The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-10-20
henry Cisy On sres Labor.


Henry Ciay sn srce Labor.
We have before ne Henry Clsy's great
speech on Free Labor, delivered in Frank
fort, Ky.
The African part Of our population, or their
ancestors, were brought hithcr forcibly and
by violence, in the prosecution of the most
abominabls traffic that ever disgraced the an.
nails Of the human race. They were chiefly
procured, In their native country, as captives
in war, taken, and subsequently sold BY the
conqucror as slaves to the slave trader
Some times the most attrocious practices Of
kidnapping were employed to obtain posses
sion Of the victims. Wars we're frequent be-
tween numerous and barbsrious neighboring
tribes scattered along the coasts or stretched
| upon the margin OF large rivers of Africa
These wars were often enkindled and PROSE
cuted for no other object than to obtain
supply of subjects for this most shocking
| commerce. In these modes, husbands were
torn from their wives, parents from their
children, brethren from each other, and every
tie cherished and respected among men, was
violated. Upon the arrival, at the African
coast, of the unfortunate beings thus reduced
10 slavery, they were embarked on board OF
ships carefully constructed and arranged to
CuQtAlQ TIC kEeRkcot au0uut Va uuM0u UCiukss
Here they were ironed and fastened in paral-
| lei rows, and crowded together SO closely in
| loathsome holes, az not to have room for ac-
ton or for breathing wholesome air. The
great aim Was to transport the greatest pos
sible number, at the least possible charge,
from their native land to the markets for
which they were destined. The greedness Of
cupidity vas frequently disappointed and
punished in its purposes, by the loss OF moi
I ties of whole cargoes OF the subjects OF this
| infamous commerce, from want and suffering
and disease on the voyage. How much hap
pier were they who thus expired, than their
miserable survivors
| These African slaves were brought to the
continent OF America, and the islands ada
cent to it, and formed the parent stock Of the
race now among 10. They were brought to
the colonies now constituting the United
States, under the sanction and by the author
| ity of British laws, which at m early period
Of our colonial existence, admitted and toll
Grated the trade. 1t is due to our colonial
ancestors to cay that they frequently and
| earnestly but UNNECESSARILY demonstrated to
| the Bai,ish Crown against the continuance Of
| the practice The introduction Of slavery
into the country is not, therefore, chargeabie
to them, but to government IN which they
had no voice, and over which they had no
control Ii is equally due to our parent state
TO advert to the honorable fact that in the
midst of the Revolutionary war when con
tending for her own independence and liberty
she eyiuced the sincerity Of the spirit in which
those remonstrances had been addressed to
the British throne, BY denonncing, under the
severest penalties, the further prosecution Of
the slave trade within her jurisdiction. And
odd With great satisfaction, thai the Con-
gress Of the United States passed an act
aholishing the trade rs early as by their CON
stitution ii was authorized to do. On the
second day Of March, 1907, the act was pass
ed, for which it was my happy lot to vote
the first section Of which enacts, "that from
and after the first day Of January, 1908, il
|, shall not be lawful to import or bring into
the United States or the territories thereof
! from any foreign kingdom, place or country
any negro, mulatto, or person OF color, with
intent to hold, sell or dispose OF such negro
mulatto or person of color, as slave, or Il
be held to service or to labor" Thus termi'
mated, we may hope, forever, in the United
States, q disgraceful traffic, which drew after
it train Of enormities surprising in magni'
tude, darkness and duration, any that ever
sprang from any trade pushed by the enter.
, prise or cupidlty Of man.
The several States Of the Unor
we're sensible of the responsibility which &C
crued to them on the establishment Of ia,
Independence Of the United States, 10 regart
to the subject Of slavery. And many ofthen
beginning at period, prior to the termina.
ton of the Revolutionary war, by SUCCESSIVE,
and distinct acts Of legislation, have easctu
ally provided for the abolition OF SLAYER,
within their respective jurisdictions. More
than thirty years ago an attempt was made
in this Commonwealth, to adopt system o.
gradual emancipation, similar to that which
the ilustrous Franklin had mainly contribu
ted to introduce in the year 1893, in the State
founded by the benevolent Penn. Ana
among the acts Of my life, which look bacl
to with most satisfaction is, that OF my hav
ing CO. operated with other jealous and intel
ligeut friends, TO procure the establ,shmen
OF that system in this State. We believe tina
the sum OF good which would have been at
tanned by the State OF Kentucky, in grad
! ual emancipation OF her slaves at That periot
would have far transcribed the aggregate o
mischief which might have resulted TO her
. self and the Union together, from the gradua
! liberation Of them. and their dispersion an'
/, residence in the United States. We wer
J oyerpowered hv numbers but submitted q
the decision Of the majority with the grac
which the minority in q republic should eve
yield to such decision. lhave nevertheless
Q never ceased, q nd never shalt cease, to re
9 greet decision, the effects Of which have bee
e to place US in the rear Of our neighbors VIII
! are exempt from slavery, in the state Of agri
: culture, the progress OF manufactures, III
advance Of Improvement, and the geners
i prosperity of society.
!. !. Az the supply Of laborers In
creases, competition will arise between nj
only individuals, but classes for employment
. The superior qualities which have been a
y trbuted to free labor, will ensure for that II
y preference, wherever the alternative is pr,
70 scented Of engaging free or slave labor at o
:. equal price. Ths composition and the pr,
= ference fer white labor, are believed to
- already observable in parts OF Marylan'
" Virginia and Kentucky, and probably existt
70 in Pennsylvania and other states, north
is Maryland, prior to the disappearance Of slav
10 from amongihem. The march OF the ascen'
- / ~ I,.tx a}nva will