Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-04-29
speech in the House OF Representatives.
February -, 1855.

MIR LETCiIEI raid:
Mr. Cm,nu,S: have listened with 4 great deal Of AZ
t.n,ion and no snail degree ni surprise. I" tn" -i"e't !u>
delivered hy the gentleman from New lorN. WI. ',,TI"!N
W. are all citizens Of the -hnic n"N eF,iiIe,'' We d. nav"
common intrrr,; in this Union, and !: /. well enough FOR IL
coming from different sections nf the country. I" nnder''Hi'
the precise position which each Is 10 occupy '"f the Hinrr
tn. gentleman commenced hi remark. hy stating T." ne
committee that lie meant to ,reas rahiiils any ''''hi!
,h,, he meant To give u 81 the south 'lnti'" "i 'Nv l'V,''''
which the North occupied, that ~" ri.h' Gi'irf'''i' n''S
aner the course OF events. Now. -r, l "'.t" u, Ms" j"
order to a corrrc, understanding. whether II + 'hr ha'l'Ha
sentiment Of the North. 10 far ~ that gentleman i aware
that. M IN. next Congress, All aitcmli. i Ia De- made L" re
neal the fugitive slave Law. or To modify ,hi' III" W "a
manner u, TO snneN to il, the condition oi u ynF! ,rl1l u ~
plarr In which the Ascending slave MAS be- arrested
MIR GOODWIN | cannot tell what the decision 81 '"'
who's North would be- on that question: hut. Tor one
.r.asiu, Tor myself, should bee very happy Indeed 10 >''
II done. u,
S.w YORK awhile ago, h- undertook "a speak. DO: OIL! lot
himself, hut for the Emrir- STATE. lie urri'rt"'" 10 "r'I"r'
what the public sentiment of that Stat" Wa "' 'hr Er"t'
on,.,ion Ia which the south Mas Interested. AMI IA "ihtl
the existence of The Union Itself wa concerned.
vi. GOODWIN. The gentleman did n' .,"i.t, o,,, ~
the sentiment % the state OF NJ" i"F.' 'p"Hr "' u :. ="
ci.ion ihey had rendered In rcfrr"hr" 10 tie repeal oi th'
Missouri COMPROMISE. and that there VA a Irc't h"Hor!'H
,I.r. In t,ynr Of iL,. restoration ~ The restriction " ne
Missouri compromise excluding slavery from 'hr-e ','''
tories. .
L., ~. ,., back To the point want to a>c~rr'aII-tni y Is
Lu, to that -er,ion Of the country from which ! come '"'
Il should know-whriicr i, !. the settled ai,h iNtt l'afr'''
N lie NpTt 10 UIlf ~ 't''
Law either hy a repeal ar BY Slcil Il modification o' !N pr"
visions a, shall rcndc. the law no longer u ''ica"d .tit'eh'
,r,,rc,ion for II, in the recovery o! oar lave property.
80 far a., that point i. concerned. lei 1t pa - me gen
tlcinan in,l. difficulty in an-"trii'. NY lnr',''!, 'n. sc az
come to another point. desire 10 Si"" "i.t'''"fn Use
settled policy Of New York. ct "h"il'"r i = me -r'''t' l'
LEV Of the North. In - future Congress, :" ''i'l"l' 10 revive
the Missouri resir!cii"h:
the -i-,,or. Of the state Of New YORK are ~ favor OF r."
staring the slavery restriction ~ ilIr Tcrri;oiir' "i MAXI
and Nebraska. and are opposed TO the introduction 81 'ii'''
~ therein. .,,
what tM. position OF the gentleman j.. l understand IL Ia
~. OPENLY proclaimed that. a; the mrN: session "f C"h;rr>'
an attempt l. to he male to bring a',"rt t'i' result a"i
im,,irr. from ,hr manner In which tar s"ni!-inai. 'i'r"h''
and from the sentiments which have beet! uttered ~ W.
