Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-06-04

Mr.. Everett on fhesuD3ect OF slavery
AN EXTRACT from a speech made in Con-
gress in 1926, By Hon EDwsRD EvERETr
[See Gales d Seaton' Register Of Debates,
Vol. 2, page 1879. j. -
.If there are any members in this House
of that class Of politicians 70 whom the gen
tleman from South Carolina (Ar. Sannders)
alluded, as having the disposition, though
not the power, to disturb the compromise
ceutaiued in the Constitution on this point.
1.-THE tbree-filths representative principle, ]
/ / an not Of the number. Neither am | ore
of those citizens of the North to whom an
other honorable member lately referred, in q
publication (Which bis name was subscribed
who would think It immoral and irreligions
&c join in putting down q servile insHfree-
ton st the South. am no soldier. sir; my
habits aud education ore unmilitary; but
there Is. no cause ia which I would sooner
buckle knaLsack 70 my back, and put q
Innsket on my Shoulder than that. would
cede the whole. continent to any one VINO
who would take ito England, 70 France,
TO Spain; would see IL sunk in the bottom
of The ocean beforeI would see any part OF
this fine America converted INTO a continental
Hayti by that awful process Of bloodshed and
desolatien by which alone such 2 catssiro-
Pie could be brou ght on. The great reiaiion
~ serVituGe In soma form or other, WIN
greater or less departures from the theoretl-
cal equality of man, il insepar1ble from our
nation. know Of no way By which the form
OF This seryitnde shall be fixed. but 10y poiItl-
cal institution. Domestic slavery, Though
confess not that form Of feryitude WhleD
seems 10 be the most beneficial 10 the master
Certainly rot that which is most beneficial
10 The sluEe-is not. in my Judgment, TO be
set down "a an immoral ard irreligious re-
Iaiion. ] cannot admit that religion
has but one voice 10 the slave, -end that
this voice is-'Rise against your master
No. sir: The New Testament rays: Slaves.
obey ystsr F1asters;' and though | know full
well that in the benigaant operation OF chris-
iianity which gathered master ana slave
around the same Communion table, this IN
fortunate institution disappeared in Europe;
vet I cannot admit that while 1t subslsts, al q
Yhere IL sabsists, its duties are no. pre-sup-
posed ind sanctioned by religion. and
though certainly an not called upon 10
meet the charges brought against tbis ihstl-
tuition: yet, truth Obiiges me TO say Wofd
more on the suijcct. ] know the condition
of the working CLASSES in other countries; 1
am Intimately acquainted with It 10 some
other countries. and / hare no hesitation ID
saving that before the Slaves in this eCun-
try are better cloth d and fed. and less
hardly wei ked. than the peasantrY OF some
of the most prosperous States Of the CONT
nent of Europe. To consid, : the chicks on
population, read hatthers. what Keeps pop
ulation down? Poverty wan. starvation
disease, ana all tie ills Of life; it Is ia Sc
hat check population ali over the world
Nov, the slave population in the United States
increases fasitr than the white, masters III
cInded. What is the inference as to the phys
cal condition OF The two classes OF society :?
These are opinions have long entertained,
and long since publicly protested on this sub
iect, and which I here I.peat in answer TO
The inlimation 10 which have already al
Iuded But. sir, when slavery cOInes TO enter
in the Constitution as a political element
when It Gomez to effect the distribution OF
power among the States Of TIE Union. that Is
u matter of agreement Il i make an agree
lnent on this suhi'ct, will adhere to II IKE
a man: but will protest againt any infer
ences being made from it of The kind which
WAS made bg the honorable mover OF the res
olutions'