The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-10-12
Extract from Speech delivered by
Hon. Horatio Seymour, at St. Paul,
Minnesota.

Why is it that good men have been taught
of late years to cherish something like ha-
tired toward their fellow countrymen, because
they chance to live in circumstances and insti-
buttons different from our own! Why is 1t
that we are forgetful of the cost at which
our liberty was achieved Why is it that
the very institutions which have contributed
so much to our great prosperity are held in
such light regard Now, | am northern
man, standing on northern soil and speaking to
northern men, and, in speaking of the South
though believe with the North that they
have men among them who are selfsh-yet
after all, as body, imagine them as patriot
ic men, who love their country, as brothers of
my own, men whom wish to see live in the
kindly memories Of every citizen of this great
and glorious land-thereforc, in speaking of
the origin, rise and history of this difference
between northern and southern men. | shall
speak of the faults Of the North, as | consider
it in good taste and true manhood to sneak
plainly to those who hear me, and kindly of
those who are away. When our fathers on
common battle fields, were struggling for com
mon rights, slavery existed in all our colonies:
there was no exception; it was OIL every rood
Of ground. We had no difficulty on account
of slavery then, in achieving our independ-
ence. But since that time slavery as been
abolished over more than one half of this
land of ours. 1t IS now in comparatively con-
tracted limits, and now we hear that it must
lead to alienation of the people and the dis
ruption of this great Confederacy. fear that
we of the North are unjust, and not altogeth-
er courageous, in our treatment of our breth-
rem of the South. How came slavery in these
United States? Who brought the negro
from Africa The South never had ships,-
The men of New York, where came from
the men of Massachusetts, and the men of
Rhode Island, were those who stole them from
their homes and brought them over to the
shambles here. Who laid the fouatlat ons of
slavery which underlie the institutions of ma
ny of our States? The time was when,
over the whole length and breadth of this
land of ours, the people did not recognize the
black man as having any political rights
Now, my friends, that is Just as true of Mas
sachusetts as of Sonth Carolina, and Judge
fancy, IN so stating, merely sta ed histori-
cal fact, and known to be so by every student
of history. The other day, in looking over
papers which came into my hands, | found
an original document, bill of sale for slave
from man in Massachusetts to man in New
York, and that paper throws a most remark
able light over this whole question of slavery
1t commenced thus TO all Christian peo-
pie to whom these presents may come, |,
Mark Rose, sell my slave" &C. The people
OF Massachusetts, held that no persons were
entitled to any political privileges unless they
were Christians; and they went further than
that-they held that no one was entitled to
political privileges unless he was the right
kind OF Christian. They held the views
which LAID the foundation of slavery in the
theology of that time. They sold Quakers
into slayery-they sold the family of King
Philip into slavery. These were the senti-
ments that existed in the North in our early
days. When the Constitution of the United
States was formed, when the delegates from
the different States met in convention. the
question OF slavery was there, and it was
asked when shall the slave trade be put to an
end? Georgia says, now; Virginia says, now:
South Carolina says, not yet; Connecticut
not yet Rhode Island, not yet; Massachu-
sets, not yet and New Hampshire said not
yet-the slave trade is profitable If YOU will
read "Minots History of Massachusetts,"
you will learn that the great business Of New
England was at one time the manufacture of
rum--pure rum; and when they made rum.
they took it to the coast of Africa and ex-
changed it for slaves. The slayers landed
their cargos on some unfrequented shores of
the southern coast, and forthwith the entire
South was charged with completely in the slave
trade. But they 10 not at the same time tell
you that the slave ships are fitted out from
New England ports-that they glide out to
sea on their nefarous voyages beneath the
-hoA %
Of our country is in the hands of the free
States The population Of the country in
creaseS at the rate Of million a year; Of this
increase the North receives over seven hun
dred thousand. This large majority of the
yearly increase has given the North her
strength in the confederacy. How came the
North by this excess of the increase? At the
outset we were equal-then we were all slave
States. Now, what led to the adjustment
of slavery in the North, and thus gave us the
basis of our present strength? will tell
you, my friends, and you all know it to be so.
The democratic party under Jefferson inau-
gurated the wise and beneficent policy of in
viting the laborer of the old world to plant
himself down upon the great and fertile plains
Of our country. Under this policy the emf
grants from Europe focked to the northern
~ VS. DNSddSS lllS lOuLA III tIIClI sui anu
climate, and in their institutions, more con-
genial home. So you see, my friends, that it
has been undera policy inaugurated by south
ern statesmen-a policy which found its most
bitter opponents at the North-that our sec
ton has become all powerful in the govern
ment We have now a majority in the SEN
ate, in the House of Representatives, and in
the Electoral College; but the census of 1860
Oh fhotf rTl
the House of Representatives and an over
whelming majority in the Senate, represent
free States. Is this a time, and are these the
circumstances under which an ''irrepressible
conflict" shall be waged against the people and
institutions of the weaker section? When
the South was strong and we were weak,
they furnished us no precedent for the course
of action we now propose to pursue against
them.
These being the truths which history teach
es, and standing here as | do, at the very
head waters of the mighty Mississippi, whose
arms lock our country together, teaching us
a perpetual lesson of fraternal love and union,
l beg you to pause before you enter upon a
warfare, which will rivet asunder
those whom God has joined together Before
you do this look at history and see if the
South has ever hesitated to uphold single
measure which was calculated to advance the
whole country; although in doing so they
have built up the North instead of the South
There is an instructive difference between the
two parties. The Democratic party is a let
alone party-the Republican party is med
ding party. 1t is great deal easier to de-
nounce other people for their sins than to re-
form ourselves-it is great deal easier to |
obtain political power by infiamng the pas
sions and preudices of our neighbors, by de-
nouncing men a thousand miles away, than it |
is to gain influence by governing our walk in
life by the principles Of justice or the dictates
Of sound patriotism. Is it not true the re-
, rise Of this has been hurtful to the morals |
If our people-and hurtful to the pulpit, of
which | speak with all reverence, and to the
holy doctrines which should issue from the
sacred desk? Is it not too true, my republi-
, IN friends, that rifle for Kansas or a curse
or the South has weighed more in the politl-
al scale than private virtues public service?
Whence comes slavery? We have seen who
it. Now, my friends, do you ever
stop to enquire who upholds it ? 1t is sus-
aimed by the firm of Weaver, Wearer &
Planter and two of the partners live up
North Every one knows that but for the
ooms of New England and Old England it
ould not live day. The loudest denuncia-
ions against slavery are made by men with
otton shirts on their back. The most fer
en pulpit exhortations against slavery come
rom men who wrap themselves for repose at
light i'll cotton sheets; who lay their heads
Ipon cotton pillows, and 60 to sleep thanking
iod that they are better than the men "down
;outh." l was called upon some years ago,
While Governor of New York, by deputa-
ion of Quakers from Great Britain to lay be-
IRE me Testimony" against slavery. As
hey wished, listened to them. We after
Yards fell into conversation, and the ques-
on arose, why the people of Europe were so
ppressed and burdened so heavily by taxa
on. We attributed it to the differences in
leir language-the great number of nation
Titles, divided by imaginary Hnes-the petty
and strifes, and consequent necessi-
Y for maintaining large standing armies
We then spoke of the blest condition of Eu-
ope if all these rival governments could be
loulded into one, speaking common Ian =