The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-22

In the Senate Of the United States, December 10 1886
The Senate having under consideration III moon of
Mr. RISK 10 refer much of The Presidents Message
relate, foreign affairs The Committee on Foreign Re-
laions
Mr.. WILSON said:
Mr.. President: In the memorable debate of
1880 on Foote's resolution, Mr. Webster. in that
magnificent speech, which won for him the proud
title OF the ablest defender of the Constitution
spoke of the Ordinance of 1887 as a meas
nre OF great foresight and wisdom, which had
Land the lnterdict against personal servtude over
the region northwest of the Ohio while il was
yet a wilderness, deeper than all local laws or
local constitutions. awe are accustomed said
he, TO praise the lawgivers of antiquity; we
help to perpetuate the fame of Scion and Lycur-
gas; but doubt whether one single law of any
lawgiver, ancient or modern, has produced effects
OF more distinct, marked and lasting character
than the Ordinance of 1887" This tribute TO the
GROWING work of the old Congress of the Con-
federation brought upon him and upon his Sec
ton OF the Union the accusation of making an
onset upon the South of interfering with their
domestic institutions; of endangering the rela-
tiOn OF master and slave. General Hayne his
distinguished opponent who fought then the
hrst great battle of notification under the eve of
his great leader, Mr.. Calhoun who then presided
over the Senate, brought these accusations into
the Senate, and hurled them against Mr. Webster
ster met these accusations, these unjust reproach
es, with prompt and emphatic denial After
expressin. his surprise that these charges should
be brought into the Senate he said:
know full well that it is and has been the set
u acme persons in the South, for years
TO represent the people of the North as disposed
10 interfere with them in their own exclusive
and peculiar concerns. When il became necss-
sary, or was thought so by some political per-
'sons, 10 find an unvarying ground for the excu-
sion of Northern men from confidence and from
" lead IN the affairs of the Republic, then, and
not till then, the cry was raised and the feeling
industriOusly excited, that the influence of
Northern men in the public councils would en-
danger the relation of master and slave. This
is a delicate and sensitive point in Southern
feeling; and of late years il has always been
touched and generally with effect, whenever
the object has been 10 unite the South against
Northern men or Northern measures. This feel
ing, always carefully kept alive, and maintained
at too intense heat to admit discrimination
rejection is lever OF great power in politi-
cal machine. Il moves vast bodies, and gives
10 them and the same direction. But it is
fwithout adequate cause, and the suspicion
(which exists is wholly groundless. There is not
& and never has been, disposition in the North
to interfere with these interests of the South
Such interference has never been supposed TO
be within the power of the Government; nor
has ii been in any way attempted. The Slavery
81 the South has always been regarded u
matter of domestic policy, left with the States
themselves, and with which the Federal Gov
eminent had nothing to do"
The motive, Mr.. President, for these unjust
accusations a. of some persons in the South y
against the people OF the North, is here clearly
stated 10y Mr.. Webster That motive has
finued 10 animate this class of persons to this
day. Ii is now stronger than when it
prompted the arraignment of MIR. Webster for his
euogium upon the Ordinance of 1887. The
I" sensitive point in Southern feeling" has been
" carefully kept alive" up to this hour, and
maintained at too intense n heat to admit dis
elimination or reflection" Nor were there
wanting in 1880 Northern men to echo the words,
and join in the cry against the people of the
North. II Mr.. Webster, for simple and beau
tifu tribue to the benefcent effects of the Ordi-
nance of 1887, was arraigned on this floor in 1880
by of the most accomplished statesmen of
the South if there were then found Northern
men ready 10 echo his words, surely the men who
now vote TO apply the principle of that great
Ordinance to the vast territorial possessions of
the Republic cannot hope to escape the msrep-
resentaton, censure, and reproach, of Southern
men, who in the expansion of Freedom the
signs of their waning power, or of that class of
Northern men who