Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-04-29
SPEECH OF THE HON. JOHN LETCHEa
representatives August 2, 1850.
DEMOCRATIC Candida

Just oenseI nrocccd to the questions which | design to DIS
a"a I Jr,ire to notice yer! oreHy one or Two points which
- hsan made inthAt speech.
have pee ,ir,man starts out with the inquiry, Could our
n &. have resisted the power Of britain If the slave pow
Ia lad then held the control Of .his country 2" Now. sir,
:, .e,m. 10 NE the gentleman ought 10 know tha! at that
i'm. Of our difficulties with England hen the war Of the
revolution began, all the States Of { Union were slave
holding States. The State OF New \ ,rk. and all the states
Of the original thirteen, recognized slavery. Now. sir, ac-
cordins TO the rentleman's theory, Is /, not somewhat re-
marlasle that, with all our colonies s,lvehoidin., our arms
should have been favored by Divine Providence, AMI our
cause so eminently successful: How does be ren""en,s
this glorious result with his theory Of the iii, snin' """
shame Of slavery? ~
Eu, the ren,lerian saws. further. that We are di'lionoriris
the memories Of our fathers and mother--those u - u.
least, who live in that portion o. te mon " 49, honori |" IN,
Is recognized and now exists. How are We hshoho'I"S 'u ~
memories of our fathers and mothers: Are not our ih'i'
tn,ion, In the south now exactly the same 'h'l l"e. "e,,'
in the DAYS Of our struggle with the mother county; ~
H.. ~ .h,n,. In thai section Of country In which our
IN, h,s hc.n ca,i. Has any new thing been introduced m
IN IN, condition o. the Southern states that Is caieuI"'en 10
,,,ro,. d;.crrJi, or Lis!onnr on the ancestors OF The present
,.,.r,,i,ns Sir. ie, the gentleman call To ul;ld me ia't
10. ,L,, norton W the Union which has freed t-eii RON
slavery, got rid Of it, not by acts OF emancipation. !. U;
a. -, ci,b,r The pos; ndti, or some po.irnncinrnt princi
~. whi,h allowed the slaves TO be removed before the law
ven, into effect, in order tina, they might lie disposed OF ir
a mil pecNnidyy consideration. Such wasihe case IN ',eN
vi II ha. not been many years since a suit Tor freedom
wn. tried In my own section Of Virginia, Instituted u! Saves
~, wrr. taken from New York and sold in my state, IN
yioi,Non OF her laws, a. they alleged. The owners ni the
slaves in New York a, that day prcfrrred'o sell thelF sa'es
for money and pocket ;he proceeds, before The Nv a, n view
\ orr tOUll ~ llso fhNNNs ivy t'N
science then TO restrain them. Recognizing slaves rs pro,
perty. they sold anf transferred them ~ ir"ler'! !" ""!
one who would purchase and pay for them.
Their. is another point. The gentleman 'c"s j. '"'' II,
desires moderately aud temporarily to dra" a 'hr "s4.uu
the Southern States and proclaim 10 'he PeopS VI 'e
Sou,h. thus far ala very shall 20, and no; one inch h.yohi ".
The gentleman has given US Il sample To night OF his'e"i'',
rance and mOi, ration upon this subject ahn s"H Won
help that portion OF this country tia; l., :" nave u uiaMn
under his charitable views His speech ,o'n;ihi Is "a ui'ra
n any one that ] have heard on this iloor, from any quar-
ter whatever, ard when the gentleman 'aiS> an"ut ,amF,
rance and ni@Le,'iti0n OH his side. in 4 discussion OF \
question Ike Ills, he must rerini; me to sag Unl'r > ~ n" ~
scan.alous in!sappicaiion OF terms. !Laus'.utl vi" ~
Mi, connection. the .r;;I"tnan tells u iha' ne loves I'M,
Uuion"-:hai "he vcnersis. i;"-ihat he eh,er'hihs N hoI!
aT.,.i,, for inv and here. sir, | Nigh; apply h' own quo,
,l,ion without iisrcspect. | imasine 'hat tr sentiments OF
yrry much Ike the affection lin his own lanenase> which
The Devil has for holy water. lLaushtrfl
The next proposition the gentleman lays down Is. 'nat
pcopl."-n-ans. no, the people north Of Mason and Dix
on. lire. not the pcopl" south Of tia, line, but all The le"'
pie Of the United States. ! should 'ks 20 Know rom ,h'
gentleman FROM Ohio. whether Il i hs opinion that tn
phrase quoted from the preamble 20 the Constitution was
intended 10 include ali the people OK AL coiors and complex.
ions. when inserted In iha, preamble Is he to be understood
a. saving thn, il embraced ihc white people Of the states,
NAL, aud female. and the black people OF ''ie states. male
,"I ,smale and The mu!t,io.S "f the States, male and fr
,n1i.s and hin, !, was a recognition nf that equality be-
tween these Glasses and races which IL, says /, maintained
in the Declaration Of independence: ! , he TO be ahdtr,
stood ~ .ayiIs that ;his clause Wa Intended 10 cover all
and embrace all these Glasses 90 ftnp!":
When that provision wa Inserted IN vac preamble 10 'h'
Constitution, slavery existed III ~! me s'I'e u" '''hr'N
never intended TO declare, nor az! 'iey ever admit, ny
word or act, TIA; the phrase We. the people," when
placed In tia, Preamble. was deslSucd l" recognize the
.rn,u.v Of The whit. aud black races. No, sir. II refers
I" arj was intended 10 include. none other than the white
rae. then existing. and their descendants aud successors
They never dreamed Of inclalin: The nero because Tile
nosi,iou in society which he occupied tornado i.
