The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-16


ded from the Territories. South of Mason and
Dixon's line, this is called State Equality" We
are taught different system of addition in the
free States; but, according to Southern calcu-
lations, our arithmetic is all wrong
Kansas and Nebraska constitute the balance of
the Louisiana purchase; and, if they were made
free States, there would be an equal division of
this territory between the North and South.
Against this the South are contending. Not
satisfied with three fourths, as the division now
stands, they claim Kansas for Slavery; and this,
sir, notwithstanding it was pledged to Free
DOM thrty-six years ago, in consideration for
the admission of Missouri as slave State. And
because the North will not tamely submit to this,
they talk of aggression on the part of the free
States, and threaten dissolution of the Union.
The people of the North are not given to brag-
ging or to threats. They have other modes of
proving their courage and patriotism. They ap-
peal to history. If ever an attempt should be
made to dissolve the Union of these States, be-
cause Slavery is not allowed to spread over free
Territories, presume the North will demonstrate
not only their love for the Union, but their ability
| to maintain and defend it.
The mania of Slavery extension has seized the
| entire South, and taken possession OF the Demo-
cratic party-once the advocate of Freedom and
Equal Rights. To secure the extension of this
| giant evil, the Missouri Compromise was repudi-
ated, and the fires of agitation rekindled through
| out the land. The embankment against the fur
| Their spread of human bondage, erected in 1920
| by our patriotic ancestors, was broken down at
| the command of the Slave Power, and the faith
of the nation violated. compact as sacred as
the Constitution has been broken, and for the
purpose of making Kansas a slave State.
| The South claim Kansas for Slavery. We can
| not consenti We will not consentl Knowing
that God is the avenger of wrong we dare not
consent. BY no agency of ours shall this beau
tiful Territory be made desolate by the touch of
| Slavery. Knowing how our forefathers, appeal
ing to God for the " rectitude of their actions"
| implored his assistance In their great struggle
for Liberty, we dare not offer up different prayer
| now. Knowing that the God of Liberty gave us
| the victory then, we dare not mock and insult
Him now-as we should do by tamely consent
| ing to the enslavement of Kansas. We make no
war upon the South-we only defend against her
| warfare. They fight for Savery-we for Liberty.
We ask them to look upon the effects of Slavery
| in the slave States. We ask them to compare
| the free States with their own. We ask them to
turn back few years. and read what their own
statesmen said, and then blame us for desiring
| Freedom for Kansas.
Governor Randolph, in his address to the Vir-
ginia Legislature, in 1920 said:
ave have been far ous,ripped by States 10 whom ma
lure has been far less bountfu II is painful consider
what might have BEEN under other circumstances the
| amount OF general wealth in Virginia.
Mr.. Curtis, in speech in the Virginia Legs-
lature in 1882 said:
"Thcre a malaria the atmosphere OF these regions
whch me ne wcomer shuns, being deeterous his
views and habits. See the wde-spreadng ruin which
the avarce of ancestral Government has produced
in the South in sparse population of tree
men, deserted habitaions, and fields without culture
the approach of man. returns, after the lapse Of
hundred years TO howl the desoatons Slavery
| Another member said
al am grau6ed to perceive that gentleman has yet
risen in this hail. the avowed advocate of Slavery. The
day has gone by when such voice could be listened
| with patience or even forbearance l regret that
should Ind one among who enters the lists apollo
gist except the ground OF necessity II there be
who concurs with the gentleman from Brunswick IMr.
Gholson IN the harmless character OF this institution let
Inc request him compare the condition the savehed
ing portion of this Commonwealth barren desoaie, and
scared by the avengiHg hand OF Heaven, with
the descriptions we have of the from those who
broke its virgin soil To what this change ascribabe
Alone 10 the whitening and blasting effects Of Slavery"
Mr.. Moore, in speaking of the evils of Slavery,
| said
"The first shall mention i. the irresistible tendency
which 1t has TO undermine and destroy everything like
| virtue and morality i'll the community.
sin that part of the State below tide water the whole
face of the country appearance of almost
desolaton distressing the behoder The very spot
| which landed little than hund
years appears be the Of again becoming
haunt OF wild beasts"
Mr.. Richie, once the editor of the Union, In
Speaking of Slavery in 1882 said:
"tis probable, from what We hear that the commit
mitee the colored population will report plan
for getting rid OF the free people color But is this all
that can be DONE Are we forever 10 suffer the greatest
era which scourge our land only remain but
10 increase In its dimensions? Yes something be
done and is the part Of no honest man to deny it,"
| "When, within period equal to that which tie
Federal Constitution has been in existence, those
beers will increase 10 more than TWO millions within Viz
gina when this, the fairesi land all this continent
for SOIL and climate and situaon combined might be-
come sort OF garden spot If were worked by the hands
Of chite alOneean ought quietly down,
fold arms, and say each other, We'll, well, this
thing will not come TO the worst i'm our day' Someihng
Stems IL but
dscree-ougm 10 be adopted for reducing the of
| evil that is pressing upon the South.
The disease is deep-seaied. II is AT the hearts
II IL consuming vitalsh-See Richmond Enquirer Of
| January z, 1882
ask the attention of gentlemen to these
tracts, and especially the last. Compare it with
| the one gave in another place, from the same
| paper, of recent date We advocate now just
what was advocated in Virginia in 1882, and
| what was then the sentiment of the country and
| for this called enemies of the country,
| disunionists &c. Comment is unnecessary.
| This is true picture of nearly every Southern
| State to-day. We cannot consent that Kansas
| should be added to their number. Slavery has
| scared and blackened quite enough of this beau
tiful land.
No, gentlemen; you must not ask it. If you
do we tell you plainly, firmly, but kindly, that
| we cannot and will not consent. If you insist
we must resist by all the lawful, constitutional,
and moral power that God has given US. We
cannot consent 10 do wrong, or suffer 1t to be
| done, if in our power to prevent it.
| Before you can claim our cooperation in this
work, you must blot out the history of the past.
| You must show us that our education is wrong;
| that our Christianity is wrong. In the language
of the noble Henry Clay, in speech on this
| floor, upon this subject, in 1927, we say: I" If
they would repress all tendencies towards Liberty
and ultimate emancipation, they must do more
| than put down the benevolent efforts of this
| society. They must go back to the era of our
| Liberty and independence, and muzzle the can
| non which 'thunders its annual joyous return.
| They must blow out the moral lights around u.s.
| and extinguish that greatest torch of all which
| America presents to benighted world, pointing
| the way to their rights, liberties, and their
happiness. And when they achieve all these
purposes, their work will be yet incomplete.
They must penetrate the human soul, and eradicate
| the light Of and The lope of Liberty. Then,
| and not till then, when universal darkness and
despair prevail, can you perpetuate &d0ery and
repress all sympathies, and all humane and
| benevolent efforts among freemen in behalf of
| the unhappy portion of our race doomed to
| bondage"
| Nor have we forgotten that the same great
| orator, in 1850, said:
81 have said that never could vote for il myself; and
repeat that aud earthly
po,cer tra make spread Slarery t.Tri
tory tchere Il does not sziSt"
| The South has forced upon us this issue, and
we accept it. We claim Kansas for Freedom by
| right and by compact. Kansas for Freedom u
| is inscribed this day upon ten thousand hammers