Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-06-06
SPEECH OF MR.. QUINCY.

After some preliminary remarks Mr.. Quincy
said -
lie complained of the Union not only because
did not protect u.s. but forbade to protect our
selves he complained Of it because it changed a
republic to an oligarchy the most outrageous that
ever existed. People were very apt to think that
the Slave Power was at least one-halt OF the
Icountry-that it was an immense body OF men
whose rights were protected by the Constitution
But taking out of the number Of Shareholders
those who owned less than ten, the greater part OF
whom were not owners, but merely hirers, and
consequently had political interest In the slave
property, but probably financial interest for its
abolition, and taking out a reasonable proportion
of women and minors owning in their own right,
probably not over Is, 600 voting men constituted
the Slave Power SO that %, ,925 900 souls were
under the absolute political control OF 10000
men. And that we called republic Such
republic did not suit him; he abhorrcd it; he want
ed to have respectable government, one that
a gentleman could touch without dirtying his
fingers.
Mr. Quincy explained the position Of the non
voting abolitonisas and said that it was just as
easy as lying to rehabiltate themselves. In the
old days of England, large numbers of persons
had been shut out of Parliament and other high
places because of their opinOns-because they
would not submit to a certain test oath. 1t might
have been said to them, "What consequence is
acknowledge the supremacy Of the King? 1t is a
mere mental evasion" But Daniel O'Connell did
not think So the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of
Shrewsbury did not think so, and they might have
taken their seats in Parliament at any moment,
and taken their part in that very question of Cath
ole emanci patton, if they had only chosen to
acknowledge the supremacy OF the King.
Though it was impossible to tell how this Union
was going to be dissolved, yet its dissolution was
as inevitable as that oil would be separated from
water when shaken together. 1t was mechanical
Union held together by imaginary interest.
There were persons now living who remembered
how difficult it was to adopt the Constitution. 1t
was only by a majority of 10 in the Convention of
the State OF Massachusetts that it adopted, and
then only by the weight Of the influence of John
Hancock And only nine States just precisely
the necessary number required-Voled for it.
He objected to the Union because it offered the
hphest possible bonus to the Shareholders to hold
on to their slaves. What olgarchy ever vollnta-
rily abandoned the principle of its power? Here
and there through the scattered pages Of history
there was a Scylla, Dioclesan, or Charles the
Fifth, who had abdicated their power, but where
was the aristccracy that ever gave up its preroga
! tiyes except on compulsiOn Of physical force or
moral force which shadowed forth the physical
| force Immediately to follow? Shareholders knew
that they would be richer in theaggregate by the
freedom of the save-that the rise of real estate
would follow emancipation Why then did they
hold on to their slaves? Because it was the
element of political power.
The kingdom of the devil, no less than the king
dom Of God was within us Slavery existed in this
country because the people liked it. The anti
slavery movement had wrought great change in
the public sentiment. A great many besides
Speaker Banks were ready toilet the Union slide"
under certain circumstances. AS soon as the slave
holders saw that the moral support OF the North