The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-05-24
NATIONAL POLITICS
A SPEECH
Delivered at the Cooper Institute, N. Y.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, of Illinois.


ABRAHAM LINCOLN, of Illinois.
Slave instructions are DO more com.
mon now than they we're before the Re.
publican party was organized. What in
duced the Southampton iDsurrcCtioD
twenty-eigbt years ago. in which at least
three times as naEy lives were lost as at
Harpers Ferryi Yon can scarcely stretch
your very elastic fancy 10 the conclusion
that Souths mptou was got up by Black
Republicans n. In the present state OF
things 10 the United States, do not think
a general. or even a very extensive slave
iasurrectioD, is possible. The indispensa-
Ole concert of action cannot be attained.
The slaves have no means of rapid COM
munication; nor can incendiary free men
black or white supply it, The explosive
materials are every where in parcels; but
there neither are. nor can be supplied
the indispensable connecting trains.
Much is said by Southern people about
the affection of Slaves for their masters
aud mistresses; and part of it. at least.
is true. A plot for an uprising could
scarcely be devised and communicated TO
twenty individuals before some of them,
to save the life of faYorite master or
mistress, would diYulge it. This is the
rule; and the slave resolution in Hayti
was not 80 exception to it, but case Oc-
curing under peculiar circumstances.-
The gunpowdcr plot of British history,
though gnot connected With slaves, vas
more in point In that case, only about
twenty were admitted TO the secret and
yet one of them in bis anxiety to save a
friend, betrayed the plot to that friend,
and, by consequence. ayerted the calami-
ty. Occasional poisonings from the kitch-
en-, and open or stealtby assassinations in
the field, and local revolts extending to a
score or 20, will continue to occur as the
natural results OF Slavery; but no general
insurrection Of slaves, as thiuk, can hap
pen 10 this country for a long time
Whoever much fears, or much hopes, for
such an event, will be alike disappointed
In the language of Mr. Jefferson, ut.
tered many years ago, at is still 10 our
power to direct the process of emancipa-
tion, and deportation, pcsceably, and in
such slow degrees, as that the evil will
wear of insensibly; and their places be,
par5 paSSu. filed up by free white labor
ers. If, on the contrary, It's left to force
itself on, human nature must shudder at
the prospect held up"
Mr. Jefferson did not mean to sag, nor
do |, that the power of emancipation is
in the Federal Government He spoke
of Virginia; and, as to the power Of EN- an
cipatiou, l speak Of the slaveholdiug
States only.
The Federal Government. however, as
we insi.t, has the power of restraining the
extension of the institution-the power to
insure that a slave iusurrection shall new
er occur on any American soil which is
nov free from Slarery.
John Browns effort was peculiar. 1t
was not a slave insurrectioD. 1t was al
attempt By white men to get up revolt
among slaves, iu which the slaves, in
whicu the slaves refused to participate.
In fact, it was go absurd that the slaves,
With all their ignorance, saw plaloi e.
nough it could not succeed That affair,
in its philosophy, corresponds with the
many attempts, related iD history, at the
assassination of kings aud emperors. An
enthusiast bToods over the oppression of
q people till be fancies himself COM
com muissioued by Heaven to liberate them.
He ventures the attempt, which ends in
little else than in bis own execution. Or
sini's attempt on Louis Napoleon. and
John Browns attempt at Harper's Ferry
were, in their philosophy, precisely the
same. The esgerness to cast blame on
old England in the one case. and on New
England in the other, does not disprove
ths sameness of the two things.
Aud how much would it avail your if
you could, by the use of John Brown,
Helpers book, and the like, break up the
Republican organization Human ac-
ton can be modified to some extent, but
human nature cannot be changed There
is q judgment and feeling against Sla-
very 10 this nation, which cast at least a
million and half of votes ou cannot
destroy that judgment aud feeling-thst
sentimeut--by breaking up the political
organization which rallies around it
You can scarcely scatter and disperse an
army which has been formed into order
10 the face Of Jour beviest fire, but il you