The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-25

subiects over which they have constitutional
jurisdftion No persons act in this BODY but
member; and the charge Of the President is,
that 1asn5es y Congress hare dgitated the subject
cfenznciDatioH IN the Southern States.
Now, sir, have served long in this body and
have been regarded as the most ultra Anti
Slavery member for nearly twenty years and if
fhe President intended to involve any present
member In this charge, he doubtless referred to
Ime. viii say very frankly, that 1 never pre-
sented petition, resolution, BILL proposition or
motion, nor have ever proposed negro emanci-
patton in the Southern States, in any speech
ever delivered in this body; nor do l think such
proposition was ever made or presented in
either branch of Congress. On the contrary, in
almost every speech ever made in this House,
L have taken Care % denyall constitutional power
TO interfere with Slavery in the States, either to
uphold or destroy it.
Sir, my life has not been spent in the dark
corners of the earth. | have often spoken in this
body; / have written much but in no writing
or speech, made here or elsewhere can any man
lay his hand on a proposition for emancpating
the slaves of our Southern States by Congress
sional legislation. wish we had the power, and
the independence 10 use it | would at once vote
10 strike the letters from the limbs of every hu-
man being upon Gods footstool.
But, sir, suppose Northern men had really
believed Congress possessed the power 10 eman-
cipate slaves in the Southern States, would they
have felt it their duty to consult the President
upon the propriety of speaking their sentiments
Thank God, We are not amenable to that officer.
We hold our seats here from the people; our
commissions are from power higher than that
which he holds. To that power we acknowledge
fealty, but not TO the President
But, sir, while the history of Congress can
show no assertion of right in Congress> to carry
Freedom into the slave States, our records show
numerous iHstances~in which members from
slave States have asserted the right to carry Sa-
Usry INTO free States. | think il was in 1898,
that distinguished member of this body from
Virginia Mr.. WISE asserted the right of slave
holders TO carry slaves upon the soil Of our free
States. Indeed, Virginia, in her sovereign capa-
city, now claims that right, and is contesting
case in which that question is involved.
In l649, distinguished member from Geor-
gia Mr.. TooMBs asserted on this floor that it
was the constitutional duty of our Federal Gov
crnment to sustain the Shareholders possession
of his slave wherever the American flag NAV
float; and since that gentleman has held seat
in the Senate, he has outraged the feelings of
New England and the whole North, by declaring
that he will "yet call the roll of his slaves
under the shadow of Bunker Hill monument -
that he will pollute that holy ground which drank
the blood Of Warren and his compatriots, while
fighting for Freedom by the footsteps of Gods
image In manaclesl
Sir, these men had the right TO speak their
sentiments-to unfold their moral powers-and
utter the doctrines which they hold TO be true.
They were as independent of the President as
that officer was of them. They were no more
responsible 20 him than he was to them; and
stand here to defend the freedom of speech, both
to the North and the South. And however OPP
posed their views were TO my own, they had a
perfect right to utter them. But where slept the
thunder of the President when these doctrines
of enslaving the North were put forth Are all
his reproaGhes reserved for the advocates of Lib
ertyi Has he no reproof for those who would
carry Slavery into his own native State? Is he
willing to hear the clanking Of chains upon the
granite hills OF New Hampshire? Sir, -epudi-
ate and denornce such impertinence, let it come
from what quarter it may was sent here to
think my own thoughts and speak my own words
and give utterance to my own doctrines, without
asking permission of the President or any other
human being.
Not content with reading this lecture to Con-
gress he goes one step further, and assails the
people for agitating the question of negro eman-
cipation IN the Southern States. | am sorry to
have heard members of this body, and of the
Senate, apologize for those people of the free
States who discuss the cause OF universal eman-
cipation. shall speak of them in no apologize
terms. l assert their clear and constitutional
right TO agitate this subject phen they please and
phere they please within those States They are
the soyereigns OF the land, and the President is
their servant-they the potter, and he the clay
and neither he nor Congress can deprive them
of the right TO speak, discuss, and agitate, any
subject they please.
Why, sir, Southern preachers, and members Of
this body, insist that Slavery is ordained of God
hat Abraham was the father of the faithful that
req was STAKEHOLDER, and a slave dealer, as the
ttleman from Georgia Mr. STEPHENS said at
& last session and, according to his theory, he
Mt have added that Abraham was also a
kbreeder, for he had many " servants" born
his own house. He further declared that
Abraham was justified" He forgot TO add,
that he was justified /" By fdih,' and not by such
works. While be, and Southern preachers are
holding up these doctrines so revolving to Chris
tianity, their compeers in Utah were proclaming
that Polygamy was also established by divine
authority; and Brigham Young with his retinue
Of three-score wives, cites Abraham as a Polyga-
mist, and insists that he was the servant of the
"Most High" and was justified, not by faith, but
by his works. Both he and the gentleman from
Georgia look round upon us who worship God
of purity and justice, and with emphatic gusto
ask Haze rrenOt Abraham 10 father ?" Laugh
ter. For these advocates of Slavery and Polyga-
my, the President has no word of reproof His
wrath falls only those who assert the holy
truth, that all men are endowed by their Creator
with the right 10 life and liberty
rcSeutiy eaW statement OF the amount OF
money expended by our Southern Aid Socie-
ties" during the past year. Northern Christians
and pbilanthropists raise money in the free
States, to enlignten the heather of India of the
Sandwich Islands, and of the three millions of
enslaved people in our Southern States They
put forth their efforts and spend their money to
extend the lights of civilization and Christianity
10 all those who are cropping in moral darkness ;
Hnd while they are doing this, is the President TO
<assall and denounce them for agtating the SUBJ
Ject, and discussing the evils of barbarism?
II has been asserted, on the opposite side Of the
House, that radical Abolitionists voted with the
Republican party. / wish it were so. | think
that duty requires them TO vote with US; but
should not apologize for any association with
them; particularly, | would not apologize 10
men who insist on carrying Slavery into our free
States Nor have any apology for Garrison and
Phillips, and those old school Abolitionists who
refuse TO vote under our Federal Constitution. be-
cause they regard it as upholding Slavery They
have the same right to entertain their own hon
est opinions that the President has to enioy his.
They have the same right TO proclaim their doc
trines which the President has to avow his He
has no moro right to reproach them than they
have TO reproach him. Errors of opfnion y
says Jefferson, "may be safely tolerated, where
truth is left free 10 combat them" The popular
feeling of the North has been too long held in
subsection TO slaveholding dictaton. Submission
TO the Slave Power has been carried so far that
even judge in my native State has substantial
ly decided that a STAKEHOLDER NAV bring and
hold his slaves upon the soil of the keystone
State. ] feel hunbled at this degradation, this
servile submission TO the propaganda of Slavery.
would say TO the people, speak out your senti-
ments freely, but kindly; in the spirit of manly
independence and Christian dignity, avow your
<e,sr< i