Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-04-17
OF ILLINOIR.

TO know what is the understanding Of the
Chair, and Of the Chairman Of the Committee
OF Ways and Means, as 10 what is 10 be the
course Of discussion upon this bill, whether the
''twin relics" sre in order or not, or whether
the discussion is to be confined to the bill itself
The questions properly involved in the bill it.
self are sufficiently comprehensive,i in my judg
ment, 10 command the entire attention of the
Committee, and think we should confne the
discussion strictly 10 it. When we are all in
the Committee Of the Whole on tho state OF
the Union upon the Presidents Message, the
gentleman from Illinois will be strictly in order
/ have no special interest about the matter ex-
Oept that if the question is to be opened to this
general discussion, am afraid the whole time
will be taken up with it, and the important sub
jeetsl connected with the bill its If overlooked.
Mr.. SHERAAN-I win state that, as | under
stand it, the debate may be as general upon
this bill in its present condition as upon the
Presidents Message. 1t is within the power
of the House, however, at any time, to make
the bill specisl order; after which, debate
must be confined strictly to the question under
consideration. If it be the pleasure Of the
House, propose, in the course Of about week,
to submit the motion to the House.
The CHAIRNAN-The Chair supposes that
general debate is in order upon this bill, the
House now being in the Committee of the
Whole on the state Of the Union, and nospecial
order peuding
Mr.. LOvEJOY-I was about to say, when in
tsrTupted, that / am aware that the practical
question presented to this House and to the
country, is, whether Slavery shall be extended
beyond its present limits; as that is the only
question over which they have exclusive iu-
nsdictiOn. And if Slavery were contented to
remain restricted, and find its future where it
now is, we might perhaps forbear this discuss
ion. But when it is proposed to extend what
is termed an institution-but which is not an
institution; which is simply a practice-the
question naturally arises, what is the nature
what are the influences, and what are the eles
ments Of this practicei and what will they
prove to be if allowed expansion! lam aware
it has been stated upon this floor that the
morale of Slavery is settled; that its ethics are
no longer to be discussed; that they were set
tied ages ago by the Stagirite of Greece, and
have been reafiTmed and re-established By the
chantieleer SOlon of Ohio, in rhetoric gorgeous
as sunsets glow. We are told that where Slas
very will pay, slaveholding will 90. Precisely
upon the same principle we might say that
where robbery will pay, robbery will go; where
piracy will Fay, piracy win go; and where
sdiposs human flesh is cheaper than that of
beeves, cannibaligm will 90, because it will pay.
Sir, tlIAn robbery, than piracy, than polygamy,
slaVehOlding is WOTse-more criminal, more
iDjnFiOus TO man, and consequently more often.
sivs to God. Slaveholding has been Justly
designated as the sum Of all Villainy, Put ev,
cry crime perpetrated among men into moral
crueible, and dissolve and combine them all,
and the resultant amalgsm is slaveholding, 1t
has the violence of robbery.
A MEMBER-You are joking.
Mr.. LOvEJoY-No, Sir; am speaking in
dead earenst; before God, Gods own truth
It has the violence of robbery, the blood and
cruelty Of piracy; it has the offensive and bru-
tai luSts Of POlygsmy, all combined and con.
centrated in itself, with aggTaVations that nei-
tber one of thase crimes ever knew or dreamed
Of Now, Mr.. Chairman, the justification of
Slavery is placed, SO far as I know, mainly
upon these grounds The iAferiOrity of the en-
slaVsd race; the fact that enSlaVing men i'm
parts Christianity and civilization to them, and,
thirdly, the guarantees of the Constitution.-
These are the three main arguments presented
to justify Slavery, and consequently to justi-
fy its expansion. And, by the Way,I hold that
the extreme men, as they are called, on this
question, afe the only men who have the logic
7f it. am right, or the freeaters are right.
If Slavery is right in Virginia, it is right in
Kansas. If it is wrong in Kansas it is wrong
everywhere. Now, Sir. in regard to the first |
1oint-the inferiority of the ensIaved race
We may concede it as a matter of fact that it |
inferior; but does it follow, therefore, that it |
s right to enslsve man simply because he is
Inferior? This, to me, is most abhcrrent |
doctrine. 1t would place the weak everywhere
t the mercy of the strong; it would place the
oor at the mercy Of the rich; it would place
hose that are deficient in intellect at the mercy
# those that are gifted in mental endowment.
The principle of enslaving human beings be-
ause they are inferior is this If a man is a
ripple, trip him up; if he Is old and weak, and
owed with the weight Of years, strike him,
or he cannot strike back; if idiotic, take ad.
antage of him, and If a child, deceive him.
his, Sir, this Is the doctrine of Democrats
nd the doctrine of devils as well, and there is
20 place in the universe outside the Five Points
f hell and the Democratic party where the
ractice and prevalence of such doctrines
lOuid not be disgrace. Laughter] If the
tTong Of the earth are to ensla7e the weak
ere, it would justify angels in enslaVing men,
soause they are superior; and archangels in
turn would be justified in subiuRatIng those
Tho are inferior in intellect and position, and
ltimately it would transform Jehovah into an
finite JuggeFnaut, rolling the huge wheels
his OmniPOtsnce-
INF. LOvejOy had advanced into the area, and
,cupied the space fronting the Democratic
inches Ii
Mr.. PRYOR, (Va. )-(adVancing from the Dem
,ratie side of the House toward the area /
here Mr.. LoVejoy stoOd)-The gentleman from !
linois Mr.. LOVeioyl shall not approach this
De of the House, shaking his fists and talking
the way he has talked. It is bad enough to I
compelled to sit here and hear him utter his t
and insulting language; but he
aA not, Sir, come upon this side Of the House :
laking his fist in our faces.
Mr.. FARNswoRrH, (ReP., I'll )-It is not for
e gentleman to say what is treason and what =
not
Mr. PoTTER, wis. We listened to the gen.
smsn upon the other side for eight weeks, !
hen they denounced the members upon this
de in violent and offensive language. We
ltened to them quietly ,snd heard them through. .
nd now, Sir, this side shall be heard, let the \
be what they may. Q
Mr. PRYOR-The point make is this t
The CHAIRMAN, (MT. WAsHBgRN, Me l-The
hair will receive no motion and hear no gen.
,msn until members resume their sests and 1,
der is restored in the hall
Mr.. Cox, (Dem., O.)-I rise to point OF j
der. / insist that the gentleman from Illinois v
all speak from his seat. q
Mr.. PRYoH-That is the point make. Let Il
9 gentleman speak from bis seat, and say all e
der the rules he is entitled to say, but, Sir, .
shall not come upon this side shaking his fist y
our faces, and talking in the style be hae
ked. He shall not come here gestieuIating q
a menacing AMI ruffsnly manner. c
Mr.. PoTTRR-YOu are doing the same thing. b
The CHAIRHAN-GcnlIemsn will resume their
u, :. y