Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-12-17

o.. ''.''s 49,. '.S-i 's.J iiss iiUDl ner.
Mr.. WADE. Then she has not made up her
mind lately.
Mr.. BUTLER. But she will have no mind
different from others have endeavored to be
quiet; believe | have made one small speech
of fifteen minutes since was here before. |
did my share Of speaking last summer in The
hot weather, and thought should be spared
it on this occasion.
The Senator has alluded to the message Of
Governor Adams. Of course he has a right to
make what suggestions he pleases. If the slave
trade had not been suppressed originally, what
would have been the condition of sections now
1t is easy 10 see that the slave section would
have the aseendenry. We all know that an ar
ticle was proposed to be inserted in the Consti-
tuion-it was one Of tile articles which, at one
time, passed the Convention to some extent
that the regulation of commerce should be de-
cided by two thirds of the States. Mr.. George
Mason had introduced it. Some northern gen.
tlemen came in and said, "We are interested in
trade; we are interested in The navigating inter-
est; and if you will strike out that clause re-
quiring two thirds to regulate commerce, and
reduce it to II majority, we, in good faith, will
pass no laws TO suppress the slave trade until
1905" There stands the compromise, and my
Stale and Georgia gave way. ! do not say that
they were IN Esau, cheated out of their rights
by Jacob; but it was very poor policy 10 give
up The regulation Of commerce for the privilege
of the slave trade until 1908.
What was the effect while The slave trave was
if you will give back ali the money you received
from it, with interest," you can buy very large
number of the slaves; but what would you do
with them? lido not know, think you would
not know what to do with ihem They got the
slave trade, and then made the profits out of it..
Northern morality did not interfere so much
then with the carrying trade. They carried
Africans as well Us anybody else. lean remem.
Der the poor creatures, and some of the tales
they told me of their capture.
The institution of slavery in South Carolina,
Virginia, and the other slaveholding States now,
is no more the institution It was when our fore
fathers condemned it, than the condition of the
natYo African is equal to the elevated position
of this people. Our slaves, of whom you speak
so much, are intelligent workuen. Many of
pounds Of food week, with plenty ofclothing.
IL Is ihlclcot VI uioSltI lllaI lHey sIlal
be clothed and fed. They make their little
crops, and are perfectly happy. Some of them
run away, and they got to coming back, That
is the worst of it with those fellows. Laugh.
ter. They cannot stay away. They have
actually got 10 coming back. The best fugitive
slave law is the fact that they cannot get any
work or anything 10 eat when they 90 to the
North, and they come back,
have made these desutory remarks in no
spirit of resentment. have asserted what is
the faot, that whilst we had power we did not
use it 10 your prejudice; but when you have it
you use it, rs far as you can, to our prejudice.
If this shall lead to the result of eecting, OK.
clusively and continuously, candidates from one
section, will not undertake TO say what the
consequence will be, think it inevitable.
Thprs is logic in events which we cannot con-
troll II Is not worth while to talk about it
but believe now that if our relations were diff.
ferent from what they are, and We were mere
friendly confederation Of confederacies, we
should be better off so far as regards discussion
here. Then we should not sit here abusing each
section. Commerce would control Yoa and me
for do not elevate mysSlf above. the infl.
.ences of such q no,;ey; but as long as you en-.
gsga in such discussions here in any way you
chodse, be it so. believe the Senator from
from Ohio has before said that he opposed slaye.
ry on the ground of its being an element oi
power, but he must see that 1t cannot be such
an element of power US to put in jeopardy
northern institutions. You know very well
| that there can be no such extension of slavery