The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-21
ICoNTrNuEp.l

openly pronounced ut one time ftbe black
marble keystone of onr National areh,s al
another time ''the cornerstone of our Re-
publican edifce;o then il is Wanted as the
sshighest type of civilizatian;o then as ssa
blessing to the master as we'll as the slaves"
and then again as "ennonling TO the master
If not to the slave. Ii is only the first s.en
which costs, and therefore the authors Of
these opinions, so shocking to the moral
sense, do not hesitate at other opinions
equally shocking to the reason. which pre-
tend TO find impossible sanctions for slavery
in the Constitution. Listening to these ex-
travagances, who would not exclaim with
Ben johnson In the play?
Grave father, he's possest, again say,
possest nay, If there be possession
4 And obsession he hath both.
/ And now, fellow citizens, what 10 Slavery?
This is no question merely OF curiosity or
philantrophy; for when the National Govern
ment, which you and at the North help to
constitute, is degraded to be it's instrument,
and all the National Territories are pro-
claimed open to it's barbarian, and the Con-
stitution itself is perverted TO sanction its
prstansions, the whole subject logically and
necessarily enters into our discussion. Ii
cannot be avoided; il cannot be blinked out
Of sight. Nay, you must pass upon it by
your votes at the coming election. Futile Is
the plea that we of the North have nothing
TO do with Slavery. Granted that we have
nothing to do with it in the States we have
much to do with all it's irrational preten-
slons under the Constitution, and just so
long as these irrational pretensions are urged
Slavery must be discussed. 1t must be laid
bare in It's enormity, precisely as though 1t
were proposed to plant il here in New York.
A. x,ah uI in tsa and
fouler still in its pretensions-be dealt
with tameiy. Tameness is surrender; and
charity, too, may be misapplied. Forgiving
those who trespass against us, | know not
if we are called to forgive those who tres
pass against others 20 forgive those who
, trepass against race to forgive those who
trespass against the Republic; to forgive
those who trespess against civilization; to
forgive those who trespass against whole
race TO forgive those who treepass against
. the universal human family; finally, TO for
give those who trespass against God. Such
trespassers now exist among us--possessing
the organization Of party--possessipg the
control of the National 6overnment--con-
shutting at this moment colossal Power
and "what seems it's head the likeness of
r President has on.o Surely If ever there was
0 a moment when every faculty should be bent
toto the service, and all should be invigora-
ted BY inspiring zeal falsely rejected by the
heartIess diplomatist, il s now, while the
battle between Civilization and Barbarism is
still undecided, and you are summoned TO
resist the last desperate shock. To this
work am not equal, bat do not shrink
from the duties of my post. Alas! Human
: language is gentle, and the human voice il
weak. Words only are mine, when | ought
I.n hnr Aar hnfra arIv ss
. mine. when, like the ancient AtheDian,
ought 60 carry the weapons Of Zeus on the
tongue.
. What then, repeat In Slavery? The &C.
caslon forbids details but enough must be
presented TO place this outrage in its true
hght-as something worse even than q con-
slant state of war, where the master il the
constant aggressor. And here | put aside
4 for the moment oil The tales which reach us
from the house of bondage; ali the cnmula
tive, crushing testimony, alike from slaves
and from their masters all the barbarous
incidents which have helped to arouse yet
, TOO feeble Indignation In short, all the
gmpses which have come to US from this
mighty Blue Boards chamber. Ali these
/. put aside, not because they are OF little mo
i ment in exhibiting the true character Of
Slavery, bat because desire to arrsign
Slavery on grounds above oil controversy,
impeachment or suspicion, even from slave
masters themselves. Not on triumphant
!, story. adorned by the genius Of woman not
4 even on ndisputabls facts do | now accuse
Slavery; bat on its character as revealed 10
its OVID simple definition OF itself. Out OF
A it's own mouth do | condemn it.
By the Law of Slavery, man created in the
image Of God, fearfolly and wonderfuily
4 Ha vrs4 nf NIL and rtaYy
with sentiments Of love, with aspirations for
e improvements, with q sense of property and
|, with soul like ourselves, is Invested Of biz
n human character and declared TO be a mere
ohattel $40 all intents and purposes whstso.
ever do not stop TO give at length il,
odious words YOU are doubtless familiar
with them. But in this simple definition i.
" contained the whole incalculable wrong oil
Slavery; for out of it, as from an inexhausti
bic fountain, are derived oil the unrighteon.
y prerogatives OF the master. These are ifs,
II in number; and | know not which il mos
revolving.
First, there 10 the pretension that mar
a can hold property in man. forgesful that
= by law older than all human law, foremos
~ stands the indefeasible right OF every mar
10 himself.
Secondly, the absolute notification of th,
J. relation OF husband and wife, 80 that al
who are called slaves are delivered over Il
concubnage or prostitution, il may be will
v each other or it may be with their masters
o. but with whomsoever IL may be, it 10 tn
same, for with the slaves marriage is impos
sible, as they are always "coupisd''--neve
married.
r Thirdly, the absolute notification o
T. the relation OF parent and child; for tn
infant legally belongs not tn the I'M athey u, h
II bore It, hit 2 TIC master ~ao bought il.
r. Fourthly, the absolute denial of ius.ruo
on ton; for the master may always, at his ow,
rude discretion, prevent his victim from
learning 10 read, and thus shut upon hin
those gates of knoMledya which nnsn anal