Nm was greatly amused IA, the :.ni!eintn> ;'lroiines'
exhibited near the close Of his speech. Wy friend from
Mississippi Mr.. WRIGHT wished 10 kn'w oil linn whether he
recognized the right o. Southern shareholders 10 reclaim
:,,cir slaves, il they lbscoaded nnd were found IN Tree
state. | hav. no, heard from him ai answer i" 'ta' IneS
,ion y.t. The gentleman talked about a Good many o'''cr
,hi,.. IN, ~. VA. uar,icul,ily careful tn dodge that qn"s
lion. And it struck me tia; there was a reason 'orh. u
has not been quite a week since The -ert'inai himself No'c'i
for a Fugitive slave law" And. TIA; may not he charged
doing injustice TO tina; seitlrna". | beg leave TO can
his attention t.a hill for which he voted, and for which
every other gentleman of h> particular stripe voted save
Ia. Intelligent. and caut!oG> gentleman rom uhio no" h"'
for. ,n, MIR LETTER, In th, hill az Mr.. DtSN Tor the re-
organization Ct the Territory of Kansas. and IN the 24I'
section OF tina: bill, ii Is. anione,' o'Nsr ui,hs;. uy.ia, lar =,
.Tha, any person lawfully held TO service in either "i ihe
said TER tories hall not lee Iii CHARGED from such service
by reason Of such repeal, i such person shau be permit
nen,ly renovcd from such Territory or territories PRIOR 10
the ar>, dav Of Irnr, eighteen hundred and tty-eie!i. ana
any child az Children bora, in either " 'iid territories. 81
any female laa fully held to -sr'icc' u III IN- manner re.
moved without aid Terri;ori-, before The expiration OF Tia;
.I,,. shall no; he. by reason Of anyi!hn. III thisaci tniahci'
mated from any service II rn!.h, have owed hai ms ac'
meyer been passed And, provided further. lhi' any per
son lawfully OWN. service In any other state or TERRITORY
of the United states. aad escaping iato ei,'er ;he iefri''ty
OF Kansas or Nebraska. may he reclaimed ana removed 70
m. arson ar mace NlgTE >l'I - ''N' '''' "'
Law Of the United state. which sal. be III force upon tue
subject.
over IN, fugitive slaye Law of l>jh. and ye' n'l'l."r ago
,L.n Ia,, Tuesday. the scales FELL from his eyes ahd he ani
his friend. marche! w in solid c"!anI' "fh one "Ntsi.
IT,, and recorded their inIor.emcn, uf the cot>titu;ionaliiy
and policy Of the fugitive slave law Of l>r,. Ever since us
massage, h. and his allies have denounced II a. uico'st'u'
iional and void. an! have addressed the most inaainma''Ty
appeal. Ia the people oi tie Northern '''s' ~ - ~ w
Mr, WADE. That was n bitter pin. and tasiedi il d.
,inctly when | took it; hut being driven into 4 corner by
N. sham Democracy in their efforts 20 'nsrhi' slavery upon
X ,nsn. I though, /; better to le, 'tI-;n hav" The iurliive
lave law IN K.:I.l.. until | could 81; . faircr lick a; it aad
NJ" NJ irTClir; lt"wa, bitter pill. AMI he was "irir-
Oh into a corner" before hc would consent 70 swal''" u -
I'm, w,,-n ",liiv"n into Il corner he dhi swallow u, ana W"
..i 10 r,.cnact a law which, In the presence OF the House o'
Representative. before she faces OF his constituents, ana III
hi. conversations. he lm- been in The con,ian: habit Sl ns.
nouncins in the most inisttuin'i"ry iausaast' a. q pA'ps" =,
violation Of the laws Of God, aud Of the Constitution o' lis
which he was sworn TO support.
Mr.. GIDDINGS. | wish TO ask the gentleman Il question
Did he no, vote against HE law 49,.
p.u.1 ~ be- on Ihat LAY addressing my constituents anu
r.,ni,c ,I,.,n Of the revolutionary conduct being pursued
he ill.,, moderate and temperate Ecnticmeh Ola your SIDE o.
the House. and who constitute your party
Mr. GlDDINGS. | would like TO know whether Tie gen
t,.,nnn would no, have voted for IL II he had been mere
Mr.. LErCIiEl:. would no, hut not neeause ! so",'
.I.r.d N. fu.i;ive-,laVe la~ either inexpel'eh' "f un'o",.
