Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-10-11
SLAVERY QUESTION.


The House being in the Committc Of the Whole
/ on the State of the Union
s M. AIDE said: ] propose to say few things
on the old theme of which we have all heard SC
n much the subject of Slavery aud the Threatened
c dissolution Of tho Union. These two seem to con
stitur sort OF duality two in one" subject
as nlssperable as the Samese twins.
\ part of what have to say will he with tho
int niion OF calling the minds Of gentlemen to tho
purer and better days Of the Republic--to contrast
those days with the present, aud try if We car
= search out the old landmarks of constitutions
libertg and from these to determine how far We
may ave wandered into the domains of depotism
AZ ths day, and under the pcrils to which liberty
and Tie Union are exposed believe this to be
the n'Ust acccptubls service which patriot can
rendey to his country.
desire, sir, if it be possible to reproduce before
the people Of this day the living realities Of those
purer and better days, when the Union and the
Constitution had their birth. For sir it is in the
, spirit to which the Union and Constitution were
organized that they can be preserved, if preserved
at all If the ethical principles in which the
Union ana Constitution were brought into being,
were the principles Of despotism, of human bond
ase--lt the spirit which presided at their birth
was thv could and sunless spirit Of crushing des-
postism, then in the perpetuty Of that fell spirit
WIZ rest their only peace and permanency But
II, on the other hand, the Union and Constitution
were produced from the gentle, genial spirit Of
liberty, and the chargelss natural equality Of
human rights, then in the same spirit must they be
administered to be pcrpetuated. No self-evi1ent
axiom no demonstration in mathematics, is more
convincing than this. Gentlemen may tell us
they do tell us-that, in order to preserve the
Union, we must throw the rein over the neck of
Icespotlsm--lnust yield to the necessities or the
caprlcet of slavery. Sir, to do this is a dissolution
! OF the Union. Its life expires the moment we
yield TO this senSeiesS clamOr. Sir, IN order to
preserve the Union necessity is laid upon us to 70
/ hack 10 the lirth pf iho ITpi,n o,J do
the Constitution-to catch and hold the spirit
which animated those great and good men, and
apply 1t now, and for all time, to the admlnistra-
lon OF the Government. la no other way, sir,
is 10 possible to preserve this Government. 1t
Will bear no other treatment more than mans
natural constitution can bear strvchnine or arsenic
sir, ii the Constitution and Union are to be used
mercy as instruments Tor pr0pagating and making
! perpetual human bondage they cannot be pre-
sery0d-nether is it desirable that they should.
They we're designed by their trainers to be instru-
ments OF perpetual goods and to change them
from their original design into instruments of
ceaseles5 evil, is in itself to destroy them and
their obligation ceases when their nature is
changsd By usurpation OF corruption.
dD net say these things by way Of menace, but
las sii pie fundamental trnthe as necessarily true
'7's-,iss science of government as are axioms in
mathematics. But, sir, the preservation Of this
Union and Constitution does not lie in force but in
the preparation Of the hearts of the people. There
Is no better preparation for these than recall of
that sentiment of yeneraion and affection for our
fathers hch in individuals is the highest possible
development of u great character. Patriotism
ltsell that first duty OF the CITIZEN may be said 10
consist IN the sum OF individual affections and
veneration for cur fathers. The sum of individual
sentiments constitutes the rational sentiment OF
patriotism. To that spirit appeal for the adjust
ment OF all our internal troubles, both political
and sectional. in that spirit shall cndeayOr to !
re race our steps to the period when our Constitu-
ton and Union were brought into existence, aud
to persuade my fellow members to accompany me
in the same spirit to a short communing with the
mighty dead. In that spirit alone calm the
agitated waters Of political strife, either in this
Hall or among our constituents.
To this end, shEll exhibit the fruits Of their
toll and their patriotism precious relics, worthy
of ceas0leSs yeneration and our ardent and .
devoted imitation These relics constitute the .
pure foundation Of freedom, tlcm which con-
stltutlOnai liberty flows and will continue to flow
through all time, unless fouled by the tread Of the
sla,ehoder and his Gree-Stale confederate.
The first General Congress which ever rasscmLled .
IN the Colonies Of British America convened in /
Phadelp phia in IVA. One ofits earliest and most
earnest efforts was 10 put end to the African
slave trade. This was attempted openly and bold /
ly as a necessary preliminary to tie abolition OF
slavery itself. Sir, those glorious old men, SO
deeply imUned with the spirit Of the Bible, had at
that time discovered no diCiHg--no Bible sanction
to the wicked institution
But hark . Let us listen to tho solemn and
truthful voice Of that first Contn entail Congress.
Blessed old fathers OF our institutions-gone to |
their graves full of years and full of honors !-bui
still they speak to all of who have ears to hear
or hearts 20 underStan&-men whose fame will \
only grow br shcr with the lapse of ages and I
whom it an everlasting Joy to cali OUR
FATHERS We're it not that their integrity to human
liberty has become the btterest rcprOach upon our
ostdcy FROM and treechery to- the holest interest
of our country and the human race. But listen /
again to the voice Of the fathers, oh, ye sham Dem
Ocrats! llearken also, ye Republicans for their
instructions to all such revere their memory,
and follow in their foot steps.
The first general Congress assembled in Phila-
delphia in September, l714, resolved that
The abolition of domestic slavery is the great
est object of desire in those colonies, where il
unhappily introduced in their infant state. But
previous to the enrapchisement of the slaves it is
necessary to exclude further importations from
Africa. Yet our repeated attempts to effect this
by prohibitions, and by imposing duties which
might amount to prohibitions have been heretofore
defeated by his Majestys negative thus prefer
ring the immediate advantage of II few African
corsairs, to the lasting interests of tho American
States, and the rights of human nature, deeply |
wounded by the infamous practice. .'-AmericaR
AJchices, 4th series. vol |, p. 696.
81 "his Majesty "-thck-skuled, but mUliSh old 4
King George Ill, was peryersely bent forcing
slavery upon the colonies, against their most
emonstrances-agdinst reason, common
sense, and common humanity and just so now
our modern beefheaded, doughtaced, and sham
Democratic party, following in the perverse foot.
steps of its llusuiOus prototypes, old King George
and Lord North, is doing ihe same infamous and
rulnous work for the illfaed and oppressed people
OF Kansas. In the eyes OF King George the |
interests Of Il two of slave driving pirates
was Sufficient to bear down and break down the
interests, and to crush out," if possible the prin-
cples of three millions OF his subjects and so
noe, in the eyes of tho sham Democracy, the pre-
teRded, but not actual right of mere handful of
Shareholders, TO saddle their atrocious and ruinous
Of slavery upon the free people and free
territory of Kansas, against the most earnest
of that people, in breach of
solemn and time -honored compact and at the .
hazard of civil war,and the overthrow of the Union,
completes the parallel; and leave it to tho his
torian to say which should bear the palm whether