Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-06-11

tuition against the slave trddei snu aleo'e'"' =,
authority Of one of the ablest Juri.'s' w w -
sblest e1ponents of international law. there =
nothing in the law OF nation9 when Pfohto'' ". 60
can slave trade. Que OF the ablest Jarie's no ~.
eat in II British Court, lays DOWN ihe II -"
there is TO International law prohio''inE 'n4 , ,m.
slave trade. Then, there being no proh'oi'ou !" ~
Federal Constitution against this raue, no.o :" -. 81
law OF nations, if the acts Of Congress spon .us -
ject are repealsd-I mean the act OF ,o"1' uec.a''"l
it a ~misd-meanor, and the act OF i0I'' -, - ~,
piracy-it these, l cay, are repealed, Hnat = - s,on ~
state Of this trsdel 1t stands precisely "he'e" ''0'>
before the passage of these laws. u,
admire the great caution with Whicn u ~ ~
man from Alabama came up to this su"]eS.' ~,
not take the ground in his resolution VI" u ""'
polite and e~Ipedient that this trade sNou'u y 81
opened. The gentleman knew that u was Tpp"se.
to the policy of the Federal Government Ir hren
that the popular branch of our GoSrrhnsn, h n
placed the seal Of its Reproduction upon TINS lthle. ny
refusing to re- open it.. The gentleman Ane" tn"'
public sentiment was opposed to II, ana ne =
took this ground. But he does what Is equlsa'ent r.
u proposition in favor of re-openinS the "nue' ~
proposes a repeal of this law, which VIII nave lhe
effect of re opening the trade, while he does nor com
init himself to a direct proposition TO RI open ~. on
the effect of the grntleIpan's proposition WIZ oe 10
re open the slave trade, whatever may be sa'a u 'ne
contrary. Thus much upon that branch OF Tue sup
ject. | now CONS TO cOnsder the position WHICH Tic
gentleman assumed upon these laws.
II l could subscribe to the proposition ihat 'neee
laws Disseminated unjusily against The South, WouId
20 with hiIa, because l fight under the banner oil
Southern rights; sud all the sympathies OF my nature
lead Ins to the support OF any measure which VIII
have the effect. directly or Indirectly, OF relieving the
South from a state OF vassal8ge in which she mas
been placed to the North.
In the dark and perilous day OF lS5O, when the
federal government had dismenbered q portion Of
our territory-I mean California-when that mon
strous wrong was inflicted upon the South; when q
federal officer, with the federal bayonet in bis hand
wrested California from the South; when foreigners
aliens TO US in feeling, in sentiment and in blood
under the direction Of this federal officer, had seized
upon and dismembered this slave territory, which
had been won by the valor and arms Of the Southern
people; when that monstrous wrong was inflicted
upon the South, my voice was for dlsunlon; and, u
connection with other gentlemen from the South, II
the Nashville Convention, | then and there advocated
the line of $3.50, ~ the ultima huie-the point he
You'd which the South would not go. Then. sir.
maintained the sentiments which the gentleman. tMr
YANCEY,l expressed on that OccAsion. l then lei
that the Union in which we then lived, was not
Union of the Constitution. | then Tel, az the gentle
man now feels, that that Union had been dissolved
bv this monstrous wrong that had been inflicted 10y
the North upon the South. 1 then felt not only
that the Union was not a Union OF the Constitution
but | felt that the Constitution was a fetid mass, ina
stunk in the nostrils of every Southern freeman.
felt then. rs the gentleman now feels, that the 90
vernmsnt of this Union, was not the government thai
we had received at tbs hands of the patriots OF The
Revolutionary ashington, Jefferson and MADISON
but that il was u government nj popular tyranny, II
government controlled by Seward and Hale and Gid
dings and that detestable brood OF Northern fanatics
that have been Matched in the slime OF abolition: And
that government thus controlled ] regarded ~ more
tyrannical, Odious and despotic than that of a monnr
chy, because il WAS many headed, more unappeasabier
more furious in its appetites, more lasting in lis dura'
ton aud despotism which was to have no end and the
dry cxpanse of that which il covered was not lit Up
by a Cesar, o Cromwell or q Bonaparte. Loud ap
p~lause.l
This was The feeling which | then entertained. But,
sir, We foughttb the battle OF tn. South in that Corven'
ton. We laid the line Of $3.50. The Southern rights
party called upon the Southern people 10 stand by
them, 10 run the line through California, and to insi-i
upon their rights in all the territories South Of 36-30
What was the result? We went betore the people upon
this issue; we called upon them and endeavored TO ex'
cite their patriotism and rally them 10 the support OF
Southern rights. and what was the consequence \
failure; and from that day 10 this there has been H
aetlled conviction on my mind, that no matter how
fragrant the legislation by the government with refer
rnce to the South may be, the people will aubmit.-
And they will submit 10 the settlement Of this kahsas
question.
