Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-11-12
Senator Hnmm0nd,s Speech,

0SuAFOE SpNSCAs
The speech of Senator Hammond of South
Carolina, at Barnwen, Oct. 9th, of which SO
much is said in the papers, is one Of the ablsst
efforts of the day, and is attracting great atten
ton 10 all sections Of the country. The positions
1t assumes are stated with extraordinary bold.
ness, and considering that thesspeech is the pro-
duotion OF the leading statesman and politician
of South Carolina at this time the admissions it
makes and the arguments it employs, in defence
OF its position, are remarkable indeed Gov
Hammond argues against the re opening Of the
African slave trade although he says he has for
mery favored it, against the annexation of Cuba
or Mexico to the confederacy, against the Lee
compton swinde of the last session OF Congress,
and even denouaces as an utter abortion" the
policy OF repeating the Missouri Compromise for
the sake of introducing slavery into Kanzas He
also goes against dissolution of the Union, al
though he once favored it, deeming that after the
recent victories achieved by the general govern
ment, as now administered, in favor of slavery,
the Shareholders can gain more for slavery by
using the power they have the cunning to exer-
else, in the Union, than out of it.
We make few extracts from the great South
Caroinians speech in defence Of his positions
1t may well be asked how can entertain such
views and expectations, when within these few
years the South has lost her equality in the Sen.
ate and the free States have at length decided
majority in both houses Of Congress, while the
unfortunate kanzas contest has SWEPT into their
political graves so many of our ancient friends in
thoes States that it may be douol ed whether they
have at this moment, alter the re -ent elections
tine finale Of the disastrous Kanzas abortion-a
majority in any single one OF them and there
seems to be a: present no prospect Of our extend
ing the area of slavery III any quarter
The equality Of the free and slave States has
long been lost in the House. By the admission
Of California it lost in the Senate. Since then
another free State has been admitted, and anoth-
er yet has passed the Senate, and in few years
more we shall have Kanzas, Nebraska, Washing.
ton, New Mexico, and perhaps others our
roll. The immigration from Europe to the North
is sufficient to form one or more new States every
year. To the South there is literally no emf.
grafton. We have, since the closing Of the slave
trade, added to our population mainly by the nat
ural increase of our people, and we have no sur
plus population, white or black, to colonize new
States We lost Kanzas partly by inability
to COLOMBO it, and We are perhaps yet to have
struggle for portion Of Texas. The idea, then,
of recovering the equality Of the two sections,
even in the Senate, seems remote indeed.
You must not suppose for a moment that | am
OppOebu 10 Tue EAphUSlDn VI Tue area OF African
slavery" On the contrary, l believe that God
created negroes for no other purpose than to be
"the hewers of wood and drawers of water
that is, to be slaves of the white race and
wish to see them in that capacity on every spot
of the surface of the globe where their labor is
necessary or beneficial. Nor do | doubt that such
will be the final result Much less would op-
pose the acquisition Of territory that would
place the slave States on a numerical equality
and more with the free States in the Union But
this review and scrutiny of the resources Of the
South shows, | think, pretty conclusvely, that
we have not now the surplus population nor suit
aole territory within our present reach to create
any number Of slave States that to attempt it
BY costly yet impracticable and abortive enter
prIses will be to waste our strength to no pur-
pose and that the idea of recovering the equali-
ty in voting Of the slave and free States. wheth-
er on the floors of Congress or elsewhere, is Wis
iouary We had better, then, think, at once
make up onr minds according to the facts, and,
giving up all bootless efforts, look every conse
quence OF our position full in the face. For
one, can do so without dismay without the
slightest trepidation. Why, the South, number
ing twelve millions Of people, possesses already
an imperial domain that can we'll support an
hundred millions more. What does she need to
seek beyond her borders. or what has she to
fear
After what has been achieved by divided
South, now that it is almost thoroughly united,
HoN tudt we nave PRESIDENT and his Cabinet, q
majority in both houses Of Congress, Supreme
Court Of the United States, and still hosts Of al
lies IN the free States all substantially concur
ring with us in our construction Of the Constitu.
ton, and under its obligations earnestly battling
with us for the maintenance Of our rights and in
terests, we owe il TO country, TO ourselves to
the world, and to posterity, aside all we ak
fears, all petty or impractcable issues, all mere
wrangling and vituperation, personal and Sec
tionsl, and move forward with the dignity Of
conscious strength and the calmness Of undoubt.
ed courage to the overthrow Of every false the.
DRY Of government and every sentimental scheme
for organizing labor. carrying with US the Const
tuition Of our fathers, and, il we can, their Union
But the slave States, constituting, and as
think, forever TO constitute, numerical MAORI
~, can, however, accomplish nothing in this
Union without the aid Of faithful allies in the
free States It has been OF late too much the
habit Of the South to mistrust all such allies
Ito disparage, to denounce, and drive them
from US. Nothing could be more unwise or more
unjust. 1t is distrustng the truth and justice Ct
our own cause, or eliminating human nature,
20 doubt that there are in the free States thou.
sands OF sound thinking, true.hearted, and gal
liant men who concur essentially in our views
and are ready to make cause with us. Nay, il is
falsifying history and fact. During the late SEES
sion saw men acting cordially and vigorously
with us against the positive instructions Of
their excited constituents, at the hazard Of pc.
litical martyrdom and in two instances thai
mar iyrdom was consummated before the adjourn
ment. Shall we do no honor to such men T.
Shall we pay no t.ibutc TO such heroic devotion
TO truth, TO justice, and the Constitution Shal
we revile them in common with all Northern
men, because many reyile and some have betTay
ed US To be truly great We must be not onl
Just, but generous aud forbearng TO all mankind
Let US place ourselves in the situation Of North
erd public men ia this great contest, conside
their dangers and responsibilities, and, maxim
every allowance for human weakness, do homag
70 the brave aud faithful.
The union Of these States from the Canadas L
the Rio Grande, and from shore TO shore Of tn
two great oceans Of the globe, whatever splendo
may eucifele It, Is bat policy aud not a prin
ciple. Il Is subordinate to rights and interests
But the union Of the Shareholders Of the soutl
is principle involving all our rights and all GU
interests. Let that union BE- perfect and perpet
ual. IL constitutes our strength, our safety, an'
prosperity. Let US ir0wn down every proposition