The daily union., 1856-04-08
SPEECH OF HON. Mr.. KEITT.

So much has been said and written the slavery
question that requires speaker of ordinary repn
ton to attract large audience when the question is under
discussion and abilities of the marked character
satisfy the expectations of such assembage. Judged
by this standard Mr. Keitt has feel dssas
fed with his efforts yesterday in the House of Representa-
ves in behalf of the constitutional rights Of the South
The attendance large and the attention of the
wholly secured and among those who differed vide
y with him in sentiment and principle full justice
dered to his generous ardor his brilliant intellect and bis
glowing dicton.
Mr.. Ket did regard the Missouri Compromise as
concession TO the South The very the
When Missouri asked be admitted into the Union sd
Mr. K she asked to be admitted upon precisely the same
and in precisely the way that the western and
south western States had asked and had not asked in
vain. But her request refused until unjust and
an unconstitutional restriction adopted in
der to satisfy the pseudo philanthropc spirit Of the
North; and among the members of the House Of Repre-
sentatves of 1920 who the camorous for the
sricon Of slavery the boundaries assigned by the Mis-
souri, Compromise (sad Mr. Kl the then representa-
tive Of Rhode Island whose large private fortune sole
y acquired by his participation in the iniquitous profits
of the African slave trade Mr. X. alluded the g
ve-saveaw Of New England when the people of that
ton OF the Union and dealers in slaves From
the quotations read by him II would seem that The fathers
and grandahers Of the sbotonis Of the present day took
far summary way of retaining their human chat
os' than Is contemplated by the act of 1850 and so far
from making any provision TO prevent the separation the
slave mother from the slave child appears that in many n
stances there disposition to get rid Of the infant AFR
without tho slightest reference TO the tics of blood
the claims Of humanity.
Mr. Rei oontended that the Declaration of Indspend
implicitly and the federal constitution directly recog
nscd the institution of slavery lie spoke with great feel
ing and power of the crime poverty and disease in the
free States Notwithstanding their wonderful aggregate Of
material prosperity and he conceived that pban-
home for the discharge Of her heavenly Offices without in
tsrering with the constitutional rights of Others and tend
ering aid and sympathy where they not needed.
Mr. X said that although the country might be divided
into three political class6eations yet there really
only two parties in the field. From party whose Organi
zaton had extended into every State in the Union tbe
know-notbngs had been reduced handful of gusriE
las skrmishOs without principles without platform,
without leaders and with its destructive powers diluted TO
annoyance The real and only contest was between The
democratic party and the black 1pubcans In the pend
ing presidential canvass the latter had made the great
principle imbodcd in the Nebraska bill the sole issue upon
which the battle is to be fought and the democratic party
he said, cheerfuly accepted the issue thus rendered
Mr.. Keit closed his eloquent remarks by taking high
and strong grounds against the principle This
principle be believed to be contrary The spirit Of h
taons contrary 10 the true interests Of the people and
contrary TO precedens which we should regard as ius
trious The principle found favor with washngOn
with Jefferson, with Madison with Monroe or with jack
II Il TO be adopted and put in force on the te
porary plea Of availability, the mischievous II not
dangerous results might be anticipated To say that the
Executive not to be inrusted with the administer
ton Of our foreign and domestic affairs for Of more
than four years because Of the large OF patronage
in his gift to confess that our institutions hope
lessly defective, and government failure