The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-04-25
THE TWIN RELICS OF EARBAH,sM.
Speech Of Hon. Owen Lowjoy, ef III
nous, delivered IN the House of Rep
yesent1tires, AD7lI 5. 1860

; nots, delivered IN the House of Re
1esentatires. April S, 1860.
The House being in the Committee
the Whole on the State of the Union
Mr.. Lovejoy said Mr.. Chairman
The House has been occupied for sewers
days in the discussion of the subject Of p'
lygamy. The Republican party. Of whic
l am a member. stands pledged since lS5
to the determination, go far as the FEEDER,
Government has the power, of the twi
relics of barbarism-Slavery and Polygamy
They have this power in the Territories {
the United States
Now, Sir, as We anticipate death bio,
has been given to one of these twins, l pro
pose to opay my respects to the other l wan
to see them strangled and go down together
as they both richly deserve.
MIR. Cobb rise to a question Of order
The Chairman - The gentleman vii
state bis question of order
Mr.. Cobb was going to raise ques
ton of order upon the right of the gentle
man to discuss the question of the "twir
relics, )" under the new rule We have adopt
ed. However, l will not interfere the
gentleman may 60 on with his speech.
Mr. Lovejoy-I am entitled to the floor
l do not yield to the gentleman; and
will proceed with my remarks within nv
hour, with the gentleman's permission, or
without it.
MIR. Stanton-I 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
the course Of discussion upon this bill,
whether the twin relics are in order or
not, or whether the discussion be confined
to the bill itself? The question properly
involved in the bill itself are sufficiently
in my judgment to COM
mand the entire attention of the Commit
tee. and l think We should confne the dis
cussion strictly to it. When We are all in
the Committee Of the Whole on the state of
the Union upon the Presidents Message,
the gentleman from Illinois will he strictly
in order. L have no special interest about
the matter. except that if the question is to
be opened to this general discussion, am
afraid the whole time will be taken up with
i. and the important subjects connected
With the bill itself overlooked.
Mr. Sherman-I will state that, as | I'M
lerstand it. the debate may be as general
lpon this bill in its present condition as
lpon the Presidents Message. 1t is with
N the power of the House, however, at
my time. to make the bill special order
'fter which, debate must be confined strict
y to the question under consideration. If it
De the pleasure of the House, | propose, in
he course of about week, to submit that
notion to the House.
The Chairman - The Chair supposes
hat general debate is in order upon this
'ill, the House now being in the committee
# the Whole on the State of the Union, and
10 special order pending.
MIR. LOvejoy-I was about to say, when
Interrupted, that am aware that the prac-
ical question presented to this House and
no country, is, whether Slavery shall be
extended beyond its present limits; a,
hat IS the only question over which they
lave exclusive jurisdiction. And if Slave
y were cOntented to remain restricted, and
ind its future where it now is, we might
perhaps forbear this discussion. But when
is proposed to extend what is termed an
nstitution-but which is not an institution
which is simply practicc-the question
naturally arises, what is the nature, what
ire the influences, and what are the ele-
nents Of this practice ? and what;will they
,rove to be if allowed expansion l am
ware it has been stated upon this floor that
he morale Of Slavery is settled that its
'thics are no longer to DO discussed that
hey were settled ages ago BY Stagirite of
ireece, and have been reaiiirmed and re-
established by the chansicleer Scion of
ohio, in rhetoric gorgeous as sunset S
,low. We are told that where Slavery
Eill pay. slave-holding will GO Precisely
lpon the same principle We might say THAI
where robbery will pay, robbery will 60
where piracy will pay. piracy will go; and
vhere adipose human flesh is cheaper than
hat Of beever. cannibalism will go, because
t will pay. Sir, than robbery, than pira.
y, than polygamy, slaveholding is worse
more criminal. more injurious to man,
md consequently more offensive to God.
'laveholding has been Justly designated as
he sum of all villainy. Put every crime
among men into moral cru
'ible. and dissolve and combine them all,
md the resultant amalgam is slaveholdng.
{ has the violence of robbery.
A Member-You are joking.
Mr.. Lovejoy-No. Sir; L am speaking
n dead earnest, before God, Gods own
ruth. 1t has the violence of robbery, the
blood and cruelty Of piracy it has ths Of
ensive and brutal lusts of polygamy, all
and concentrated in itself, with
'ggrayations that neither one of these crimes
'ver knew or dreamed of. Now, Mr..
Chairman, the justification of Slavery is
placed, as | know, mainly upon these
grounds: the inferiori.y of the enslaved
ace; the fact that enslaying men i'm.
parts Christianity and civilization to them
md, thirdly. the guarantees of the Cousti-
ution. These are the three main argu.
nents presented to justify Slavery, and con-
to justify its expansion And
BY the way, hold that the extreme men,
Is they are called, on this question, are the
'nly men who have the logic of it am
night. or the fire-eaters are right. If Slave