Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-04-25
The Twin Relics of Barbarism.
SPEECH OF THE
HON. OWEN L0VEJ0Y,
OF ILLINOIS.
In the Hous. of Representatives., april

In the House Of Representatives., APr't
9th, 1860.
The House, being in the Committee Of
the Whole on the State of the Union
Mr.. LovEJoY said: Mr.. Chairman
The House has been occupied for several
days in the discussion of the subject of
polygamy. The Republican party of which
/ am a member, stands pledged since 1856
to the determination, 50 far as the Federal
Government has the power, of the twin
relics of barbarism-Slavery and Polyga-
my. They have this power in the Terri
tories of the United States.
Now, Sir, as we anticipate death-bloW
has been given to one of these twins, I pro-
pose to pay my respects to the other.
want to see them strangled and 60 down
together, as they both richly deserve.
Mr.. CoBB, (Dem-, Alai-I rise to a
question of order.
The CHAIRMAN-The gentleman will
state his question of order.
Mr.. CoBB-I was going to raise ques-
ton of Order upon the right of the gentle
man to discuss the question of the twin
relics, under the new rule We have adOp-
ted. However, will not interfere; the
gentleman may go on with his speech.
Mr.. LovHoY-I am entitled to the floor;
1 do not yield to the gentleman; and will
proceed with my remarks within my hour,
with the gentleman's permission, or with
out it.
Mr.. STANTON, Rep., OIL would be
glad to know what is the understanding of
the Chair, and of the Chairman of the
Committee of Ways and Means, as to what
is to be the courss of discussion upon this
bill, whether the twin relics are in order
or not or whether the discussion is to be
confined to the bill itself? The question
properly involved In the bill.itsef are suf-
iciently comprehensive, in my judgment,
to command the entire attention of the
Committee, and think we should confne
the discussion strictly to it When we are
all In the Committee of the Whole on the
state of the Union upon the Presidents 8
Message, the gentleman from Illinois will
be strictly in order. have no special in
terest about the matter, except that if the
question is to be opened to this general dis
cussion, l am afraid the whole time will be
taken up with it, and the Important sub
jects connected with the bill itself over
looked
Mr.. SHERMAN-I will state that, as
understand it, the debate may be as gener-
al upon this bill in its present condition as
upon the Presidents Message. 1t is with
in the power of the House, however, at any
time, to make the bill special order; after
which, debate must be confined strictly to
the question under consideration. If it be
the pleasure of the House, 1 propose, in
the course of about week, to submit the
motion to the House.
The CHAIRMAN-The Chair supposes
that general debate is in order upon this
bill, the House now being in the Commit
tee of the Whole on the state of the Union,
and no special order pending.
Mr.. LovEJoY-Iw was about to say, when
interrupted, that I 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 jurisdiction. Andif Slave
~ were contented to remain rescricted, and
find its future where it now is, we might
perhaps forbear this discussion. But when
it is proposed to extend what is termed an
institution-but which is not an institu-
ton; which is simply practicable ques-
ton naturally arises, what is the nature,
what are the influences, and what are the
elements of this practice? and what viii
they prove to be if allowed expansion? 1
am 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 settled ages ago by the
Stagirite of Greece, and have been re-af-
frmed and re-established by the chantic-
leer Solon of Ohio, in rhetoric gorgeous as
sunsets glow. We are told that where
Slavery will pay, slavehOlding will 60
Precisely upon the Same principle we might
say that where robbery will pay, robbery
will 60; where piracy will pay, piracy will
20; and where adipose human flesh is chea-
per than that of beeYes, canibalism will 90,
because it will pay. Sir, than robbery,
than piracy, than polygamy, slaveholding
is worse-more criminal, more injurious to
man, and consequently more offensive to
God. Slaveholding has been justly desig-
mated as the sum of all villainy. Put eve
~ crime perpetrated among men into
moral crucible, and dissolve and combine
them all, and the resultant amalgam is
Elayeholding. 1t has the violence of rob
berry.
A MEMBER-You are joking.
Mr. LovJoY-No, Sir; am speaking
in dead earnest; before God, Gods own
truth. 1t has the violence of robbery, the
blood and cruelty of piracy; it has the Of
fensive and brutal lusts of polygamy, all
combined and concentrated in itself, with
aggravations that neither one of these crimes
ever knew or dreamed Of Now, Mr.
Chairman, the justification of Slavery is
placed, SO far as know, mainly upon these
grounds The inferiority of the enslaved
race; the fact that enslaving men imparts
Christianity and civilization to them; and
thirdly, the guarantees of the Constitution
These are the main arguments presented to
justify Slavery, and consequently to justi-
fy its expansion. And, by the way, hold
that the extreme men, as they are called,
on this question, are the only men who have
the logic of it. 1 am right, or the fre-ea-
ters are right. If slavery is right in Yir-
ginia, it lis right in Kansas. If it is wrong is
Kansas it is wrong everywhere. Now, Sir,
in regard to the first point the inferiori-
ty of the enslaved race. We may concede
it is a matter of fact that it is inferior; but
does it follow therefore, that it is right to
enslave man simply because he is inferi-
or? This. to me, is most abhorrent
doctrine. It would place the weak every
E1rT