Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-08-10
WHO ARE THE Ae1rAroRs


It has been the continual effort of the sub
seryient tools in the n orth of the slavery-ex-
tending policy of the South to cast odium up
on the opposition by charging them with con-
stantly agitating the slavery question. The
charge is without foundation. The position OF
the North on this subject has been throughout
on the defensive; the aggression has come
from the other quarter. Ii any evidence was
needed 10 sustain this, 1t may be found to the
fullest extent in the speech lately delivered to
his constituents by the Hon. n.Alexander Ii. Ste
phens, of Georgia, one of the ablest represen-
tatiyes in Congress from the South, on his dc
clining election and retiring to private life.
He, to be sure, does not admit that the South
was the aggressor; but he congratulates his
hearers on the successes achieved By it in all
agitationS OF the slavery question, commen-
cling with the annexation of Texas, and sums
up its triumphs as follows 81
ssBut so far from the institution of African
slavery in our section being weakened or rem
dered less secure by the discussion, my delib-
crate judgment is that it has been greatly
strengthened and fortiied-strengthened and
fortified not only in the opinions, convictions
| and consciences Of men, but by the action of
the Government. Questions that were doubt
tul and mooted before these agitatons have
since been settled-settled | have stated,
settled by all the departments of the Govern
ment, the legislative, executive, and judicial.
The old Missouri restriction of 1920 has been
taken from the statute book. There is not
now spot of the public territory of the Uni
ted States, over which the national flag floats,
where slavery is excluded by law of Congress;
and the highest tribunal of the land has deci-
ded that Congress has no power to pass such
a law, nor to grant such power to Terrific
rial Legislature. All this has been the result
of these agitations.''
AT the same time that Mr.. Stephens boasts
OF, these achievements and that ssAfrican slave
ryxy nc oir,Ia hot.
be successfully assailed by reason and argu-
ment,'' he admits that at the organization of
our government even ssthe leading public men
of the South were almost all against 1t. JEFF
| ferson was against it;' he says, s'Madson was
against it; nearly all of them were against it.
This freely admit when the authority of their
names is cited.' But Mr.. Stephens says, ssthe
world is growing wiser, and upon no subject
more rapidly than that of the proper status of
the negro. In my Judgment there are more
thinking men at the North now who look upon
our system of slavery as right, socially, NOR
ally and politically, than there were even at
the South thirty years ago." This last SEN
l>tence reads to us very much like a sarcasm at
the expense of the Northern doughfaces who
have assisted Mr.. Stephens in achieving his
boasted victories for slavery. 1t sounds like
perversion of all right reason TO contend Sc
riously for the social, moral and political rec
titude of slavery, especially by Northern men,
leading men Of the South in our early history
were opposed to it.. Mr.. Stephens gets rid of
the weight of their authority, however, by
charging their, in his view, erroneous opinions
on their ignorance of the sutject ssIt was
question:" says he, sswhich they did not and
perhaps could not thoroughly understand at
that time. 1t was then new question in the
construction OF constitutional government
1t is thus that ssYoung America coolly dis
poses of, and dispenses with the wisdom of the
fathers! Mr.. Stephens goes further, and bold
ly places himself on the ground of ssthe high
er law" He says :-s'Many seem to be not
only astonshed, but offended, at the sshgher
| law'' doctrine of the Senator from New York,
(Mr. Seward.) ! too believe in the higher law
the law of the Creator manifested in His
works and revelations. Upon this our cause
eminently rests.' He takes the most ultra
ground on this point, fully mp to the most ad-
vanced position of Nh. Seward which has drawn
upon him such censure. Mr.. Stephens says:
ssI recognize to the fullest extent the doc
trine that all human laws and constitutions
must be founded upon the Divine law. And if
there is any right secured or any obligation
imposed in our Constitution inconsistent with
this law, underlieing and overruling all others,
such right and such obligation must be yield
ed. would not swear TO support any const-
tuition inconsistent with this higher law. Let
us not deceive ourselves; this question has to
be grasped and comprehended in all its vast
dimensions; on it we need not orators so
much as thinkers, nor disclaimers much as
| reasoners. We must stand on the higher law,
as well as upon the Constitution. The latter
| must be subordinate to the former.''
Having thus proclaimed the subordination
of the Constitution to ssthe higher lava doc
trine which, when first avowed by Mr.. Seward,
struck all our Northern doughfaces with holy
horror, Mr.. Stephens proceeded to Justify sla-
very by that sshigher law" OF course, the at
tempt was abortive, and consisted in effort
to sustain it by the analogies of creation, all
of which was very well as a mere figure of
speech, but wholly defective as argument when
you would reason of being endowed with an
immortal soul, as you would of the vegetable
kingdom, or of 'sthe beasts that perish.''
Mr.. Stephens also indicated to his late con-
stituentS the further measures of agitation
which they must adopt in order to extend the
blessed institution of slavery and maintain
their own influence in the Union. Among
these was the acquisition of new territory, in
Guiding parts of Mexico, but chiefly Cuba. He
is not much in favor of buying Cuba, as pro-
posed by Mr.. Buchanan. He would give Spain
million or two to ssobtain SO great result
without difficulty, if Spain saw fit to receive
1t; but the right way is just to take ito
ssrepeal our own laws which make it penal and
criminal for our own citizens to go and help
the people of Cuba to achieve their indepen-
dence," and thus to gain the prize. Such an
idea is entirely consistent with the ethicai prih-
ciples on which Mr.. Stephens JustIhes the So
clal, moral and political rectitude OF slavery.
His other scheme of agitation is,when plain
ly prononuced to reopen the African slave
trade. He tells his hearers that they cannot
have moro slave States without more slave pop
ulation-that they ssmay not expect to see ma
ny of the Territories come into the Union as
stavc States unless we have an increase of If
aican Stock" ssIt takes people to make States
and 1t REQUIRES NeOnia Of the Afriaap 10