Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-07-09
REPLY OF SENATOR EVANS TO THE SPEECH OF
.Ss.Ns> ~ SENATOR SUMNER.

paid the Magistrate adveruslng.
REPLY OF SENATOR EVANS TO THE SPEECH OF
-. - - SENATOR SUMNER.
The speech of Senator Evans, of S2uth Caro-
lima, 10 reply to the late attack OF Senator sum
nei of Massachusetts, upon this State, las been
published, but its length does not permit US 10
present it to our readers entire.
Mr.. Evans reviews the question presented oy
the Nebraska Kansas bill, and the necessity OF
the territory TO the South; though, as he says:
zaThe South-the slave States-are not pro-
pasandists they are content with their inslltu-
fions as they are; they are content with that
form of civilization which exists amongst them
they desire not to extend it to New England, or
to any other portion Of the United States VINO
do. not choose to receive it" He urges, on this
point, " whenever you have sixty States IN thls
Union, three.fourths of them can alter the Con-
stltution, and abolish slavery everywhere. You
have thirty-one now; you want only twenty
nine. Where are they to come from! Kansas
and Nebraska can make six (; New Mexico WIN
make half as many California may be well d.
vided into three States; and there ls no douot
of the fact venture 70 say, that within the
next forty or ifty years. it will be accomplished
Upon the question Of slavery in the abstract
We nnd Inc fofoWlnS:
Mr. President, now propose to submit some
remarks on this hated subject of slavery. Sir
1 am not frightened by name. A wise iegls-
lator looks to things rs they are; and lie who
would legislate for. this great Republic must
look to it rs it is A state of things exist here
which, perhaps, exist nowhere else but 1t IS here'
and you must deal with it as wise honest man
should. ! do not mean in any remarks whlrh
shall make to rcproach Massachusetts, or any
other State or section of the world, on the sub
ieet of The slave trade 1t is true thai, ut least
no far rs South Carolina is concerned, we par
ticipated.v very little in It. Some few ships were
fitted ont in Charleston, but doubt if native
Of the State ever had any participation in it.
But, sir, reproach nobody for it. at that
period in the history of the world, it was thought
right There was concurrent testimony OF the
civilized world, that, to capture the wild savage
of Africa, and reduce him to state of subJec-
tion to feed and clothe him, and chrisianize him,
was no wrong! I,say, therefore, that lrcproach
no man for it. We followed only the popular
sentiment which prevailed in the world. But,
cir, I think we have a right to complain. and ii
Is the only complaint on this subject have TO
make, that if others have gone before US, II we
have been outsripped in finding out that this sys-
tenn was wrong, those persons who have been
thus fortunate will let US alone until We ourselves
become sufficiently enlightened to concur in their
opinion. This, we think, we have the right 10
ask : This is all We do ask.
..Lpropose to enter into no chronological inquiry
about the unity of the races. my own opinion,
my own judgment is, that we are nlt one-prob-
ably descended from common ancestor; but
that IS very immaterial. We find men different
T. . L. 90
would be If they we're not descended from
common ancestor; but in relation to the African,
no man in this House, and no man out OF it, can
say that there is any corner of this earth upoin,
which the African race are as well off, as well
provide d for, with more of the elements of hap
pincss, than in tho slave part Of these United
States: j assert it without the fear of contra
diction. ] know not from whence it has come; ;
but this know, that the Africans were slaves IN
the days of the Pharaohs; that nine out OF ten
of them are slaves in their native land; and that
in no country Of which am aware are they re-
ceiyed upon an equality with the white race.
In confirmation of the fact which have just
stated, that nine out of ten of them are slaves
in their own country, beg leave to refer to IN
incident in Parks travels in Africa. In the year
1895, after having visited the interior, when he
returned 70 the coast of Senegal, finding no
vessel bound for Europe, he. took passage in q
slave ship bound for Charleston. In that ship
there were one hundred and sixty Africans.
Having been a year in their coantry, he under
stood their language. and was able to converse
with them. He found that, of the whole one
hundred and sixty, only four had been born free
The rest were slaves. If any man desires to
know what is the state of slavery in Africa, lei
him read Park, and Lander, and the recent book
of Capt. Canot.
= Many of them ut the South are intelligent, al
though they have not much mental culture
certainly very little that is derived from books:
They are an improving people-mproving in
intelligence and in morals. Ihave no doubt thai
the time viii come when God will work out his
own problem in relation to Africa. Carlyle says,
/ think with some truth, that all the great events
in the history of man have geferally been pro-
duced by a single individual, or BY but very few;
that the great reformation in religion was pro-
duced by Luther; that Cromwell and his asso.
eiates in England produced wondrous change
in the nations of mankind, in relation 10 civil
and religious liberty that new impetus was
given TO this ball by the American Revolution,
Of which Washington was the chosen instru.
ment of Providence to accomplish.
Sir, for aught know, it may be that, in the
providence of God, in his own proper time, a
deliyerance WILDE worked out for this race. At
present they are not fit for it. but they going
on in Improvement, both mentally and morally.
Of one thing am sure-when that time arrives,
some more fit instrument will be used than
those who have now thrust themselves into this |
business. prematnrely and in manner wholly
unealled for: doubt very much whether Par.
SON Beecher will be chosen instrument in the
hands of God for The purpose of efecting this
Or any other great and beneficial change in the
affairs Of mankind.
Sir; as said before, nm not frightened by
namea. am not alarmed by the fear that ]
shalrbe held up in some future 4th of July
speech, or some college oration, or in the col.
umDs of some filthy newspaper, as the advocate
Of slavery. That has no terrors for me-
stand here to egislaie for this country rs it is.
If the institution Of slavery be m evil, to whom
ia it an eyiti Is it to the master? What in-
iurious effect does it produce upon him? Is he
NOT as much Of gentlemen, is he not as moral
a man, is he not MS pious and religious a man,
ia he not as, distinguished for all The cardinal
yirtuss, as The people Of any country on the face
of the earth If he is not, have not found ont
the fact. -
II il be ar, syil to The African, where, ask, is
his condition better? Is il 10 Africa? Let
Patk and the travellers in that country answer
the question. is his condition better in HayG,
q, Jamaica? Let those who desire correct In
formation on that point go to some fountain OF
f,ptb. and there they wilF6nd il. would re-
snrutn6ud every man who embarks in this con-
t,nvo,sv with the hone of bettering the condi-