The daily union., 1856-12-20


ton but the progress OF question like this which de-
peuds much upon asahcsm, human power cannot ssp
hope God in his mercy viii interpose before u 100
late, for fear the interposition OF man 10 useless
Mr. HALE He pretty near II In the last election
Mr.. CASS ! will not the name OF the Supreme
Being in eonnexion with elections This state OF ex
cemeDt III IL goes on, Will become crusade and leaders
enough like Peter the Hermit will be found 10 urge II on
ward That IL is which gives anxiety-whlch dimin-
ishe destroys almost the consoatory effects OF the disa
yowa and believe the honest disayowal, OF gentlemen
upon this floor that they do not TO attack slavery in
the States think the measures have enumerated WIN
lead TO a fearful result
But when IL Is recoected that this was small speck
upon the edge of the horizon few years ago. and has now
risen the zenith and the whole hemisphere every
reasonable attached TO his country will say there Is
for apprehension There also doctrines ad
vanced here and elsewhere, which augment the evil.
While the power to attack the States ID disavowed prin
cpes ncucaed which destroy the effect OF such dsa
vowal.
must say the honorable senator from New York Mr.
SEWARD has inculcated doctrine here which may lea
to the exercise Of any power by Congress II Known as
the higher law. When you advance the principle that
every in the community has the right TO measure the
obligation OF municipal law OF the county by the Divine
law and to reject the former on account OF It's ncompat
bty with the latter you make way for state of things
destructive of social order II becomes question, not
merely of the right of private Judgment but OF the right to
refuse obedience to any and all laws In this country if
such doctrine is assumed as practical one who can
doubt the increased excitement which would be given
all the opponents of slavery2 The human mind readily
receives impressions which fall in with the prevalent sub
ecs of agitation II the law Of God becomes to every
the rule of Judgment the transition TO the right to
interfere with slavery everywhere is very easy 1t
becomes not merely right but duty am referring to
the political, not to the ethical question acknowledge
the superior obligation of Gods law but deny that that
proposition gives to any the right to act contrary
the law of his country. Such doctrine would sweep off
your statute books for tell what NAY
lead men to do If man =. !. required by toe law
" w winch his conscience tells him is inconsistent
with the law of God he has right to sit still and become
a martyr, but right to become rebel insurgent
Society could not exist day this strange pretenson
the acknowledged rule of action.
Such is the proposition advanced upon memorable oc-
casion by gentleman of high position, and for whom
have great personal regard mr. SEwARD 1t is one of the
most pregnant signs Of the times. But have another
less dangerous and it is found in the views presented
by statesman who had filled the chair Of the chief mags
tracy of his country Mr. Adams member Of his family
published diary which he was In the habit of keeping
and In which he recorded the passing occurrences of the
day. freely expressing his views concerning them In this
diary is found the following passage:
As to the force of the term needfu he says IL OBJ
served 1t relative, and must always be supposed to
full to the constitution of the United Staeso any Of the
ends for which that contract was ormed2 Those ends
declared in its preamble to establish Justice for exam
Pile what be more needfu to the establishment Of JUS
ice than the interdiction of savery?'
Your constitution is not worth the paper which Is
written be turned from its true purposes by such
an upusable power Of construction and yet this is the
rule OF Interpretation laid down by who had filled
the first station in his country that Congress- by means
of the word neediu" in cause-and the principle is
just applicable to the word necessary found in another
promote the ends of justice Il Congress may believe in
the ofa few yearay in the ofa few months
that it would promote the ends Of justice to abolish slave
and IL Mr. Adams be correct nothing stands In the
of such legislation
In of excitement like that now prevailing in
ensve portions of country predisposed to
fall in with principle which would lead to the accom-
pshment of the great object they have in view. Its pro-
mitigation by distinguished becomes the spark APP
piled to the magazine and no human power can prevent
the explosion Men who believe that slavery is the great
crying evil of the world who know nothing of the crimes
and misery and wretchedness in their
but who charaby look abroad to arragn the conduct o
others who cannot the beam in their eyes, but
plainly discover the mote in the eyes of every else
who believe that the southern STAKEHOLDER is the great
in these latter days of the worldsuch need little
persuasion to follow yore doctrine to avorite
summation.
so much for the principles from which this power may
ultimately be deduced But what more2 heard this
floor most nammatory appeal to the passions Of many
OF countrymen from senator from Massachusetts Mr.
SUMNER Among other reprehensble language he used
the following expression "The rape Of virgin Territory
compelling IL to the hateful embrace Of slavery" Such
unpariotc metaphor betokens prurent imagination and
the language and sentiments unbecoming the place
and the circumstances But II Is just the kind Of language
calculated do its work of mschie and the speech
distributed with much industry used in its prep
araon believe that hundreds of thousands of copies OF
that production which contains this passage and many
others equally Objectionable sent through the
try during the last presidential contest II has claim to
be calm patriotic constitutional view Of the question
and of the rights of the South under the constitution but
panders the passions of the day and s Of the
upusthsble attacks upon the southern members OF
conedeacy that have been through the country
for the purpose of mischief
have before remarkable speech delivered in the
House Of Representatives at the last session. which carries
into practical operation the higher law What says Mr.
GRAsGER, Of New York, on this subject2
"And here, sir take occasion to say that the consu-
Sn give. 10 s' s for The
pointed out with irresistible clearness the claim II
be abandoned forever Sir all attempts to sustain slavery in
the constitution take for granted the legality Of slavery when
the constitution formed Without this assumption no
such claim would have been set But this
ton Is untrue the whole fabric OF slavery In the constitution
falls to the ground Sir II this glorious republican consu-
ton this glorious land Of liberty the asylum OF the oppress
ed this home OF the brave, and this land Of the Free take
sides with slavery, then confess do not understand II.
Sir the constitution both In spirit and express terms
pudates slavery and positively bars its existence Slavery
h war open war, the rights OF man. II is death to rights
psensole m very name was Offensive 70 the convention
very in the constitution Sir, II would be like migrating
wormwood into the tree OF lbertyp
And yet gentlemen tell there Is design to touch
the rights the southern States under the constitution
CT When such sentiments advanced by men In high
places OF Distinction sent here by the confidence
their ielowcitzens who doubt their effect In por-
tons OF the country predsposd to receive them avoraby
We have heard great deal about League with bell p
and union with slavebolders" Scarcely slave es-
crpss from the southern States when the
subject Of public copgraulaiion In many PARTS OF the
country The rights Of the wholly disregardcd
aud the constitutional obligation to surrender the -
gitve Religion too has been pressed into tie service Of
this attack upon the South The Shareholder excluded
from tho communion OF OF the churches becsrpe
possesses and holds property admitted be such IN the
State where he venot because he abuses uot because
he hard master but because under the laws Of bis
State he is Shareholder Thiss worthy Of Mohammedan