Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-09-20
mr.. Rvsrett's position on the slavery CUES
afon.

NArs ENNfells FosAtAoA On Ahe S-~NN-S -
ton.
with what singular iriust.c, and liJeraly the Brock
ardge orators and press Of the South have pursued that
accomplished and purcmiudcd patriot Statesman, scholar
and gentleman, Edward Everett! Why, If we owned a
million Of slaves we should feel perfectly safe with the
government. administered by such a man as Everett
We would implicitly trust him in any eapaeiiy-whether
as Senator Cabinet Minister, vicePresdent or Presi
dent.
And yet Nr. Everett pure so just so heightened,
so patriotic and siatesmau-ke is charged as being I'M
worthy Of the confidence of Southern The charge
is absuredy and ridicuOusly false If he can't be trust
ed there no human being the North, Of any party
that can be- But he least be- He is one Of those
in that section who have been prescribed and prosecuted
BY the Abortiouists as few men ever we're; and who
would do justice to the South though the heavens them
selves should fall
But, as remarked by our contemporary OF the Mobile
REGISTER in spite Of his character and his recent noble
anecedeuts has been erated and reiterated by our
Breckenridge contemporaries, that Mr.. Everett now
thinks that Congress fought in justice and humanity, to
abolish slavery in the District Of Columbia and the States
and Territories" Presuming that some, at least, Of
those Who are urging this view against Mr. Everett real
E believe what they charge and have no desire to con-
duct the canvass in an Liberal spirit We propose to no.
tee the matter briefly although it singular to US
how ANYBODY in view Of Mr. Everets recent record and
services can understand him to entertain feelings Of
hostility to the institutions and people of the South
Fortunately it is not difficult to vadicate the ds.n
vshed statesman orator and patriot Of Massachusetts,
from slch stigma Intelligent all familiar
with the character Of the compromise measures of 1885,
champored BY Daniel Webster, perfected by Henry Clay
sustained by the patriotic statesmen from both sections of
the couiederacy in Congress and aierward ratified and
propounced hnalty in 1882 by both Of the National
Conventions representing the two great parties which then
divided the country. Surely he who cordially and sincerely
sustained that compromise and has declared in favor Of
maintaining it. has thereby declared against interference
with the subject Of slavery in any manner whatever; and
this Mr. Everett has done, are prepared to show
In speech made in the Senate Of the United States
the Sh ofFebruary 1854 to be found page l62 vol
90, Of the Congressional Globe, Mr. Everett said:
/, trust tina, nothing which have now said will be
taken In dercgson OF the compromise measures Of 1880
,lsrs % than. IsiaHd on them. do for for many
reasons One is respect for the memory Of the great
men who we're the authors Of them-hghts and ornaments
Of the country but taken from its service would
not SO soOu If IL were In my power, undo their work,
for no other reason But besides this am one of those
time and who still believe, that 90 that period the Union
Of these States was in great danger and that the adop
ton of the compromise measures Of 1850 contributed
s eray 70 avert that danger; aud therefore, sir say
A. well out Of respect 10 the memory OF the great men
who were the authors of them to the healing effect
of the measures themselves would adhere to them
They ar, not perfect suppose that nobody, either
North or South thinks them perfect. They contain |
some provisions not satisfactory to the South and other
provisions contrary 10 the public sentiment OF tue North
% 49,. rt ff, - ha1F
the most effective measures which, under the cireum
stances could be adopted
Is not this full frank, explicit, and the who
uters such sentiments be justly caSsed with antsllvery
aytatorss A. later date, not a twevemonth since
Mr. Everett dared stand up in Fsneu Hall and rebuke
poutedy and effectively the sympathy shown in Massa
chusets and other portions Of the North for John Brown
aud hi, infamous supporters So effectively indeed did
he discharge his duty that he brought down all the yias
Of abolition wrath upon his head and denounced
with bitterness and ingenuity of nvective that seemed
dsmoni,c rather than human. But it nevertheless ac-
cornpished benign and heahfll work His brave and
eloquent u.terarce elected the heartest commentator
and applause from the thinking patriotic men OF the ma
.71 aad particularly Of the South, including the warm
7,aaI OF Mr. Breckenridge, now one Of the candidates
t0- the Presidency.
After giving In that speech brief history Of the !
bloody events OF che s. Domingo massacre, he present
ell a picture OF the South and said:
Upon this community thus composed, it was the de-
s-a Of Brown 20 e- loose che hyhounds Of serylc IT,
.-recio9 and Co bring a Struggle which for magui-
trls ltr1,y and a0roe would have stood alone in the
history OK the world Auj these eigh; nine millions
against whom ibis rgh,.ui war was eyeled, are oTfsi
'.5--t'1.as, untitled r'h U 70 Che projections Of that
-sra ~ rrrrs4s3t le at recognizes their relation 20
zee rrg-E rac-a compact -iich cnsry orsr II
lr Union or oftr States IS bound 5g his oath TO sup
a1rt! Among them Is fair proportion Of men and wo
ucu Of education and cUture-ot moral and religious |
lives and CharacersvirgOus fathers mothers, sons and
rrhtcs persons who would adorn any station of soc
ety. in auv country-meu who read Inc same Bible that
we do aud n the Of the same Master kueel at the
throne Of the same God, forming class Of men from
whom have gone forth some Of the greatest aud pures
characters which a!oru our history-Washngtou Jeier-
SON. Madison, Monroe, Marshall, in the single State
OF Virginia against which the first blow has been
struck These are the men, the women, for whose bo
SONS pixies and rides are manufactured in New EGG
land TO be placed in the hands Of ignorant, subject
race supposed most wrOnguiy, as recent events have
shown To- be waiting only for opportunity 10 use
ttemi have been admitted 90 the confidence Of the
domestic circle In the SOUTH and have seen there touch
ing manifestations OF the kndest feelings by which that
circle IN al is members high and low master aud ser
want can be bound together; aud when contemplate
Inc horrors that would have ensued had the tragedy
which the curtain rose Hsrpers Ferry been acted out
through all It's OF fire and sword, OF lust and mu-
der OF raprc and desoGton, 10 the final catastrophe
sm filed with emotions TO which words DO JUS
tee.
"And now" in the eloquent language Of another, eve
appeal to al honest aud honorable TO say whether
the statements put forth by the Breckenridge presses in
regard TO the imputed abotionsm Of Edward Everett
are no; grossly untrue and cruelty calumuiOus Where
in al the North where in all the nation where in all the
world can a statesman be found Of more liberal views
and broader and more comprehensive patriotism than
himg