Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-06-07
Mr, Everett on Slavery.


monstrate the soundness of Mr.. Bells views
on the subject of slavery, by citations from
the record. We have given his own defence
of the institution of slavery, in the Congress
Of the United States. in his own words, and
there is no excuse for any one not fully I'M
Outstanding his views, and doing justice to
his orthodox position. Heretofore, we said
but little in reference to Mr.. Everetts posi-
tion,in regard to slavery. Now that he has
written Il letter to the Boston ratification
meeting, accepting the post assigned him, it
may not be improper to give the following
extract from speech made in Congress in
1924, and reported i'll Gales { Seaton's Reg
lister of Debates vol. Ii, p. 1919. 1t shows
that Mr. Everett's record as q statesman
is eminently safe for the South, and dates
back more than thirty years. Mr.. Everett
. says,
''lf there are any members in this House
Of that class of politicians to whom the gen
| tleman from North Carolina Mr.. Saunders
alluded, as having the disposition, though
not the power, to disturb the compromise
| contained in the Constitution on this point,
the thrce-tilths representative principle, l
am not Of the number Neither am | one
of those citizens of the North to whom an
other honorable member lately referred, in
4 publication to which his name was sub
scribed, who would think it immoral and ir-
religious to join in putting down servlle
! instruction at the South. | am no soldier,
| sir; my habits and education are unmilitary;
! but there Is no curse TO rhicL l icoutd sooner,
bHcdic hnapSack 10 my bark, and put u
mashct on my shouidcr, than that. | would
ccdc the whole continent to any one who
would take ito england, to France, to
Spain; would see it sank in the bottom Of
the ocean, before | would see any part of this
! fine America converted into continental
llayti by that awful process Of bloodshed
and desolation by which alone such a cetas
trophe could be brought on. The great re-
lation OF seryitude in some form or other,
with greater or less departures from the the
oretic equality Of man, is inseparable from
| our nation. | know Of 10 way by which
| the form Of this scrvitude shall be fixed, but
| by political institution. Domestic slavery,
though | confess not that form Of servitude
which seems to be the most beneficial to the
master-certainly not that which is most
| beneficial TO the Slaye---iS nat, IN my ,judy-
| aent 10 be sci dorm as an Immoral and ire
| Hyi0uS retutiOn. | cannot admit that rell-
| gion has but one voice to the slave, and that
this voice is" Rise against your master"
| No sir the New Testament says, "Slaves,
obey your mastcrS:' and though | know
full well that in the benignant operation of
! Christianity which gathered master and
| slave around the same communion table,
this unfortunate Institution disappeared in
! Europe, yet | cannot admit that while it
| subslsts, It's duties are not pre-supposed and
sanctioned by religion. And though am
| certainly not called upon TO meet the char
Scs brought against this institution, yet
truth obligcS ne to say a word more on the
subject. know the condition Of the work
ing classes in other countries; | am init
mattel " acquainted with it in some other
countries and have no hesitation in say
ing, that believe the slaves in this country
are better clothed and fed, and less hardly
worked, than the pcasantry OF some of the
most prosperous states of the continent OF
Europe. 70 consider the checks on popula
ton, read Matthcrs. What keeps population
| down? Poverty, want, starvation, disease,
and all the Ills OF life: it is these that check
population all over the world. Now, the
slave population in the United States in
crcaScs faster than the white, masters inclu
ded. What is the Inference as to the physi-
cal condition of the two classes Of society?
These are opinions | have long entertained,
and long since publicly protested on this
sub Jet, and which here repeat, in answer
10 the int!mation to which have already
alluded. Bat, sir, when slavery comes to
| enter the Constitution as Il political element;
when it comes to effect the distribution of
power among the States Of the Union, that
Is Il matter Of agreement. If | make an
agreement on this subject, will adhere to
it ike man: but will protest against any
lni"rcncc> being made from it of the kind
which was made by the honorable mover of
the rcsoIutions.'
After thi: bold and manly vindication Of
the South, which his subsequent experience
has never rctracted, surely there can be no
distrust of his conservative principles to
render the casting vote of the South, should
the issue ever attain that regularity, or in
performing Executive duties free from all
sectional bias, in the event Of 4 certain con-
t!ngcncy which has happened on two former
occasions. The character Of Mr.. Everett, in
other poets, is so well known and admired
by the whole country, that nothing more
need be added for public inIormation.-Is-
hI"juy Int.
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