The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-06-21
TERMS -sl.25 PER ANNUM.


and blessing to the MASTER. One Sen
ator from Virginia, Mr.. Hunter,] in
studied vindication of what he is pleased
TO call "the social system of the slave
holding States" exalts Slavery as "the
normal condition of human society
. beneficial to the non-slave- owner as it is
to the slave-owner" -" best for the hap
piness Of both races" aud, in enthusiastic
advocacy, declares, "that the very key
stone of the mighty arch, which by its
concentrated strength is able to sustain
our social superStructure, consists IN the
black marble block of African slavery.
Knock that out" he SAYS, "and the
mighty fabric, with all that it upholds,
topples and tumbles to its fall" These
were his very words, uttered In debate
here. And his colleague, Mr.. Mason
who has never hestatcd where Slavery
was in question, has proclaimed that 1t is
" ennobiing to both master aud slave
word which, so far as the slave was con-
cerned, he changed, on subsequent day,
to "elevating,' assuming still that 1t Is
'ennobIng" to the master-which is SIM
ply neg version of an old assumption,
by Mr.. McDufhe, of South Carolina, that
Slavery supersedes the necessity of an
order of nobility"
Thus, by various voices, is the claim
made for Slavery, which is put forward
defantly as a form of civilizationj as if its
existenct were not plainly incoiisistent
with the first principles of anything that
can be called Civilization except by that
figure Of speech in classical literature,
, where thing takes its name from some
thing which it has not, as the dreadful
Fates were called merciful because they
were without mercy. And pardon the
allusion, if I add, that, listening to these
sounding words for Slavery, am remind
ed of the kindred extravaganza related
by that remarkable traveller in China, the
late Able Hue, of a gloomy hole in which
he was lodged, pestered by mosquitoes
and exhaling noisome vapors, where light
and air entered only by single narrow
aperture, but styled by Chinese pride the
Hotel of the Beatitudes.
1t is natural that Senators thus insen-
sible to the true character Of Slavery,
should evince an equal nsensbility to the
, true character of the Constitution. This
is shown in the claim now made, and
pressed with unprecedented energy, de-
grading the. work of our fathers, that by
. virtue of the Constitution, the pretended
property in man is placed beyond the
: reach of Congressional prohibiti5h even
| within Congressional jurisdiction, SO that
the Slave-master may at all times enter
[ the broad outlying Territories ofthe Union
with the victims of his oppression, and
there continue to hold them by lash and
. chain.
Such are the two assumptions, the first
an assumption of fact, and the second an
: assumption Of constitutional law, which
e are now made without apology or heslta-
ton. | meet them both. TO the first |
oppose the essential Barbarism of Slave
ry, in all its iafuenccs, whether high or
CIV, as Satan is Satan still, whether tow
ering in the sky or squatting in the toad.
] To the second oppose the unanswerabie,
. irresistible truth, that the Constitution
: Of the United States nowhere recognizes
property in man. These two assumptions
naturaliy 60 together. They arc ''twins"
, sucked by the same wolf. They are the
e " couple in the present slave huHt. And
the latter cannot be answered withont ex-
=. posing the former. 1t is only when
Slavery is exhibited in its truly hateful
! character that we can fully appreciate tho
Q aEsurdity of the assumption, WHICH, in
y defiance of the express letter Of the Con-
| stitution, and withou: single sentence,
phrase, or word; upholding human bon
5 dage, yet foists into this hlameless text
f the barbarous idea that man can hold
!; property IN man.
= On former occasions, | have discussed !
Slavery only incidentally; US, III unfold
e ing the prncilA BE that Slavery is Section
al and Freedom National in exposing tho
Q unconstitntionality cf the Fugitive Slave
Bill; il yindicating the Prohibition Of
Slavery in the Missouri Territory; ia cx~
hibjting the lnihecility throughout the
: Revolution Of the Slave States, AID es-
i. : pecially of South Caroline and lostly, in
Qnmasking the Crime against KaHsas.---
On all these occasions, where hsre >po-
ken at length, have said 700 little of she
character of Slavery, partly because 9TH
er topics we're presented, aud partly frons
dsinclination which haYe always felS
to press the argument against those gbom
, ! knew to have all the sensltiveneS, of
sick man. But. God be praised, ihiS
itiele has passed, and the debate is now
, lifted from details to principles. Gras%lcr
, debate has not occurred III our hi,ss~y5
nor can this debate close or sub>i4@ tx
cept with the triumph of Freedom.