Gentleman from Ohio Mr.. GiupNGSN To might. tin' ihi' :"
,I,rIr hyrd and settled purpose. AMI even th" -aiIc'i'y %: TIA"
Union or tie preservation Of the Government: sill Ho' pre-
vent them from making the effort
I desire ,n know, upon the ihiri point. what i Vie 'c'''cl
pnu,y 81 the State of New York. or she N"Tth"r! portion "i
hi, con,cleracy, In regard To- the rNc!u>!on 90 slavery hH
congressional prohibition, irom'hc irrrit"rI''. w, '''",.'.
nro,,.rty Of the nation. 4 gentleman suggests mere 'h''
iii. necessarily embraces the po!ii; 90 which | have i!iea"F
referred. will Ask. then. whether II i-'i" ,.iilrd io.'N
NJ IN. North T., r,.ort to Northern power Ia ihi- House. for
,lr ur,rpo.r Of excluding. in All time 'p come. by the tN'I.
,..nf ron.rr..loud p"~cr, slavery from the rrrFi'"r'"' II
Kansas. Nebraska. "r any otl'r. which la ben ''l'ir'i
by the common blood aud common ir"h>HT" uI M, country
'TI.u uu,,n IN. fourth point. desire tn kM"" how ne
Empire S,arr and the North 'rani: Ar" 'hcy in favor 81
passing - Law here, At g future ,rS'i"n "i '"'ii'''' ''''''"'
Mr Go0pwIN. | cannot speak. u course, in relation 10
the action of the North upon TIL, subject.
Mr. LrTCltER. Well. "f the EHp'rr STATE. then.
Mr.. GOODwIN. have no 'louh, that ~. STATE Of Nv
YORK vouII ~. In fay"r-I certainly aIG-"f submitting The
proposition to the people 81 'hi> District TO determine
whether ,h.y would abolish slavery therein ar not.
Nr LETCIIER. II villh be- rrcollcc'ri 10y every Gentleman
vh, la. required to the history IL past events. that. upon
one occasion. = representative from Tie S;a'r u NV ,"'T
introduced upon this floor II proposition. whi'i. WI, adopted
iy this HOUSE. 10 abolish slavery In the District Of '"'iIi''i
have now obtained the answers To the I'ie''ions ! pro-
po-r,I. and these answers are pregnant viii mrihinli L" W."
S,uth II IL iiuuoTtan' - u That We -llnuII u''i"i-tahri u
purposes and objects oi the Northern people u i ih,i'''
I'M q, ~. fnr m. reason that Ihc south should come here
al IN. next session with a spin; pf determination prrl'afrH
To resist auy effort Of this sort "n the par. 81 We NORM. ~
the consequence, what they may. II ii- I nI"i' cannot lee
preserved upon terms OF equality, arI u the 'crr'"r! 90
his country, acquired by the common blood ana common
irra.ur-, l. not ,n hr op-n alike L" TIE Norm 'hi 'h''
south. ,hcn We DEERE 10 l." 'ii"ri'r! "i 'h' '','.
and whenever the crisis come. The mon mus u,
dissolved. whatever may h. III" regret 'ha' WI attend
II. dissolution. I. for one, regarded ~ on" ~ 'r mr't
conservative men in my own state. ami IN" lIiilS' =" htNe'"
,ha, th-re was "A settled purpose IL iIi- Kind any Nli"rr. am
vet pr-pared for the result whichever iiifs" ISSUES .idi ~
i,rrn,d man i. by the people 81 The North. shall stand
w. ,he r;.h,.n The Land IN which | va. bora. and In which,
I trust. nv hone. shall r,pu-r. ask nui!iiiishrr in' What
| am willing 10 accord 10 others: and 80 lnns a. ! have AYE.
mr. yoir, or An arm To- raise. 'l-y will De- raised In de-
f-nc. Of the rights. institutions, and honor IT ia" glorious
S,n,h tn. lninn las H. benefits an! blessings. ac'
knowledge them all. but a Union basel upon other pr.h'i
uI.. than those Of equality has no charms '"r rae. ic''i'
I'm, stat. which has maintained her right in time, past.
and which will stand by them IN all time u com WIN I'''
frmnrs.. Whenever. an airn1i,, = ".tI. !" .,.n H., ," .n.
