Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-10-06

SPEECH OF DANIEL WEBSTER.

In the U. s. Senate, August II, 1S4S, on The
question Of organizing the Territory Of Ore
g0n, subject TO the Ordinance Of 1881, taciud-
ing Slauery forerer therefrom.
There are two Or three political questions aris-
ing IN this case, which | wish to state dispass
onately not to argue, but to state. The hon
orable member from Georgia, Mr.. Berrienl for
whom have great respect, and with whom 1t
is my delight to cultivate personal friendship.
has stated, with great propriety, the Importance
of this question, He has said, that it is a
question interesting to the South and to the
North, and one which may very well also attract
the attention of mankind. lie has not stated
any part of this too strongly. 1t is such a
question. Without doubt, 1t is question
which may well attract the attention of man
kind On the subject involved in this debate,
the whole world is not now asleep. 1t is wide
awake and agree with the honorable mem
Der, that, if what is now proposed to be done
by us who resist this amendment is, as he sup
poses, unjust and injurious to any portion OF
this community, or against its constitutional
rights, that injustice should be presented to the
civilized world, and we, who concur in the pro-
cocding, ought to submit ourselves to its rebuke
am glad that the honorable gentleman propo
ses to refer this question to the great tribunal O.
Modern Civilization as well as the great Trlbu-
nal of the American People. 1t is proper. Il
is question of magnitude enough, of interest
enough, to all the civilized nations Of the eartl
to call from those who support the one. side OIL
the other statement of the grounds upor
which they act.
Now propose to state as briefly as can the
grounds upon which proceed, historical anC
constitutional; and will endeavor to use as few
words as possible, 80 that may relieve tire Ser
ate from hearing me at the earliest possible mo-
ment. In the first place, to view the matter
historically. This Constitution, founded il
1887, and the government under it, organized
in $780, recognized the existence of slavery ii
certain States, then belonging to the Union
and IA particular description of slavery. hopC
that what am about to say may be received
without any suppositlon that intend the slight
est disrespect. But this particular descrin'
ton of slavery does not, believe, now exist il
Europe, nor in any other civilized portion o
the habitual globe. 1t is not analogous to thu
case of the predial, or slaves globe adscriph o
Russia, or Hungary, or other States. 1t is {
peculiar system of personal slavery, by which
tUC DclSUu WIN 10 CttllCu u oidNC 10
as chattel from hand to hand. | speak o
this as fact and that is the fact. And will
say further, perhaps other gentlemen may re
member the instances that although slavery, a
system of servitude attached to the earth, ex
lists in various countries of Europe, am not a
the present moment aware of any place on tn
globe in which this property of man in hu
man being as a slave, transferable as chattel
exists, except in America. Now, that it exist
ed, in the form in which it still exists, in Ger
tain States, at the formation Of this Donsttu
ton, and that the trainers of that instrument
and those who adopted it, agreed that, as far u
it existed, it should not be disturbed or interior
ed with by the new general government, ther
is no doubt,
The Constitution of the United States recog
nzes it us an existing fact, an existing relation
between the inhabitants Of the Southern States
| do not call it an = nsttution,' because tina
term is not applicable to it for that seems t
imply Il voluntary establishment. When frs
came here, 1t was matter of frequent reproac
to England the mother country, that shaver
had been entailed upon the colonies by hel
against their consent, and that which is no'
considered u cherished . institution" was the
regarded as, will not say an emil, but an CT
talment on the Colonies by the policy of til
mother country, against their wishes. At an