The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-08-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
Speech OF non. JOHN LETcHER

Delivered in the House Of Representatives In COMMITTEES OF
the Whole on Saturday, August ls56s
Mr. CIIARnAS: have listened arentvey 70 the speech
just delivered by the gentleman from Ohio, MIR WADE
and before proceed 10 the questions which design 10
discuss desire 10 notice very briefly one or two poin u
which have been made in that speech. -t
The gentleman starts out with the inquiry, Gould our
fathers have resisted the power Of Britain the power
had then held the control Of this eountry2 New, sir IL
to the gentleman ought know that al the hne
OF difficulties with England when the war Of the rev.
oution began all the States Of this Unon ebold
ing States The state OF New York. and all the States OF
the original thirteen recognised slavery Now sir accord
ing the gentemans theory is il not somewhat remark
able that with all our colonies slAseholdng our arms
should have been favored by Divine Providence and
cause so emnenty successfully How does he reconcile this
glorious result with his theory OF the SIN guilt and shame
of slavery. ...... s-...s. -aa. s..
But the gentleman says further that We are dshonor
ing the memories of fathers and mohershose of
at least who live in that portion of the Union where slave
ry Is recognised and now exists. How arc we dshonor
ing the memories Of fathers and mothers Are not
institutions in the South exactly the that
they were in tho days of struggle with the mother
country Is there change in that section OF country
in which our LOT has been cast Has any thing been
introduced into the condition Of the southern States that
is calculated throw discredt dishonor the
tors OF the present generation SIR let the gentleman
call TO mind the fact that that portion Of the Union which
las freed itself from slavery got rid OF IT, not by acts OF
emancipation, but by either the post nata,
postponeInent principle which allowed the slaves 10 be
moved before the law went into effect in order that they
might be disposed Of for full ecandry consideration Such
the In New York. 1t has not been many years
since a suit for freedom tried in my section Of
Virginia, instituted by slaves who taken from New
York and sold in my State violation of her laws they
alleged The owners Of The slaves IN New York at that
day preferred sell their slaves for money and pocket the
proceeds before the law of New ork could 20 into effect
They had quams OF conscience then TO restrain them
Recognising slaves property they sold and transferred
them as property to any one who would purchase and
pay for Them
There is another point The gentleman tells that he
desires "moderately and temporarily 10 drap line
he southern States and proclaim 10 the people Of the
South thus far slavery shall 60 and inch beyond
it The gentleman has given sample tonight OF his
temperance and moderation upon this subject and say
God help that portion of this country that is have lines
drawn under his charitable views His speech tonight
ultra any that have heard this floor, from
quarter Whatever and when the gentleman talks about
temperance and moderation his side in discussion of
question like this he must permit TO say that it is
most scandalous msappicadon OF terms Laughter.
And in this connexion, the gentleman TELLS that he
logss h 0non-iha "he pesrGtss s-that he entertans
"a holy affection tor y and here sir might apply H..
quotauon without disrespeet imag inc that the
stntimens OF affection he has expressed this floor for
the Union very much like the affection in his n
anguage) which The dera has for holy oater" Laugh
ter
The next proposition the gentleman lays down tha,
the phrase in the preambe 10 the constiu ton-"W the
s'nieans not the people north Of Mason ANA Dix
ous line not the people south of that line but all the
people Of the United States should like 10 know from
the gentleman from Ohio wheiher is bis opinion that Id,
phrase quoted from the preamble the constitution
intended include all the people of all coiors and
peKons when inserted in that preamble he be under
stood that embraced the white people Of The
States male and female and the black people Of the
male and female and the musttotf Of the States
and female and that it was recognition of that equality
between hee classes and which be says main
ed In the Declaration Of independence il be be under
stood saying that this clause intended cover all
and embrace all Of these classes Of people
When that provision inserted in the preamble to the
constitution slavery existed in ali the States Our fathers
intended declare, did they admit by
word act that the phrase We The peops when pBced
in that preamble was designed reco mise The eguai
Of the white and black Mo- sir 1t refers and
was intended to include none other than the white
then existing and their descendants and They
dreamed Of including the negro because the
in sociriy which he occupied forhsdeit
But was greatly amused the gsntlenans Adrotness
exhibited the close Of his speech Ny friend from
Mississippi Mr. WRIGHr wished know Of him whether
be he right Of the southern Shareholders
claim their slaves they absconded and found in
free State haze not heard answer from him that
question yet The gentleman talked about good many
other things but be particularly careful dodge that
question And It struck me that there for Il
II not been quite week since the gentleman himself
voted for "THE FUGITIYE-SLAyE LAW And that
may be charged with doing injustice that gentle
voted and for which every other gentleman Of his partcu
lar stripe voted the intelligent and cautious gentle
man from Ohio now before me ar. LrrER In the bin
OF Mr. DusS for the reorganization Of the Territory or
Kansas and in the 24th section OF that BILL il s amongst
other things, declared:
That any person lawfully held service in either Of the
said Territories shall be discharged from such by
ressou Of such repeal sno perron be permsnent re-
nad from spch Territory Tnrories prior to the hrst
day OF Japuart eehteen hunored snd my eight and
child children born In either Of said Territories Of
female lawfully held to service, ~ in like removed
Without said Territories before The expiration Of date
shall be, BY Of thing in this
from might have oved had this been
passed And prvriaed further, Thar aHy pcrson La.sly
ssrrss> 40 other Stale grrory Of hs u tied
Sa,s, aud escaping Hto sher the Jsrr'tos ~ Eapsa.
Nsbra.ka at BE- recLaised and removed 10 tie
rkere snch due under Of & tnifsd
States trhioh sAuA BE- inf force EPoH the subject."
Now the gentleman has been horror-strckeD Tor years
the fugTesRve law OF 1850 and yet longer ago
than Tuesday the scales zen from his eyes and be and
bis friends marched in solid column, with exception
and recorded their endorsement Of the and
policy Of the fngiti-eviaTe law Of 1850 Rvc since i
passage he and his allies hrvt denounced II pcsh n
ondl and void and have address the nfamsiory
Appeas the people Of the northern States 20 resist i
eoution. .-.a.e.aH .-.7 ..-at .t-st = ..H.Hr
Mr. WADE That was 9 bitter pin and tasted II ais
tinctly when took Il but being driven into corner by
the sham democracy 70 their efor 70 cngrsa SLAVERY
npon Esnsr thought better let them have the fug
veslsye Law in Ksnsss until could g-t fairer lick at
IL and knock IL in the head. Il.
gr LETC1iRR IL was bitter pilr and hs vsr driven
into before he would consent swallow III But
when dripen corner he did swallow H. ard voted
reenact law which in the presence Of the House OF
Repu before the faces Of his constituents and In
bis conversations be has been in the constant habit Of de-
nonnfing 10 The iphsmmaory language papAble
country, .whieh he has sworn 10 suppprI ..I ...
Mr. GIDDlkGS wish toask the gentleman question.
| Did not be against the Law 7 .....- .. ...
Mr.. LBTCHER ] was not bore, tLaugher.l happened
70 be that day addressing constituents and warning
them OF the revolutionary conduct being pursued by
odrgs and tnrgs gentlemen side Of the House
and Who eonsttais your party. lt .....#
Mr. GiDDINGS I would like TO know whether the gen
uean vopd pot have Votsd for il be had been here
Mr. LETCHBR, ! vsuld not; but not because consid-