Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-04-20
MlSCELL.ANY.
An Exciting Scene in COngresS-Somc
Very Free Speech

WV S'oiily nOuT III lOe House
OF Representatives on Thursday, and SOME
OF the very fieest speech on both sides Of
The chamber, that VIC think, its debates
have ever furnished. After the polygamy
bill had been disposed Of Owen Loveioy OF
Illinois, one of the most radical and fear.
less anti-slavery men in Congress, rose and
said that he proposed to treat of that other
twin relic Of barbarism," slavery, and he
would like to see the two 90 down together.
MIR. Cobb Of Alabama, and Mr.. Stanton nl
Ohio, endeavored to stop Mr.. LoveIoy, on
the ground that he was out of order, but
the rlouse being in Committee on the state
of the Union, it was decided to be in order
TO talk on any subject, and Mr.. Loveioy
proceeded to make savage onslaught up-
on 'the peculiar institution" after this fash
ion:-
was about to say, when interrupted,
that the question presented is, whether
slavery shall De extended beyond its pres
en- limits, as that is the only question over
which We have exclusive jurisdiction but.
sir, when it is proposed to extend what is
termed an institution, but what is not an in
sttuton, bnt simply practice, like polyr-
amy, the question naturally arises, What
is the nature, what tile influences. and
what the elements of this practice, and
what will they prove to be when extended
/ if allowed TO extend? | am aware that il
/ has been stated on this floor, that the NOR.
atty OF slavery has been settled; that its
ethics are no longer TO be discussed; that
they were settled by the Sagyrite of
/ Greece, and have been re-aflirmed and Ie-
established by the Slagyrite of Ohio who
/ portrayed it in gorgeous colors, like the
hues which gather around the clouds of a
summer sunset. We were told that where
slayeholdng win pay there saveholding
/ will 90. Precisely upon the same princi-
/ pie, where robbery, or piracy will pay they
will 90, and where human flesh is cheaper
than beeves, cannibalism will 90, because it
will pay. Sir, than robberies, than piracy,
/ than poIygamy, slavcholding is much worse
more criminal, more injurious to man,
and consequently more offensive to God.
Slaveholding has been justly designated as
the sum of all crime. You put every crime
that is perprelrated upon men into moral
crUcibIe, and dissolve and combine them all.
and the result of the amasam is savehold-
/ ing, i am speaking in earnest, before God,
and it is Gods truth. 1t has the violence
of robbery, the blood of piracy, the brutal
lusts Of polygamy all combined and CON
& % tpH IL Al,
neither one of those crimes ever knew or
dreamed of. Now, Mr.. Chairman, the JUS
tfication of slavery is placed rrIuinly on
three grounds; the inferiority of the en-
saved race, that the fact of enslaving men
imparts Christianity and civilization to
them, and the guarantees of the constiu-
ton. We eoncede as a matter of fact the
inferiorlty of the race, but does it follow
that it is right TO cnsave a man simply be-
cause he Is inferior TO you. Mr. Chairman.
this is TO me most abhorrent doctrine. 1t
would place the weak at the mercy of the
strong. The theory is, that if man is
crippled, trip him up; if he is old and
weak, strike him he can't strike back if he
is child deceive him. Why, sir, this doc
trine Of the demecrats-and it is the doc
-rine of devils as well-would lead the
strong TO enslave the weak everywhere.
1t would justify the angels in enslaving man,
and, in turn it would justify the archangels
in enslaving the angels. If carried out in
the universe it would ultimately transform
Jehovah himself into an infinite Jugger-
naut."
While uttering these maledictions with
peculiar energy of manner, Mr.. Loveioy
had gradually advanced from his seat to
the space in front of the speakers chair,
and as he warmed up gesiculated earnest
ly, shaking his fists, in fact, in the very
faces Of the pro-slavery side of the House
Pryor of Virginia jumped to his feet, call
ing Mr.. Lovejoy to order, and advancing
towards him cried out, Keep your own
side, sir. You shall not come over here,
shaking your fists in the faces of gentle
men, Here a scene of great confusion
occurred. Members rushed TO the floor
from all sides. Mr. Barksdale of Mssis-
sippi came forward, brandishing heavy
cane and crying out, Let him keep his
own side, the rascal" The chairman
4 would receive no motion till the members
took their seats. A collision seemed i'm
minert Mr.. Cox of Ohio declared Mr.
Loyejoy out of order, and said he had no
right 10 leave his seat and come upon the
democratic side. Mr.. Lovcjoy replied,
will stand where | please" Mr.. Pryor of
/ Virginia vociferated, Let him stand over
there and talk He shall not come on this
side and talk his treason" Mr.. Kellogg of
Illinois said his colleague should not COM
nit breach, of the rules, but he should
have all his rights. Order was finally re-
stored, and Mr.. Lovejoy took his stand by
the clerks desk and continued his re-
marks -
/ He spoke about northern Christian wo-
men, who went to the South TO prevent the
people there from returning to barbarism.
hr. Singleton of Miss. said that he
would not allow such in>inuations upon
southern women to pass. If the member
persisted in that course Of remark. he (Sin-
gleion) would hold him personally account
able.
IHr. Lorejoy said that in the four millions
of slaves there was not one legal husband