The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-07-22
A Brilliant Future for Slavery.

A Brilliant Future for Slavery.
Tho Hon. Alexander IL stephens, of Ca,
an address to his late constituents,
on tho Fourth of July, which is truly a ro-
mnrkabo production. lie congratulated I
them upon the progress made by tho Slave
Powur, in the sixteen years he had repre-
sented them in Congrcss,and upon tho pros
pcct of greater progress yot to he made
Tho annexation of Texas, which prepared
the way for four now Slave States, he said,
vas the first great Congressional act in favor
of Slavery, in which ho had tho honor to
participate. Io believed as much as Mr..
Seward. in Higher Law-the Higher Law
of Slavery, and not of Freedom. He con-
tended that il was tho manifest destiny" of
Slavery to grow and expand, but that, in
order to render Cuba aud the largo slices OF
territory yet to bo stolen from Mexico, avail
able for tlat object, more negroes woro 10.
quired; and that they could not be had in
sufficient numbers, without tho re-openng
of tho African Slave Trade.
lie sho Sod that, to sustain tho doctrine Of
tho Drcd Scott decision, which makes no
/ distinction between slavo-proporty aud any
othcr species of property known to the
Constitution, it would be necessary for Con
gress to enact q Slave Codo for tho Terrific
rics. We give one extract from Mr. Ste
| phens' speech
Negro slavery is but in its infancy-it is
n mere problem of our Government; our
! fathers didn't understand it. ! grant that
! ali tho public mon of tho South were against
| it but they didn't understand it. 1t is for
us to moot questions with the Srmnoss
which thoy did. Tho problem is yot un-
| solved. Ours is not only the best, but it is
tho only government founded upon the prin-
! clplos uf Nature. Aristotle and other an.
cient philosophers had failed in thor tho
oriCs of government. Graduation is seen in
cvcrv thing in nature-iu tho ilOwerv world
from tho japonica down to tho viOlot, in the
vegetable kingdom, in tho stars, and ovon
in man. All government comes from the
Creator. Statesmen never look Mt this
principle Of graduation, but our government
is tho only ono founded on it; and our policy,
our institutions, and African slavery is
| founded on il. lt is nat fnr US to inquire
] L
most foolish to nttompt to make things
bottor than God mado them" Applause. ]
Mr. Stephens has been considered one o'
the most moderate and iair.mindod of the
Democratic politicians of Tho South; and
what he says may, therefore, DO regarded II:
an expression of tho views of tho leading
Southern men" upon this subject They al
have faith in the progress of Slavery tho,
. all boliovo that our forctathcrs did not un
dcrstnnd that "pecular institution" whicl
r is tho basis of the only natural and peyma
mont systom of government; the systom unde
II which they 1.-Two, and which they are cndea
?. vorng to introduce into the new territories
:, All tho great men that participated in tn
IS formation of our Government, and were i
principle opposed to Slavery, and proiesse
# TO dcsiro to SEQ it eradcated from tho lane
e according to Mr.. Stephens, wore ignorant q
the blessings it cOnfers upon those who liv
y under its benign influence. But he ougi
=. not to blamo those unfortunate men fo
pT thoir ignorance of the peculiar institution
sss whom he considers that it is, even now, in i
infancy. In the days of such old fogios
n. ~ Washington mud jefferson, it could not
ch said to have an existence, in the pure sta
in which we now behold il What bri
. liant future awaits tho infantiIa pet of Il
Democratic party,if it be permitted to gro
to manhood, in its present healthy cont
tonl But let not Mr.. Stephens set b
heart too much upon this prccocious chi
of the devil for, like many other promisil
or children, it may die young, or disappo
tho high hopes its friends.
r. No better evidence than this speech of NJ
~ Stephens, is needed TO show that tho pr
,ir sent political agitation in our country ,aris
We from a conflict of two utterly irreconciIab
ia principles, and that il must continue uni
d ono of those principles shall prevail at
N " "crush out" the other. Yet Mr.. Winthro
+ of Massachusetts, and tho entire class of pc
ii iticians to which he belongs, arc cryir
ed Poacc, peace, when there is no peace" at
no hope of peace, until the Federal Cover
ment shall be lound actively exorting
powers to maintain and perpotuate the bles
inn T. NAna 4