The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-04-26
The Twin Relics of Barbarism.
Speech Of the Hon. q wen LOvej0y, Of
Illinois,
In the House Of Representatives.. Apr. 5, go


W hole on the state Of the Union
Mr. Lovejoy said: Mr.. Chairman--Tht
House has been occupied several days in the
discus sion Of the subject of polygaDy. TIE
Republican party, Of which | am member.
stands pledged since 1856 to the extermina-
ton, SO far as the Federal Government has
the power, of the twin relics OF barbarism-
Slavery and Polygamy. They have this pow
er in the Territories Of the United States.
Now, Sir, we anticipate a death blow
has been given to one Of these twins. pro
pose to pay my respectsto the other. want
to see them strangled and go down together,
as they both richly deserve.
Mr. Cobb rise TO a question OF order
Mr.. Chairman-The gentlemen will state
his question of order.
Mr.. Cobb--I was going to raise question
of order upon the right Of the gentleman to
discuss the question of the "twin relics" un-
der the new rule we have adopted. Howev-
or, will not interfere; the gentleman may
60 on with his speech.
Mr.. Lovejoy-I am entitled to the floor;
/ do not yield TO the gentleman; and will
proceed with my remarks within my hour.
with the gentlcman's permission or without
it.
Mr. 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 course OF
discussion upon this bill whethe the twin
relics" are in order or not. or whether the
discussion is to be confined to the bill itself?
The questions properly involved in the bill
itself are sufficiently comprehensive, in my
judgment, to command the entire attention of
the G mmittee. and think we should confne
the discussion strictly to it. When we are
in the COMMITTEES of the Whole on the state
Of the Union upon the Presidents Message.
the gentleman from Illinois will be strictly in
order. l have no special interest about the
matter. except that if the question Is 10 be
open to this general discussion, l am afraid
the whole time will be taken up with it, and
the important subjects connected with the
bill itself overlooked.
Mr. Sherman--I will state that, as l un-
derstand it, the debate may be as general up
on this bill in it's present condition as upon
the Presidents Message. 1t is within the
power of the House, however. at any time,
to make the bill special order; after which,
debate must be confined strictly to the ques
ton under consideration. If it be the pleas
ure Of the House. l propose, in the course
Of ab ut week. to submit that motion to
the House.
The Chairman--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 no spe-
cal order pending.
Mr.. Lovsioy-1 was about to say, when IN
teIrup pied, that l am aware that the practical
question presented TO this House and to the
country, is. whether Slavery shall be extend
ed beyond its presen, limits; as that Is the
only question over which they have exclusive
jurisdiction And ii Slavery were contanted
p1 HpI futnrp here
it now is. we might perhaps forbesr this dis
cussion. But when it is proposed to extend
what is termed an insttution-but which is
not an institution; which is simply practice
the question naturally arises. what is the
nature, what are the influences, and what
are the elements of this practice? and what
will they prove to be il allowed expansion?
am aware that il has been stated UPON this
floor that the mor0ie of Slavery is settled;
that It's ethics are no longer to be discussed;
that they were settled ages ago by the Stagir-
ite of Greece, and have been reatfirnled and
rc-es,ablished by TIE chanticleer Scion OF
Ohio, in rhetoric gorgeous as sunset glow
We are t III that where Slavery will pay.
slaveholjing will so. Precisely upon the
same principle we might say that where rob
berry will pay. robbery vii! co. where piracy
will pay piracy. will go and where adipose
cannibalism will go, because it viii pay
Sir, than robbery. than piracy, than poyga-
nv, ,laveholding is worse--more criminal,
note injurious to man. and consequently
more offensive 10 God. Slaveholding has
been Justly designated the sum of all vii
lainy Pu, every crime perpetrated by man
into moral crueble. and dissolve and com
bine them all. and the resultant amalgam Is
slsvcholding. 1t has the violence OF robbie
~.
A member--You are joking.
Mr.. Loveioy-No. sir. l am speaking IL
dead earnest. before God. Gods own truth
1t has the violence of robbery, the blood ant
crafty of piracy; il has the offensive and bru
tai lust> of polygsmy. all combiued and con
centrated in itself, with aggravations tha
neither one Of these crimes ever knew o
dreamed Of Now, Mr.. Chairman. the JUST
fcaSion of Slavery is placed. so tar AS know
upon these grounds the inferiority of the en-
slaved race; the fact that euslaving men in,
parts Christianity and civilization to them
and, thirdiy. the guarantees of the Constitu
ton. These are the three main argument
presented To justify Slavery, and consequent
ly. TO Justify its expansion. And. BY Il
way, hold that the extreme men. as the
are called, on this question. are the onl
men who have the logic of it. l am righ
or the fire-esters are right. If Slavery
right in Virginia, it Is right in Kansas. II
is wrong in Kan As, it is wrong everywhere
Sir. in regard to the first point, the iuteriorit
Of the enslaved race: We may couced
it as matter Of tact that it is inferior; br
does it follow, therefore, that it is right TO Ell
slave man simply because he is interior?-
This. to me, is most abhorrent doctrine :
1t would place the weak everywhere at II
mercy OF ihe strong; it would place the poo
a the mercy OF the rich: it would place thos
that are deficient in intellect at the mere
OF those who are gifted in mental endowmen
The principle Of euslaving human being
because they are inferior is this: Ii a man
acripple trip him up; if he is old and wea
and bowed down with the weight of year
strike HIM. for he cannot strxe back; il i'd
oIl,-o., IL L l.