But, ] come back to the point that | left just now,
and | repeat, that il | could satisfy my own mind OF The
correctness of the opinion laid down by the gentle,
man from Alabama (Mr. fANCEYl that thess laws
agains, the slave trade Disseminated against the
South, |, for one, would go with him and demand Il
repeal of them.
The gentleman from Alabama, (Mr. lTLLARD.)
has demonstrated, that the acts ut Congress, prohlbi.
toIy Of the slave trade arc not unconstitutional He
colleague. Mr.. fASCEY, says they are uncOn5tItu'
iionsl, because they operate unrquhlly. Now, i'll
what does their inequality consist Inequality IS a
term that must be- understood in reference 10 the
subject matter. How are they unequal DO they
operate in favor OF the North. and against the South
il they do, they would be- unequal III their operation
But how i. il! l. there any inequality ~ between
The North and the South Mark You, these laws are
general laws. They prohibit all persons from sngs
glng in the African slave trade-not the citizens oi
the Southern States alone. The penaltiea OF these
lave are not directed exclusively against the citizens d
the Southern States, but against all the non.slave hold
ing States, as well as the slnveholdIng States. Ina,
position being true, in what, | Ask. does the Inc
quality consist At the time Of the passage Of these
laws, the New England States were engaged in This
traffic. II WA carried on in New England -hIps
The South was not engaged in it. Then the prohibi
ton and the penalties were levellsd against New
England a. we'll az against the Southern people.
What was the object Of these acts! ASH under
-tand them. il Was 10 discriminate III favor OF the
slaveholding States, and howl Because they secured
to them a monopoly in the traffic OF slaves.-
Prior to that time, this traffic had bcen carried on by
New England ships and people. After the passnge o
these acts, a monopoly in the raising aud selling Of
slaves was secured to ths people of the Southern
States, and they were paassd for the protection OF The
Southern STAKEHOLDER and not against him. zap
plause.)
Let us look at the effect of these acts. They were
passed in 1913 aud lSI9-'2D. What has been the et
iect OF these discriminating laws upon Southern in
dustry and Southern prosperity Why, no country
upon the face of the earth has p~rospered to the san'
extent that the Southern people have. Under the ope
ration of these laws, slave labor has advanced I'M
prosperity Of these people beyond that OF any othe
people on earth within the same length OF tiuie.-
They have protected the industry oil the slave iabo
of the South, and not Disseminated against it, H. tr
| ,<.,tlnp,an rnntapIa. and thew constitute IUW tn
great security Of the South, go far rs slave labor !
concerned. (Applause.) -.
These are the views which ! entertain upon thi
subject, and these ars the views which have brough
me 10 the conclusion TO vote against the original re
BORT and resolutions, as well ~ the substitute which
has bssn offered by the gentleman from Alaham"
iMr. YAHCET.)
Matters collateral to this question have beer
dragged into this discussion, aud which do not iegili
mstsly be,ong to the question under consideration.
refer TO the Kansas difficulty. The honorable gentle
man from Alabama (Mr. fANCEY,) has lnnIrrcti
lodged this question. He has had the prudence an
The wisdom to make no issue upon 1t, and for the eau
ton which he thus exhibits, lcanno' help expressing
INV entire admiration. But, he refers, however, IN
tone of dissatisfaction, to the passage OF THIS hansa
bill, and cites II as another evidence OF the u
justice and oppression of the North with refurenc
TO the South, ] will only say, mat inc Nan
sss conference il a measure al Inc prfSsht III
tional Democratic Administration and WILL appre
bend, raceive the sanction Of the Democratic Pres
dent. 1t is an act OF our own Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress and. Tor one, with the light
now before me, / am not disposed to attack them 10
the course which they have thought proper 10 purSu
in this matter. tApplauss.l Who brought the pre-
sent Admins ,ration into power7 The national DE
nocratic party, of which we Of the South are comp"
nept par.s. We elected them to office and it ia no
to be supposed that they, occupying th- high posltlo
they do, would voluntarily subscribe 10 or p"'s = bl
which cnntainsl in it any injustice t" the Souts.
|, for one, shsll subscribe To the bill, aud supper
the national Democratic party, 30 long NJ 'hey CIV
such proofs Of fidelity to the South ne the'r cours
upon this measure exhibits. lApplause.l ! -ia!l s'"h'
by that party ut this dark hour. when Douglas an
hs allies have deserted it, snd gone over 10 Inc ems
my. iApplause) | shall hot desert thi' Siiofi"u
party, and our noble Democratic President ~ I'M
hour Of trial, but shall stand BY them ana sus'"i
them in the settlement OF this question:; ana l 'en'ur
he prediction, that Southern Democrats, VINO nav
thus far withheld their support from The Admlnistra
ton, upon this Kansas question, will ultimately up
prove its action, and come zealously to lis supper,
iApplausel And although there may be IN thie Oh
aap,a Taotnraa that or. educational ls 10 thH SlutT