,mr North will find that Virginia can AMI vii exhibit - -lir'
OF stern resistance. tia, she will s,andby her rs''' a"i III
stitu,iun. 10 thr death.
NJ WI.;IIrS 4; the people % tM- St,;r %. Nir:inia. or.
more particularly, Of the li.tric; which ia" gentleman Re-
pr.,rn,. so ably upon this floor. FELT II l." be Tor 'h.lr me
rest. md that the right belonged 10 them Ia do u. 10 AK ior
the abolition Of slavery in the District "t CnliinhIl) ""HIi
the gentleman then vote FOR such u proIo-i'l"t'
Mr.. LETCIIEls. hold that We have no rI.' ! mr'tr
with I, at all. that Congress has no business 1" pa a Law
interfering with Il, that il u an n'urpa'ioh o' power "'"'.
can lead 10 nothing hut mischief.
Lei me say another thing tn the gentleman from Ne"
York. God knows the gentleman went; far enough last year
with the anti rhraska party In iiis war ac.'i''' 'he 'h,n-
tutionS of the South: yet seems That he 'l nr' :" Nv
rnousl. for his constituents. and he wa. thfo"ii' iHete'"tr'
overheard. and u regular Seward Wing -"iii here IN h>
place. I; seems that the gentleman ll not =" far enough
I'm, OF the Democrat. sent here TO his Congress no" many
are le; TO tell the tale: /. there n solitary one ',"i 1" the
next Congress WHO voted Tor the Nebraska bill.
Mr.. HUGHES. Not one.
Mr.. LErCIIEI, There J. ,hr evidence - What J. t"i"r'
In, or The Emuirr State. To- which III" gentleman over The
yay MIR. Gunrw,Nl referred. and Iii, !. on. oil TIE Sttir,
where they lay \ great national par! ia, -rt''f mp ~.
+ to preserve the Union, that J., :" Keep "I A-nn''un :" ~
,s he question OF slavery i concerned. Her" i The "'i-
drnce-a solid column 81 anti Nebraska iiri, prepared 10
yo,. for a repcal II the fnsitiveslayc law. :, rr-I'' The IN
REDUCTION III -I,yery into the Territory 81 Kansas. rTem IL
the people Of that Territory w..l II AMI. u uni.F't'i'H
their sentiments, they are ready To vote a:aiI.' ~. ''.;'.
I ~ NJ a. a Law state. l. II no; 50? wha; member from
III. North on This Go"r will deny that such are 'h" opinions
OF the r.ople he Represents, on 'hi- floor:
Mr. tiIDDISGS. ! will EXPIRES to The committee" my ga
,ihcation at having the privilege Of cNchanginc sentiments
with the able gentleman from Vi gina WEI h'I'nth'' wa"
reprcsenieia different section "i The country 'F"i! wa
which I represent. / am pleased 10 say ;'a; the gentleman
from Virginia and myself can ''l. over 'hi' matter hhr
mon A. hc.nmr statesmen, without uu'lu" "N'It"'i'"H'. ]
am yillinr-having held y sea; here for -'ihr ''inr. 'il rN-
Meeting 10 continue here for suine Two years mort" sif
to this House aud the country what ! in''r'' ';.i 70 t." TIE
northern sentiment prevailing IN the ir"r state. ;" lar ~ l
und,r.t,nd Il: and | with 20 10 IL In a di-l'is,i"n"i" lHii'
urr. tha, all shall explicitly comprehend my view. ! do
understand that. in the convection which 'r''u-' 'r ..Il'
s,i,uiion. ii Wa. understood. most distinctly ana rNrH''H'
,ha, slavery WA a State institution, conirH'! 4" ~s't;"Jnfl--
Iic,ipu. with which 10" Federal Government n"i'aer hal
nor should have any power ~ interfere
Mr.. LETGiiRE. want ~. gentleman :" come !" ne
present i.-u-. ! wan; 20 kuoH What ~ may 'Nrc'! how,
hot what ha> occurred heretofore.