,u,ional. Iii. sufficient for me :" know 'na, !. !. . ~
Law Of the land, ia full force AMI elect. hW !"U' sv''1r
~, m, c,n,.n, with H., enactment In l>'' gravel! re-
enact Il. and especially apply II 70 Kansas a"t q !, Wv
have all now given II your approval, / rus, " 49,
n,,h;ur more of is uaconSiituiiona'iiy, or "' ~ "hf'''u.>
features When YOU return 80 your constituent, l 'Srtc'to
learn That YOU hav. aiJnii'c! your that by 'hc sAt'c
rrnc-.. 81 reasoning which las satisfied your own mihu'
r.. - ~ .,,i.fv ,h.,n Of IL om>ti;uiionalty. and IL accord.
ance with the laws of God, andurcen upon mem 'c Pf'Pi'e'
IS aad duty Of Il rigid enforcement OF al, u, irnni'iO",.-
This I. their duty a. la~-abt'lln: men. ih-F ''p''',"'a'
,tvn. ,,.r,, hs,y. moderated ,h.j- views. ami ~ they hav"
marched up 30 1t quietly aud deliberately. and ra.t Their
VOTES for IN. iu.i;iye>lavc Law, heretofore - much ne
nopnc.L I imagine they are ready 20 g q ltiI- further
and that, their constituents will sustain their el"fisl 10 save
the Union. which the gentleman from oiio processes TO io'e
50 wrll.
Now, there l. one other rcin; in the gentleman speech
which I desire to notice. I'll. gentleman >t!, that every
man In this country has The ri2it 70 Dear "rul'; 'l'' u : q
Constitutional right, and that the Goyer.inrn' ma no f'e't'
to interfere with him ia the enjoyment % IN, ifivhree. !
aimi, this to he true. Constitutional ErounG' ana ". 'ha'
gentleman. and III. fIells upon that -snc "' NE HOUSE
voted for Mr.. RAEBn;E'S amendment toihe arms h!l, which
cayc the President the power &c Ills trm an he people oi
Kan,., What a mower to cloihe an Executive with. whom
,h-y d.nounce as ;yrannical' Napoleon III. la. no more.
Ide,irr 20 know Watcher the gentleman j. h"l"rine Inc
institutions. principles and sentiment. Of III" Northern Ic"-
pl.. II Nj. ancestors, In all liz ac:', opinions aud principles;
In Isl, hy the if'h section OF an act passed 10y The Mh,sa,
chu,e.,s Legislature. every white person wa> prohibited
from in.crmarryin. with II negro. nnd every negro from
in,erInarryin: will, a white person. AMI HE 'n'nc PROHIBITION
extended ,a indians hl.o. and all sach marriages were de-
ciar.d void. TIA; iFoyi.ion remained on The statute book
Until! l-Ei. when i,wa' Repeated; anu >ihcs 'na' nm WIZ
in ma;rimony. Now. ,ir. Il am nos very much Hh>taken'
She friends of ~" gentleman ffo;n Ohio, In the Legislature
OF that state. i 'rW years go. hnn"''h 'HtF HtHt'S am
mothers hy The passage Of a similar Law. Aud II you VIII
go through ,hc Northeastern States. You will hhd that III
many Of them their ancestors have been """"re' ia 'h-
same extraordinary WAY.
These are the people WHO ok about slavery anl is hor-
ror. In The south. and yc' they are for c"n-i'n;iaiinr Il union
h-t tween the rae. tna>c.rtain which Will absorb the Other.
such unions mus, inevitably degrade the free labor Of the
North. AMI sink /, tr below the slave labor "i the south
The free white man. who can ~ hi> own '"aSen; 10 such IA
marriage mus, have suns low in the pit 81 personal 'eert'
have forfeited all his own sclfrc-i'eci. such
"A man will he n disgrace 10 any society Even The fe:i'rtt'
allie nerro slaves OF the South would corn all association
with him.
WHOM are these lava intended for At the North: Ar"
they intended FOR the benefit Of the wcal,hy-'lre upper Ten
t,,ou.,ud-"ihc lords 81 the loom - or ar" they intended
"a , special boon for the Northern mechanic and the day
l,i.ortr. Are such l,Vs Intended Ny the hri',o'racy Tor
any other class than these who occnty III" p"stion "i Iah"'
rcr> in III, Northern state: l. IL no. astonishing 'hat 'hc
classes of the North should have rested 20 patient
Iy under an insult so gross Iiru>: ,hey will yindica,r their
character and their honor hy hurting from power ana place
all WHO endorse >ue! laws.
This s'ay.sry agitation las been going on for nanT year.
Ahou, the wear l>35 il had attained such strength III VA,
cnnutry. and It had sought TO exert its influence upon me
ia rh"llin. states :" -uch an extent, hy. means oil ti'
,il-., publication. aud pictorial representations diS't'iiha
~ through the mails, and h$ travclin: agents, caienll'ch