Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-04-10
TH1RTY.s1xTH coNeREss-F1RsT SESSION.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1860.
House of Representatives.

Aob5N "a
ABOLITION HARANGCE OF ME-. YEJof-lSTES
EXCITEMENT.
The House then went into committee Of the
whole on the state OF the Union, Mr.. Washburne
(rep.) of Maine, in the Chair.
: Mr.. Loyeloy, (rep.) Of Ill.-Mr. Chairman
We have had I long debate on ~polygamy. in
Utah, and I now come to treat upon that other
I. twin relic OF barbarism," slavery. I would
like to see the two 60 down together.
mfr. Cobb, (dcm.) of Ala, interrupted, but
was called to order. Before resuming his seat
he said "Oh, let him make a speech about the
twins; I will not object"
Mr.. L%ovejoy-I will proceed without your
leave or anybody else.
Mr.. Stanton, (rep.) Of Ohio, asked the Chair
man whether, while the tariff and loan bill was
before the House, gentlemen should not be con-
fined to that particular subject, and not stray
away to the subject Of the twin relics?
Mr.. Lovejoy-The question is, whether
slavery is to extend beyond its present limits !?
They say that is the only question over which
we have not exclusive jurisdiction. Slavery is
called an ''institution;'' but it is no institution.
Sir, it is simply 4 practice, as polygamy is q
practice The question now is, what are the
influences and what are the elements of the
practice OF slavery. The morality Of slavery
has been settled long ago. The ethics of it are
no longer discussed. Ages and ages ago it has
been settled by the priests: and now, in gorge
business and glory, it appears like the fresh
bright CLOVIS which gather round Il summers
sunset. We are told that wherever slavehold-
Ing will pay there it will go, precisely OH the
same principle that wherever robbery will pay
there robbery will go-whercver piracy will
pay there piracy will go. And wherever hui
man flesh is cheaper than thieying cannihalism
will prevail, because it will pay. Than rob-
berry, than piracy, than pnlygamy, slavehold-
ing is worse, more wicked, more crllni-
nal, more inglorious to man, and more
abhorrent to God. Slavcholdins has been
justly called the SUN Of all crime" You put
every crime into the moral crucible, every
wickedness perpetratcd among men-put all
the crime on the catalogue into the moral cru
chile, and then dissolve them all, and the re-
suit will be slavcholding. 1t has all the rio-
lcnce o. robbery. am speaking earnestly be-
fore God, and what | utter is Gods truth. 1t
has all the violence of robbery it has the
bloody course of piracy it has all the otien-
~siveness and brutatizing lusts Of polygamy, all
combined and concentrated III itself. with the
aggravating circumstances Of each and every
crime that was ever known or dreamed OF.
Now, sir, the justification of slavery is placed
upon three grounds-the inferiOrity Of the en-
shaved race, the fact that slavery imparts Christ
ianity and civilization TO the Saves, and the
plea that it is guaranteed by the constitution.
These are the three main arguments that are
presented 10 justify slavery in itself, and conSe-
dncntly it is these which are claimed to justify
its expansion. The extreme men upon this
question are not the only men who have logi-
cal arguments Oh their site. must be
right in my position, or the extreme
firc-catcrS must be right. II slavery is right
in Virginia, it must be right in Kansas. If
wrong in Kansas, it must be wrong everywhere.
Now, with reference to the first point-the in
f~erioritv Of the erSlavcd race. We cUncede, rs
q matter Of fact, the inicriority. Does 1t follow
from that that it is right to e~Iislave i man sim.
ply because he is inferior to me: Sir, this is
a most abhorrent doctrine. This gives over the
weak to the mercy of the StrOnS-the poor to
the mercy Of the rich. This doctrine places
those who are weak in intellect at the mercy
of those who are gifted. This principle OF en-
shaving men because Of their inieriorIty is the
most revolving that was ever presented to the
world. If Il man is old and weak, and bowed
down with years, you strike him down. IF he
is iaiolic, you take advantage Of him-if 4
child, you deceive him. Why, sir, this is the
doctrine Of the Democrats. But it is, sir, the
doctrine of devils as we'll. (Sensation.) Ac-
cording to this inhnman doctrine, the strong
wauld ~enslavc the weak everywhere ust as
the angels might ~enSlavc men because they
are superior to men-just as the a~rchangelS
might enSlave the inferior angels. Sir, this
horrible doctrine, on the same principle, would
transfer the great Jehovah himself into an in.
formal Juggernaut, who would enslaye the world
under the huge rolling wheels Of his omnipo-
tence.
As Mr.. Lovejoy approached the climax OF his
rhetoric he kept advancing from the eN.
trelnc side Of the Republican benches, outside
Of which he had taken his stand, until he was
nearly in front Of the Speakers chair. Here
he stood aS Ae uttered his concluding sen.
fences in n loud and denunciatory tone, and as
if he was particularly addressing himself to
Democratic members. His action was very vc-
hcment, and he frequently raised his clenched
hands above his head. and, in the manner Of
preachers, brought them down again with
great force, keeping his eyes all the time d.
rccted towards the Democratic benches.
Mr.. Pryor, advancing from the right, left his
seat and came to within a few feet of Mr.. Love
ioy. This move brought all the Democratic
members in an instant 10 their feet, while on
the other side q large body OF Republican
members also rose and drew to the front, the
appearance Of all very thrcatning in the ex-
trcmc.
Mr.. Pryor, Dem Of Va.--Mr. Chairman, |
rise 10 q point Of order. The gentleman from
Illinois has no right to leave his seat to come
over to threaten us. 1t is bad enough that he
should use insulting and rutlianly language to
us from his seat, without coming here to shake
his fists in our fnce. Great confusion.)
Mr.. Barksdale, DEM of Miss.-Let him go
back to his seat.
y chorus of voices from both sides. go to
your seats"
Mr.. Pryor-The point Of order ! make is
The Chairman-I cannot hear what any gen
tlcman has to say until order is restored.
Mr.. Cox (Deln.) of Ohio-f.rise to Il point Of
order. Let him speak from his chair and not
come over here.
Mr.. Pryor-That is my point of order. Let
him talk over there, but he shall not come to
this side to shake his fists in L menacing and
ruffinly manner at us.
The Chairman request gentlemen to lake
their seats anil coIne 10 order.
Great confusion in front Of the desk-adozen
members from the Democratic side menacing
Mr.. Lovejoy, who was supported by his friends
from the Republican side. i
Mr.. Cox--Let him 90 back 10 his seat and
resume - -,
Mr.. Barksdalc, (shuking Il heavy gold-lIeaded
cane at Lovcioy,) said, You lying seoundrel,
come over here, If yon dare
Great confusion and 4 collision imminent.
The Chairinan-I beg respectfully to request
that gentlemen will take their seats.
No attention was paid 10 the request by the
excited circle that now stood in front Of the
desk.
The Chairman request members 10 assist
Inc in preserving order.
Mr.. Adrain, @. L. DEM Of n. J.-Perhaps
the best way to avert this difficulty would De
for the gentleman to speak from his seat we