The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-02


"hat we propose to do, and nothing more That
was what the fathers of the Republic did Is
there anything wrong in that = | think, if you
win iPok at this matter canddly, you will see
that " is right, and that it is your duty TO insist
upon it.
Inc Charge that we want to have anything to
DO with negroes is utterly untrue Ii is false
clanor, raised to mislead the public mind Our
policy is, to have nothing to do with them; and
/ mysen am very much inclined to favor the pro-
lect suggested by Mr.. Blair, of Missouri, at the
last session of Congress. He suggested a plan
Tor colonlzlng our free negroes who are willing
TO go somewhere in Central America where an
/ arrangement could be made by which their rights
may De secured to them. The policy now is
such as 10 prevent emancipation ; and although
we DO not want to interfere with the domestic
institution OF Slavery in the States still we wish
10 lnterpose no obstacle TO the people of those
States IN getting rid of their slaves whenever they
think fit to do So
we know that many of the free States have
passed laws prohibiting the emancipation of
slaves by their masters unless they are taken out
OF the State The result of this legislation is,
that emancipation must cease, for where are the
negroes to go? Many slaves have been emanci-
pated during the last half century; there are
thousands OF free negroes in Virginia but that
policy is now stopped, because it is impractical
BILE, there being no way of disposing of the negro
when emancipated Many masters in the South
desire to emancipate their slaves, and especially
is this the case as they approach death for how
ever they may reason while in health, and
tboughtless of that event which levels all alike
they are very apt, in making up their last ac-
count and disposng of their property, to think
of the wrong and injustice they have done by
holding some of their fellow-men in bondage, and
they are quite willing to emancipate them.
Thousands would be emancpated, if there was
Ma l.lo--
am very much disposed to favor the colonization
of such free negroes as are willing to go in Cen
trail America. ] want to have nothing to do
either with the free negro the slave negro.
We, the Republican party, are the white mans
party Great applause. We for free white
men, and for making white labor respectable and
honorable, which it never can be when negro
slave labor is brought into competition with it.
Great applause.
We wish to settle the Territories with free
white men, and we are willing that this negro
race should go anywhere that it can to better its
condition, wishing them God speed wherever
they go. We believe it is better for us that they
should not be among US. believe it will be
/ better for them to go elsewhere.
VOICE. Where to?
! Mr.. TRUMBULL. | would say to any Central
American State, that will make an arrangement
by which they can be secure in their rights until
, they arrive at a time when they can protect and
take care of themselves.
! VOICE. But if you can't protect them here,
how can they be protected in Central America.
| Mr.. TRUMBULL. | would colonize them. We
! COLOMBO Indians on our Western frontier; why
can't we coonize the negro as well as the Indian
We can suffer them to go off into country by
! themselves.
This Central American country seems to be
adapted to the negro race. 1t is unhealthy and
enervating to the white man. Let the negroes
60 there, if they wish and | understand there is
no objection on the part of the people of portions
of Central America to the negroes coming there
and enjoying an equality of rights, Applause,
and this would give them an opportunity to i'm
prove their condition. would be glad to see
this country relieved of them, believing it better
both for them and for US that we should not
mingle together. Besides, such an outlet, were
it provided would be the means of freeing thou
sands who would otherwise be continued in Sla-
very.
DOUGLAS AND DIVERSITY OF OUR IN
STITUTIONS."
will say a word in regard to the argument
or rather perversion, it should be called have
seen going the rounds of the papers, that if such
a state of things should take place-that the
States should think proper to emancipate and
send their slaves Oft could not be done with
out producing a uniformity between the institu-
tons of the different States and that would lead
to despotism.
1t is said that our free institutions rest upon
the basis of diversity of laws and institutions
in the different States: and it is argued. that if
| there is uniformity on the subject of Freedom
| there must be uniformity upon every other sub
ject-unitormity of laws for the granite hills of
New Hampshire, the rice fields of South Carolina,
| the mines OF California, and the praries of ILL
nois
1t is difficult to treat so illogical an inference
seriously but if it be true that uniformity on the
subject of Freedom in all the States requires
uniformity of laws upon all subjects in the sew
eral States, then diversity on the one subject
would require diversity upon all. On this prin-
clple, can prove that the men who advocate
1t, and who say that diversity is the basis of our
free institutions, are themselves in favor of icens-
ing robbers, and burglars, and thieves and muir
derers and repeating all laws for furnishing such
offenders. And why ? Because all the States of
the Union have laws for preventing the commits
sion Of such crimes and, as diversity of laws is
the basis OF our Tree institutions, must repeal
our criminal code, in order to bring it about lest
by having laws in all the States Furnishing such
criminals, we fall into despotism
Now, you who are for diversity of laws and in
situations in the different States must sanction
murder, robbery, burglary, and theft, according
to your own mode of reasoning. Tho application
OF such reasoning is as good one way as the other
upon the Republicans-who would wish that, in
the providence of God, not human being trod
his footstool in the capacity of slave, loud APP
plerse "a desire to have uniformity of laws and
institutions in all the States on all subjects |
say this simply turning the argument used
against us upon those who make it. and showing
that they just as obnoxious to the charge of
advocating diversity of laws and institutions
upon all subjects as we are of advocating uni
formity upon all.
CONCLUSION.
Having given the views of the Republican
party, a. understand them, in regard to Sla-
very, designed to have said something upon
the unwarrantable assumption of power by the
Federal Executive, but am already SO much ex-
hausted as to be unable TO do So / intended
to have pointed ont to you the nature of the as
sumptions of power on the part of the Federal
Government, tending to consolidation and to
break down the sovereignty of the States to
have shown, as it can be shown and demonstra-
ted that this party, now calling itself Democratic,
Is the old Federal party in disguise. Go on
good, good; go on and applause1
1t is true, and can be demonstrated to be true
The powers which have been usurped by Pierce
and buchanan would have led to the impeach-
ment believe, of Washington himself. Zap
plause.1
Why, the President of the United States now
assumes 10 raise armies, without calling upon
Congress. He has enlisted volunteers. without
the least authority from Congress- He has
marched an army away to the Rocky Mountains
and encamped it there during the winter, at an ex
pense OF millions and millions of dollars, without
The least authority OF law. Bot all that u Demo-
cratic Congress does is to raise the money to nav
for the expedition. say nothing here of the i'm
policy of that expedition speak of the want of
power In the President to send it there 1t is done,