The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-06-13
Political.
Reporszl for me Herald Of Freedom.

Lecture on Slavery.
JJ,esr4f Gefare n1 Haa1atsaa Lyceua, on tie
ersziag ef 4hfg 10, 1sj1.
BY :. d. HOUSTON, ESQ.
Fellow CITIZENS The question of
slavery in Kansas is not only one of vast
magnitude to the philosopher, Christian,
and statesman, but it is one of deep and
thrilling interest to every citizen of this
new Territory. While the philosopher is
re-examining the nature and extent of
human rights, the relations of man to
msn. the laws Of property, the dignity and
claims of moral being; and while the
statesman is trembling lest the sun of
American liberty should set at noon-the
pioneer of Kansas is called upon to decide
whether this land shall be a slave or
free one. To us the question is practi-
cal one-one that will affect ourselves
and our children. Slavery is an institu-
ton which viii materially affect us. 1t
will mould our morals, affect our intellee-
tual development, color and decide our
social state, and give lis fixed character
a! home and abroad. 1t will stamp its
Impress OH our soil, and determine the
,,o,-;0,, ,,.hatba- frao,,,o,, -. ciox,oS che II
be employed to develop our natural re-
sources. The decision of this question
involves the decision of cur manufacture
ing and commercial character; it decides
whether we choose internal improvements
or choose to be in great measure with
out them; it decides whether we are to
have enterprise and activity among our
or whether we are to have the
old dull monotony of the slave States !;
in word it decides, in a great measure,
our moral, social, political and pecuniary
destiny. 1t decides the value of our real
estate, and will so classify society, that
while there will be few rich, the great
mass will be doubly poor.
The people of Kansas have one common
Euterest. We may differ about the means
but the end is the same to all, and it con-
Etitutes the grand aim of all our efforts
and states, as we'll as indi-
|vidnals, often failof this end of life, be-
cause they do dot seek it legitimately.
False principles are adopted, and the end
Is rot reached. The reason is obvious
|means and appliances have their legiti-
mate results, as fixed as the laws of the
solar system. The laws of human pro-
greSS. as well as the laws of the material
system, are as unvarying as if each prinei,
pie was compelled to move in eterna
grooves of iron. 1t may be difficult tt
haee the workings of an isolated prinei
|ple, but rest assured, that if the wrong
step has been taken, the result viii show
1t; the end will he bitterness. What
soever man soweth, that also shall h,
reap
Ii slavery is introduced into Kansas, i
will prove blessing or a curse to us, jus
IN aaao-la,,, ,,s;4k .b ,,,,oss ~. 10
liy of the principle. If the principle i
rigit, it viii work we'll, but if it is ,cronS
it will certainly work ILL. If it is righ
Tor one man to do to another just wha
he would not have done to himself, the
slavery may work well. But if it
wong to strip a human being of all h
rights, all his time, all his talents, all h
powers OF soul and body, apd then trans
Tx him by an inexorable human law to
lie of perpetual toll, then rest assure
That It will result in evil to this Territor,
few men may get rich by slave toi
but the mass will be the poorer, and b
sides, it is far from being certain that eve
the few have bettered their eonditio
Money is often poverty, and the state tn
erfiehes itself by wrong action, is doub
1 poor.
This institution called slavery, so higl
ly recommended and urged upon us, is j
new thing. 1t is as old as its reputati'
Is bad. 1t has been faithfully tried
The South, and if the testimony of wi'
good, and great men of the South can
trusted, it is evil, only evil, and that co
uaaally. The fact that it has proved
ought and curse on every land ON viii
" mas been fssteued, is conclusive e.
uehee against it. I know of no bet
Say of Interpreting the future than by t
past aad the past declares that it is {
SFeat scourge of the South, the moral, !
Clai' and political incubus of any land
winch it is fastened. So long has slave
existed, 50 long has its fruit been bitt
aad 50 long have the wise and good
al nations had but one opinion concel
ihs 1t, that it required some effort to p
shade oneself, that the people of this T
htoFy should hesitate for a moment
deciding its real character.
II slave labor compared with free, co,
oeaSt Of one State where it has succeed