Mr.. GIppISt,S. i will do -. Mr.. Gerry declared IA
tina, convention that avery Wa : state Institutions: that
while the Federal Goycrnmrn; had TO jurisdiction over i,
We should be- careful 10 lend il no sanction. L" Mi That
holy lent an imiui-,i approval. no member 'IN~"nflu: from
Il. bnt all apparently coinciiins with tire yir" oi VI. Terry.
Now. sir. | ,ay to thu honorable gentleman from Virginia.
and to the House, that the freemrn II the free >'atr- intend
TO carry ou; In practice Iii. doctrine of the Constitution
anil the father IL our Republic. We intend :" -"l'At@'.
nj. Government and the peopl. -. ia. free STATE from all
responsibility and all guilt uf sg.taiiin: oppression, o. ny"
holding slavery, and direct II. action ;u the encouragement
., liberty. virtue, ani the elevation Of our race. Our .e".
pie intend to he purified from the crimes and iniHn''l"- ~
slavery and the slave trade. While We leave he ih''i'nii"i'
with the slav. States. untouched by eur legislation; Will
W. guard all the state. In the enjoyment, oftheir lH''"-"'
We will protect our own ri.ht- with equal a"ihni'E'
Now. .r. IN ORDER TO 10 tli.-hr | oniy r''" 10 .'a'r :"
ms friend wiia, | understand To De- the l-.u', imt'lhcI ia
the present conflict a. 20 slavery IN the Dl,'r!c' "' '"lnh'
ba. tn Which that gentleman last alI'it!cl-i WI "N 7!"N'
that We will secure ip the I-ojl. here popular s"t'rriet'
"" W. will repeal the I,w- which "" has" ena",.i' which
now sustain slavery and the slave iralt h-r'. anu 80 ~"
people Of thi, District 70 maintain ;lt"ir popular 'o'rr"i.n-
w. Of which W. heard - much from my friend ana NJ
Marty If the last session OF Coucr.s-. ! n"ah i' '- i"o-
pie. black and white. permitting each :" b.. ..v'r"isn 81 BIZ
own conduct. 20 lon: a. h. in:-rf-rc- with the rights -: TO
other person. Tia; We will not. by She iaT ~ congress,
rive, The chains. nor put handctf' upon on' 'e.Io" men
her.. I'm, VI. will withdraw our power from The supper; Il
slavery. and leave the whole people Of iii. District I" enjoy
their ronular sovereignty. / do hot think W. .halI '.s ~.
peoul. Of Ia. District whether We may separate OURSELVES
from IN. suppor, Of slavery here. We will do IL Of Our own
,,no,ion our own Judgment. We will not share the guilt,
nor the issrace. OF u~pho!hing the slase irad- here. Of su.-
,,ipinc the practice Of rearin: hoys and girls for the mar.
k-, in hi, city. We are no; going 20 interfere with slavery
here. we will cease TO Interfere with that institutions; but
We will encourage freedom. not slavery. We DO not intend
10 saw tia, men here shall he free. God AMI nature have
said iha,-and We will protec; the rights which our Creator
ha. conferred on mankind.
And | further say 10 the gentleman. that. in the mex.
ni,c.. We will take good care to follow In the footsteps OF
Jefferson, and OF the Congress Of ls>i. and exclude slavery
from every foot Of territory belonging to this Government,
By Law Of Congress.
I say again. | have had SOME experience here. and expect
TO be a member Of the mex; Congress. and / do expect. A. /
expect TO live and get back here. to see the next Congress
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