Freeman's champion., 1858-08-05
From the N. Y. Tribuue.l
o Choate on Compromise.

and motive power Of Statesmanship
and Government, is the argument OF
MH Choate's Grafton. Compromise
is sxpedient, is necessary, is newt
able; therefore it must be right, says
the Boston orator. All this may be
granted, without affecting the real
issue. No one denies that COmpro-
mise is essential to the integrity and
power of a State; for even Lloyd
Garrison and his fellow Disunionists
themselves compromise in paying
taxes to supporta Government which
they denounce and would overthrow.
The question which Mr., Choate eludes,
but which involves the main issue lie
seeks to have decided in his favor, is
this: Can Government righyaHy re-
q,.ire or constrain a citizen to do that
Which he deems a fragrant wrong
A Christian and an Atheist, it is
clear, may be members Of the same
communities, citizens Of the same
State. A Christian mqy even vote for
an Atheist for q high public trust # he
believes the public good would there
by be subserved. But suppose the
Christian were required, by way of
concession or compromise, to con-
sent that Atheism should be protect
ed, endowed, affirmed, propagated. by
the State-what then u.
An honest, upright man is travel
ing overland to California, and, by
some casualty, has been separated
from his companions. He tails in
with another traveller, whom he knows
to be a highway robber. That rob-
Der proposes that the two shall pro.
ceed in company, under compact OF
mutual defense and help. The hon
est man does not like such company,
vet he has but Hobson's choice, and
concludes to close with the offer
But suppose the robber should con-
tinue to rob along their way, and
should insist that his comrade should
aid him in SO doing, or at least pro-
tect and defend him in the possession
Of his booty against the forcible re-
clamations Of its rightful owners
what then? n..iI' ..utU. uo.
Now suppose Slave State sug-
gests to Free State an alliance iol
reciprocal protection and defense, OF
even for other purposes Of common
benefit and unexceptionsble tendency
we do not see that the mere fact that
the proposer held slaves should con
strain rejection Of the profler. Bu
suppose it were added :" If any o
my slaves escape into your territory
you shall catch and return them, iol
shall allow me to hunt and capture
them OH your SOIL" is it clear that
the Free State could assent to tho
poffered bargain without crime ?
crime in her, in view of her Anti-Sla
very convictions, whatever it NIGH
be in the other. y, ag rol, 900
Then suppose the Slave State
should say, Let us buy or cOnque,
adjacent territories, and divide then
between us--half to Free Labor, hal
to Slave"---could the Free State in
nocently assent to that ? Still moro
could she agree to wage war in com
mon for the acquisition Of provinces
which should all be Slave Territory
{ as is decreed by tho Dred Scott do
cision ? ... .l.Il..,..,. a.
We know, Of all events, that ou
Revolutionary sires never did assen
10 any such compact as this. W.
know that the Territorial ,Ordinanc,
Of 1887 and the Federal Constitution
were virtually simultaneous acts, ant
in effect parts Of one compact, modi
J, flying each other. We know that, /
the North assented by the Constitu
tion to the reclamation Of fugitiv'
slaves, tho South agreed by the Ordi
nance OF ,87 to exclude Slavery from
the Federal Territories. Now, then
liz Mr.. ohoate really stands up 70
Compromise and mutual concession
, lot him call on the South to fulfill he
part of the compact while he makes
like demand Of tho North. Let hin
. ovince something Of that spirit whicI
/ he commends, and ash his party 4
) do likewise, But no---he reprove
| tho champions Of Liberty, but fail
! to rebuke the devotees Of Slavery
: The fanaticism Of Massachusetts !
' his adherence but the fahaticisnn Q
! Alabama ho will not perceive. s
. long as tho South will consent to sta
' in tho Union, he would have her hi
: mored TO the utmost. Let us surren
! der tho Tcrritodosto Slavery lett d
+. make wars and acquire more terrific
Z! ny for the same purpose, says het 4
. elfect--let us banish all scruples, ,sti
Ae all twingcs OF conscience, in orde
: 10 sRtisiy the Slavery Extonsionist'