The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-07-20
4olitital.
The Issues: The Dred Scott Doci.
sion: Tho Parties.
GDTECH on
SPEECH OF
Hon. Israel yVasliburn, Jr.,
OF MAINE,
Delivered in tho House of Representatives,
May 10, 1900.
CONCLUDED.

CONCLUDED.
II. While the propositions which ] have
been considering are undoubtedly those upon
which the decision was intended to rest, 1t Ii
manifest that they hsrnonize with and derive
aid from, the political philosophy OF MIR. Cal.
houn, Mr.. McDuihc, and Others Of that
school, which teaches that Governments
founded on the idea Of universal liberty are
radically false, and necessarily insecurc; that
pure Democracy, or Republic resting up
on universal suffrage. must bc practical Inn
possibilities, and that the only true and sta.
bic Government Is that which recognises and
provides for the existence OF classes among
the people over whom it extends. The the
ory is, that Governments can securely rest
only on the intelligence and virtue Of those
who govern, and that 1t is idle to expect that
the requisite intelligence for the wise exer.
else Of the power Of selecting rulers and ma
king laws can be found among the classes
who perform the physical labor of q country;
that Such as, from tlicir position and circum-
stances in life, are Obliged to labor daily in
the field or shop, or elsewhere, cannot find
time to inform themselves in respect to the
facts necessary to be known for the forma.
tion of correct opinions upon questions OF
administration and policy !; that they can
have no leisure for political inquiries, and
for the acquisition OF the general knowledge
indispensable to wise and judicious use OF
the elective franchise. Only those, we are
told, who are relieved from this necessity OF
daily labor, by the labor of subordinate and
inferior classes, can properly understand the
science of government and the wants OF ma
tion, and bc able to know the persons who
are wise and yirtuous enough to bc intrusted
with the duties of administration. "Thosc
who think must govern those who work, v
says this philosophy; and IT IT says truly,
Mr.. Calhoun's proposition, "thdt sfdrery IS
the cornerstone Of all true Governments" lie
sound one; and it results that II slavery
bc not the cornerstone OF this Government,
the Government has no good and safe ioun-
dation. If these positions are well taken,
the proper and normal condition of some men
Is that of slaves and Of property. And, In
asmuch rs the trainers Of the Constitution
were wss men, and understood this, and in
all respects knew what they were about, 1t
cannot be doubted that in the fundamental
law which they made they recognised the ex'
istencc of such class, not only US fact,
but US necessity; not merely AS an accl'
dent, but as an essential condition OF the
new society; and although they speak Of
guarantying to the States republican form
of government, that was understood to refer
TO Governments not monarchical, and not 10
exclude those in which, rs in the Roman,
Venitian, and other republics which have ex.
listed in Europe, at different periods for many
centuries, the people were divided into castles
and classes. So, when an organic law was
framed, there can be no doubt-such IL the
argument-that its authors regarded the dc.
graded Africans us belonging to disabled
and seryilc class, being all laborers, and
stamped upon them on incapacity to be cltl-
zens, and treated them as the rightful SUBJ
jects of property.
Undoubtedly, If the doctrine of the Call
houn Democracy be sound, u very strong ar
gulnent may be adduced in favor Of the Drcd
Scott decision. According to this theory,
slavery is of Divine authority, and exists by
natural law. 1t is, rs VIC were told by the
trainers of the Leconpton Constitution, "bc-
fore and higher than ull constitutional sane
tions." God made one class or description
of men, or certain classes and descriptions OF
men, for slaves. and the Government which
docs not perceive and net upon this essential
truth is false and impious.
That the followers OF Mr.. Calhoun-and
they nre now tho ruling spirits in the Demo-
cratic party-arc fully committed to these
doctrines, and are preparing to accept their
logical results. is seen In tho fact that they
are beginning to maintain that wherever
seryile and la6oring class Of black men can
not be found in community, their place
must be Supplied with white men.
Mr.. George Fitzhugh, of Richmond, vir-
rinia, n political writer of large reputation
In the South. published, in 1854, work en-
titled "Sooology for the South or, the
Failure Of Free Soeiety," in which he said !;
.Slavery protects the weaker members Of So
ciety, just as do the relations ofparents, guar
dians, and husband, and Is as necessary, rs
natural, and almost rs universal, as those rela-
tons"
"Ten years ago, we became satisfied that
slavery, BLACK on WHITE, was right and nee
essary. We advocated this doctrine In very
many essays"
The Richmond Inquirer says:
"while Il Is far more obvious that negroes
should be slaves than whites-for they are only
81 TO labor and not to direci-ytt the principle,
ofsIarsry is itseT right. and does not dtpend
on digsrsnee Qf eompIsrion." a
In another article Is the following:
"Freedom 70 not possibf srifao.f sIdrery.-
Every civil polity and every social sysem im-
plies gradation Of rank aud condtion. me
States ofhs South, an artaoeraey Q nam
.sn I, Sasei on negro slavsry; AND fnE AB.
.rxcr on NEGRO sIiyEaY WOULD Bs surftirp
- -uvyr MN