Have YOU counted up the
votes in the two Houses? Have you cllcu-
lated how long those who shall east such
votes viii retain their places in the Nation
al Legislature? But will grant, for the
sake of argument, that with Federal battal-
ions you can carry slavery into Kansas, and
maintain il there. Are you quite confident
that this Republican Government can be ur-
held and preserved? You will then your
selves have introduced the Trojan horse. No
Republican Government ever has endured
with standing armies maintained in its
bosom to enforce submission to It's laws. \
people who have once learned to relinqulsh
their rights under compulsion, will not be
long in forgetting that they ever had any.
In extending slavery into Kansas, therefor"
by arms, you will sabvert tho liberties of
the people. Senator's of the free States (! !
appeal to you. Believe We the prophets? T? |
know you do. You know you do. You
know, then, that slavery neither work'
mines and quarries, nor founds cities, nor
builds ships, nor levies armies, nor mans
navie-. Why, then, will you insist on
closing up this new Territory OF Kansas
against all enriching streams Of immi-
grafton. while you pour into IL the tur-
bid and poisonous waters Of African saveryY 7
Which one Of you all. whether of COnnecti-
cut, or of Pennsylvania, or Of Illinois, or OF
Michigan, would consent thus to extinguish
the chief light Of civilization within the
State in which your own fortunes are cast,
ana in which your own pOsterity are to live
Why will you pursue a policy 80 unkind,
80 ungcnerous. and so unjust, towards the
helpless, defcncele,ss, struggling Territory Of
Kansas, inhabited as 1t is by your own
brsthrsn, depending on you Cor protection
and safety? will slavery in Kansas add to
the wealth or power Of your own States, or
70 the wealth, power or glory Of the rcpub-
lc' You know il win diminish all Of these
I You profess a desire to cnd this national de-
ha,e about slavery, which has become for
YOU intolenblc. Is il nott,m To relinquish
that hope? You have exhausted the virtue
for that purpcse, that resided In complcts
and platforms, in the Suppression Of the
right Of petition and in arbitrary parliament
tary Laws, and in abnegation of Federal au-
thoriiy over slavery within the National
! ITerrisoriss. VIII Won even then end the
debate by binding Kansas with chains, For
the s,fety of slavery in Missonrig Even
,hen you must give over Utah to slavery. to
make il sccare and permanent in Kansas !;
and you must give over Washington and
Oregon 70 both polygany and slavery, 50 as
TO guaranty equally the one and the other
Of those peculir domestic institutions in
1 Utah !; and yOu must 90 on, sacrificing on
the shrine OF peace territory after territory,
until the prevailing nationality Of ffeedom
and Of virtue shall be lost, and the vicious
anomalies which you have hitherto yainly
hoped Almighty Wisdom would remove from