The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-02-24
NO. $40.

lima, sixty nine years. And 80 Of other States,
more or less. Slavery has its origin in the
absence of law. The stronger oppreeses and
subjects the weaker, wAere there Is no lav to
forbid Il; and all the opening that slavery ever
asks, is MOTTO 6erefused admission. All that
it now demands, is not to be hindered from
going in.
"Fer we bid this he done
WHEN wicked deed. have :h:ir psrml''i'' p..-.
Slavery did not ask that special and
positive provision should be made in its favor,
in tho organization Of Utah and New Mex :
leo, Kansas or Nebraska; but simply that il
should not be forbidden. And many have
been deluded by so plausible pretext; for
getting that negative permission was all
that it ever had or ever desired
While the Fugitive Slave Law of $50 was
under discussion in the United States Senate,
Mr.. Dayton Of New Jersey proposed un
amendment providing for ajury trial to which
Mr.. Mason Of Virginia. objected, "tecause,"
said he, "a trial by jury necessarily carries
with it a trial Of the whole right and trial
Of the right to service will be gone into, &C.
cordanco TO all the forms Of the court in de-
termining any other fact And it is propos-
ed rs part Of the proof to be sdduced, after
the fugitive has been re-capturcd, that evi-
dence shall be brought by the claimant, to
show that Slavery is established in the State
from Which the. fugitive has o5sconded. Now
this very thing in q recent case in the city
Of New York, was required by one of tho
Judges of that State, which case attracted the
authorities of Maryland, and against which
they protested. In that case the Judge went
SO far as to say that the only mode Of proving
it was by reference to the statute book
Such proof is required in the Senators amend
ment; and il he means by this, that proof
shall be brought that slavery is established
by existing laws, it is impossible to comply
with the requisition; for no such laws can bo
produced, apprehend, in any Of the Slave
States. I am not aware that there is sim
gle State, in which the institution is estab-
lished by positive law. On a former occa-
sion, and on different topic, il was my
duty to attempt TO show 70 the Senate,
that no such law was necessary for its estab-'
CERTAINLY NONE COULD BE FOUND,
and none was required in any Of the States
of tho Union" Such is slavery's theory,a
in accordance Herewith it's universal prac-
ticc. Say that il shall not be forbidden, and
it is all that it demands. Slavery has always
gone where it was not shut out by positive
prohibition. When by its wasting tillage il
has exhausted one soil, il seeks to transfer
itself to another, and thus prolong its missr-
able existence.
We arc sometimes told that the ordinance
Of 1887, never effected anything in prevent
ing the extension Of slavery. But those who
thus speak have forgotten, how, more than
once tho citizens of Indiana petitioned 70 DO
released from the restrictions of that ordinance;
and but for its restraint, slavery would havo
extended over that State.
The welfare of the territories demands tho
exclusion ofslavery. Tho history Of our Coun-
Try is but one great lesson, showing the dire
'ul effect of slavery upon the morals, the
general intelligence, and the agricultural and
commercial prosperity Of those sections in
which il oxists-Southcrn mo- have seen tho
contrast between the free and slave states
The decennial census has reiterated in their
,ars, from time, to time tho story Of slavery's
march, until sometimes they havo
wen opposed the taking of any census at all;
md have been ready TO say TO the gathcrer
If statistics: "nay, but ye are spies, and TO SEQ
he barrenness Of the land are yo come
rakc Virginia and New York for illustration.
At tho beginning Of the race, how did tho
natter standl Virginia had greater wealth
han New York, and moro than double
he opulation-including all the slaves
exclusive of tho slaves, nearly four to
nc. Virginia had fourth moro territory,a
ar more genial cline, and more fertile
oil. In wealth the contrast is still greater
han in numbers. And in general education
/ is more striking still. White Virginia, in
$50, had a FREQ white population consider
bic less than one-third that of New York,
he had three times as many over twenty
ears of age, that could neither read nor write.
he members of the Senate can scarcely ap-
reciatc the feelings with which | allude to
hese facts For when remember the Old
)ominio on, as the homo of my childhood, and
he home Of my maternal ancestors, and OF
~ kin; rather than expose her nakedness
nd her shame, / would fan step back with
verted eyes, and cast mantle over them.-
tut it is slavery that has wrought the ruin,
avery that has palscd he hand Of industry,
nat has cursed with n moral leprosy the
lind and the manners Of tho South. Aye,
ir, the very land is cursed for its sake. A
iracious Heaven save the Territories of the
Tation from tho withering blight! Surely,
r, in the name of Justice and humanity, We
,ould erect q barrier heaven high; and say
ith the omnipotent voice Of the Nation To-
10 dark waters Of Slavery: "Hitherto shalt
lou come and no farther: AMI here shall thy
-oud waves be stayed"
When tho demon monster shnll have taken
ossession Of these fair domains in their ter
toral state, 1t will be too late, save by vio-
nee, to dispossess him. But now, sir, we
ay Interfere by the silent ut mighty voice
legislative enactment, and shut him out.
nd if we do it, the millions yet unborn, that
,all hereafter inherit this glorious domain,
i'll rise up and call us blessed, as wc do
lose who, in 1880, did tho Same thing for
J. Tho slave holders used TO tell us--sud
any of them do il now--thsi slavery is an
Ill Of which they would be glad to be rid,