The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-01


SPEECH OF SENATOR WADE.
Delivered in the Senate, March 10 and u.s. 1858
PLAIN TRUTHS FOR THE PEOPLE.
Mr.. President, would gladly forego the task
that is now before me, especially as the whole
subject has been debated by those much more
able to enlighten the Senate and the country
upon it than l can claim to be. Indeed, after
the able report of my colleague on the Com.
mittee on Territories, the Senator from Yer
mont, Mr.. CoLLAMER, on all the points in.
volved in the controversy, which met with my
entire appreciation, backed by that mastery
speech which he made on the case, it would be
arrogant in me to suppose that could add
anything that would tend to eRlighten either
the Senate or the country on the subjects there
In discussed. would not speak at all, sir, if
did not know that the people of the State
which In part represent are more deeply NOV
ed with the consideration of this question than
they ever have been before. They consider it
q question of the first magnitude. They are
alarmed at the boldness with which Constitu-
ton is urged upon reluctant people against
their will. They are alarmed at the progress of
the principle of despotism which they think
they perceive connected with the aiministra-
ton of this Government.
PRESCRIPTION
1t is thought that we are very unreasonable
because we take 30 much interest in the institu-
ton of Slavery. have been here long enough
to know that that great body of Northern people
who remain true to the traditions of their fathers
who act up to the spirit of those who insugu.
rated our institutions, are just as much pro-
soribed from any of the benefits emoluments,
or honors of this Government, as if they were
alien enemies. There are nearly thirteen hun.
dred thousand voters belonging to the great
Republican party of the North, who, year after
year, see the Government administered by hands
that to them are alien, and they cannot partici-
pate in it. Why? Because, when q nomina.
ton comes before you, the question is asked,
how stands this Northern man upon the institu.
ton of the South? What are his views? Did he
ever, in an unguarded moment, give uttersnceH
to the impulses of the heart of every freeman
Did his tongue ever pronounce that which the
heart of everv freeman feels? If he did, and
any spy can fish it up, and bring it here, he is
prescribed from any favors from the Govern
ment under which he lives, and which he sup
ports. This should furnish reason to you why
almost everything political that is unpurchasa.
BILE in the market, that grounds itself upon prin-
ciple, and cannot be swerved by those applian-
of the North. If men are purchasaole if Execu-
tive favor can reach and sway them, if any of
those appliances that are brought to bear in
political controversies can swerve them from
the truth, they have gone over to you they
have repudiated the principles under which they
were born; they have forgotten the sentiments
that they imbibed even from their mothers
breasts. Such men have repudiated all this,
and sworn featy to an institution that they hate !;
such are the men of the North who End favor
in this Government; the rest are aliens, pro-
scribed by you. Yet, sir, because they are not
perfectly patient under this state of things they
are said to be fanatical Abolitionists. should
like to know how long the patience of the South
would hold out? Let US reverse this nefarious
judgment; let Northern majorities come here
as memorable are you let Us inquire, is he
slaveholder that is proposed for Office? does he
train in their company? and if he ever dropped
q word that favored the institution of Slavery,
let MS prescribe him-would there be any shrek.
ing would you bear it like lambs? do you
the credit of saying that you would rise up I'M.
der such prescription as this, and show spirit
more worthy of the fathers than we do on this
side. / know you would. If we should under
take to hold you to those same intolerant and
proscriptive principles that you exercise to-
wards US, you would hear howl worse than
Mr.. Buchanan heard from the South when
Walker would not count fraudulent votes.
ANTAGONIST.
Mr.. President, have stated some of the rea-
sons why Northern men take a. deep and abb
ding interest in the question of Slavery, because
it tends to fasten it's nefarious shackles upon
them. We may Just as well look it right straight
in the face, for it never will be allayed with SEN
timent; you may sing hossnnas to this Union
until you are hoarse you may talk of our com.
mon blood and our common memories and
you may eulogize that great flag under which
our fathers fought; and you may 60 into hys-
terics on the subject; but tell you that Govern
ments, in the long run, will be governed by
their interests as they understand them, and by
nothing else. These are all very pretty matters
in their place, but the adminis.ratio of gov
eminent are made of sterner stuff. They are
never perpetuated by sentiments like these.
say to you, Mr.. President, there is unfortunate.
ly-and 1 regret it as much as any other man
diversity between US in our government that
seems almost irreconciable. / do not know
but that means may be found by which this
great gulf can be bridged over; but on the one
hand you fnd the freest communities that the
world ever saw, where real and unadulterated
Democracy does not reign as q sentiment, but
is lived out in practice by all the people; where
there il no aristocracy where there is no man
80 high that he can claim privilege beyond
his most humble fellow citizen. This is the
nature of the communities of the North, and of
none more so than of that State which I have
the honor in part to represent here. That is
the freest of the free. 1t was there that the
mind of that great patriot, Thomas Jefferson,
fixed his eye the moment we had repealed the
force of Great Britain. His philanthrepic eye
saw that great and beautiful wilderness lying
open, soon to be peopled by the citizens Of the
United States. 1t was leading object with
him to carry into practice those beautiful theo-
ries of equality which had charmed his great
mind 90 long. he lsbored increasingly until he
had fixed out document fully to carry out
there his great idea that the people should rule
the Governments of the earth. He found
nothing in the way of his theory there was q
blank sheet Of paper. There was Government
to be laid, unstained by any of the crimes of
ancient Rome. No institutions had grown up
there, inconsistent with right; and he fixed upon
that soil to carry out the great theory of self
government for which the world had labored
and sighed for 30 many generations; and there
the work was completed. In that region there
10 no aristocracy. In that glorious region there
IL no slave. Whoever comes there impressed
with the image of God, is acknowledged to have
an inahenable right TO liberty that none but
God can take away.
This is the character of the communities
composing more than ene-haf the States of
this Union. How ID it on the other eide Q WHY,
sir, understood the Senator from Virginia,
M. HUNTER, in the beautiful speech that he
made yesterday, which would have challenged
the admiration of every one, except for some
continents that were scattered through it, 70
say--I have not had the benefit Of seeing his
speech printed, but think he said-that these
ideas Of political equality which were held up
before our communities were utopan and fan.