The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-06-28

abusing and vtuperang on account of that very
OF things OF which they had knowledge and cognzAnet
when they entered into this union with us ask fthey
I are not estopped by their own deed
} Now Mr.. President we hear doctrine We aT'
told that the men OF the present day not TO be held
sponsibe for the men OF that generation which branded
by one of their descendants with turpude 1t is the
Aor from Massachusetts, who says "s the acknowledged
tarpude Of departed generation to become an example
Tor US Thus they not content with hurting accuse.
tons against us but they brand with turpude the
of their ancestors who entered into those bonds by which
they became members of the great family of States, TO
which Virginia too belongs Sir, il am TO choose be-
tween the generation which gave birth the heroes and
sages OF whom have spoken, and the who east
shame on their graves say let rather commune with
the memories Of those than walk in the living presence Of
these am to choose between those heroes and snges
as said before who entered into restore the
fugitive slave, and who kept it, and these latter-da,
saints who whilst they claim all the benefits of the bond
for themselves refuse 10 execute their part of the compact
because they have discovered law of higher obiga
on which dispenses with the obligation Of their oahs TO
support the constitutions and discharge its duties
let me associate with the who made that covenant and
kept H. IN preference TO those who breaking it, If
am TO choose between the generation OF who under the
guarantee OF treaties under the sanction of laws transfer
red the African from 10 better condition, and
those who III violation of law and of the constitution steal
away the southern slave and transfer him from better
worse condition. let me live with the first rather than
with the last il have enjoyed the respect and affection
OF that generation which covered the name of Massachu
sets with glory we may live under the of those
who srkea the very memories of their fathers because
Iurpitude sir 10 talk Of the tuptude of the genera
ton OF men who gave TO Massachusetts the fair Inherit
ance OF glory which some of their descendants are now
wasting so rapidly When hear such charges | pause
before the majesty of the silent shadows Of those mighty
dead, and wonder that voice IL not given to them to
speak TO those of their descendants who TINS violating
thelr engagements trampng their ancient esdshii9
and casting shame on their and gfavea But sir
why do wonder If such voice could be evoked from
the lomos and were it to charm ever so wisely ii would
fall enheeded on The ear of the fanaca abolitonist He
WIN not hear Moses and the prophets woula he hear
their voices even if they cond he permitted 10 speak to
him. "'N y - -
dungeon &c hiSh tue pous uaon is consigned in Virginia
wno eacnes The slave to read Sir have in the State
o Virginia thousands OF slaves who could read and write
ana ~ ihere ever was any pous otherwise who
was imprisoned for teaching them have yet hear the
history OF the case have known such case 40
not believe that one exists think have beSn told that
III one OF the States OF this Union eFs is law mall mp il
| penal to keep Christmas bat does any man supncDe
such law ag eyer been enforced within the last aaarte
century suppose it were 80 suppose some snch
enacimens as these charged pgon Virginia were TO be
found upon our satnta-b5ok who are responsible for
themf Arc net those responsible who ay 10 MS "Educata
yoHf sYe at your pert give him light and intelligence If
yop dare and II you do we will make these gifts the
means OF applying the knife TO your hroas and the torch
70 your dwellings, Are these the persons who woud
ee respohsnle and not we, such things to 10
found on the stsutebook? viii say however not 10
them not TO those who have nothing 10 10 with it, but TO
my countrymen in the SGua shat ibeeye il is our duty
10 remove wnsyeF may cnmber unproaby the statute
Dogs whatever Is IMPROPER or unjust hqSye that the
progress Of light and intelligence IN both races not in
compatible with The ipsteton Of southern slavery
oeege that We af responsible for the happiness Of all
are comltted to our charge whether they be white
OF black and say, let do right in despe u the aboli-
onls however he may throw himself in the path OF The
Improvement OF the slave We are strong enough within
the Union without the Union to defend o.rSye and
with the blessing ofProvdence let &c 40 right and leave
the consequences TO God 70 him who intrndes his opin
ION upon ls-te h,R who has no right to make On In
curry a. 70 our domestic affairs have only ta say "Ihere
the southern slave he speaks for te institution Of s
very in our section; prodrc3 70 US the nurGhor OF
African negroes - bondage otherwise aud 10 any other
countgg, who have made The same progress in improve
ent and then we may Wedge your right eproach
Us but until you do tha entitled rather 10 The
voice Of apnr"sS sSation and the hand Of sympathy
President, in taking the upon this occnsion It
was my object in part to dti the State OF Virginia
against the aspersiUns which been so unustly cast
upon her do not to say or perhaps Il does
become 10 do anything by way OF eulogy upon her
II 10 attempt such thing might be thought that
my paraty disturbed my judgment. She hes taken her
place in the great Pantheon OF history Poserity will pro-
its judgment her present public opinion has
given II upon her past speak the Judgment thus pro-
bounced when ! say that the Virginan was the first
great pioneer Of the race upon this con
nent that upon the waters Of the James he laid the frat
stone in the foundation Of It's empire that he was the first
plant the banner Of LIBERALIZATION In the great valley
OF the West aud the tide Of population poured
ward from the rising 70 the setting SUM- the smoke Of his
campfire ever far away In the distant wilder
pillar Of cloud to guide the march OF the coming
coumns and emblem Of the presence Of 10 dis
pue the mastery and the empire where Nature had hher
TO held its wild estate and where silence and solitude had
regned supreme. Still onward he passed. he left be,
hind him institutions Of government and the foundations
Of human society lie may have had his faults aud doubt
less be did have them and has them but amongst
those faults breaking Is not 10 be reckoned
lie loves the constitution and the Union Of his country
lie reveres Of those who made that constitution
and Union whether they from Massachusetts, or from
Virginia. aud Ear from casting shame their
their graves he would take OF his shoes and walk silently
and softly into the sanctuary which halowed by the
ashes Of those mighty dead.
But Mr. President said before IL is my purpose
TO eulogze my native State Neither the senator from
increase by single cubi the proportions OF her stature
There she stands and II is for history for me- speak
/ of her
I come now, Mr. President 10 another branch Of this
case and another part Of these resolutions pass away
from that In which Massachusetts, expresses her approba
tiou Of this unparalleled attack States and their repre-
sentatyes and the other resolutions in which
she undertakes to oil in Judgment here pending
and not merely 10 request her representatives. and To in
srnct her senators other States do but TO demand Of
that should carry out her a and execute her udg
ment am willing to admit that Massachusetts, Is ialy
the equal and has all the rights Of any other State in this
confederacy but cannot concede to her that she has
than all the rest besides cannot agree that she
here and demand that her opinions shall be
law, and that her judgment is TO be executed by
What gives her the right claim this pre-eminence2 Has
she shown any superior fidelity to the laws and 70 the cons
tuition Of the country Has she shown that in this regard
she is more entitled to have her opinions respected and
forced than the other States Of the Union She make
such claim whilst the personal---very. bill stands upon
her satute-book While she claims al the benefit
ferred her by this Union and its constitution she is
bound by honorable obligation 10 carry out the duties
which imposes on her in return Every man who lives