The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-01-20
THE REAL QUESTION STATED.
LETTER FROM CHARLES OCoNNOR TO TIL
COMMITTEE or MERCHANTS.
NEw YoRK, Dec %, 1855

New YoRK, Dec. %, 1851
CuAs. 0'CoSS0R, Esqi-The undersigned, beng
DESTROYS Of circulating as widely as possihle, both
Mt the North and at tho South, tho proceedings 81
the Union Meeting held at the Academy OF Music
last evening, intend publishing In pamphlet iOrin'
for distribution, n correct copy or the same
Will you be so kind rs to inform US whether this
step meets your approval; and II SO; furnish u;
with corrected report OF your speech delivered
by you ON that occasion.
Yours respectfully,
LEIrcH DURNET Co, and Others.
GENTLEMEN: The measure you propose meets
my entire approval.
l have long thought that our disputes con-
corning negro Slavery would soon terminate II
the public mind could be drawn 10 the true is
sue. and steadily fixed upon il. To elect this
object was the sole aim ofmy address.
Though its minister can never permit the law
of land 10 be questic ned by private judge
ment, there Is, nevertheless, such thing as
natural Justice. Natural justice has the Divine
sanction; aud il is impossible that any human
law which conflicts with il should long endure.
Where mental enlightenment abounds. where
morality is protesScd by all. where the mind IS
free. speech Is free, and the press is tree, is IL
possible. in the nature of things, that q law
which is admitted to conflict with natural JUS
tce. and with Gods own mandate. should long
endure!
You all viii admit that, within certain limits,
at least, our Constitution does contain positive
guarantees for the preservation Of Negro Slay-
cry in the old States through all time, unless
the local Legislatures shall think AZ To abolish
1t. And, consequently, II Negro Slavery, how
ever humanely administered or judiciously reg
ulate1, be an Institution which conflicts with
natural justice and with Gods law, surely the
most vehement and extreme admirers of John
Browns sentiments are right; aud thcirdenun-
Citations against the Constitution. aud agains,
the most hallowed names connected with II, are
perfectly justifable.
The friends oftruth-the patriotic Americans
who would sustain their country's honor
against foreign rivalry. and defend their coun-
try's interests against all assalants, err great
IN when they contend with these men on any
point but one. Their general principles cam
not be rcfated; their logic Is irresistible; the
error, IL any there be, is in their premises
They assert that negro slavery Is unjust. This.
and this alone, OF al they say, Is capable OF
being f,irly argued against.
III this proposition cannot be refnted, our
Union cannot endure, and II ought not to en-
dure. rt
Our negro bondmen can neither be extermin-
ated nor transported TO Africa They are too
numerous for either process. and either, II
practieabie, would involve violation OF hui
mainly. fthey were emancipated, they would
relapse INTO barbarism. or n set OF Negro States
equaiity. and entitled To social equality. The
oNson oI parties would soon make the negro
members powerful body in Coperess-would
place some OF them In hieh political stations
chair. ''S law
II l. in vain to say that this could be eDaur.
cd; hh simply impossible.