Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-04-28
Che Anti- 9Iauerp BueIt.
THE TWIN RELICS OF BARB ARIsM.
SPEECH OF THE
HON. OWEN LOvEJOY,

fnAe House of Representatives., april 6h. 1860.
\ The House, being in the Committee OF the
Whole on the state OF the Union
Mr.. Lovejoy said Mr.. Chairmsn-Ths House
hss been occupied for several days in the Discus
sion Of the subject of polygamy. The Republican
party, Of which / am a member, stands pledged
since 1856 to the extermiuation so far as the Fed
eral Government has the power, of the twin relics
OF barbarism-SlaveIy and Polygamy. They have
this power in the Territories of the United
States.
Now, Sir, as we anticipate death-blow has
been given to one Of these twins, propose to pay
my respects to the other. l want to see them
stranged aud go down together they both richly
deserve. ''
Mr. Cobb, tDem. Ala.l rise to question of or
der.
The Chairman; The gentleman will state bis
Questil Of order.
Mr.. Cobb was going TO raise question of or.
der upon the right of the gentleman to discuss the
question of the twin relics under the new rule
We have adopted. However will not interfere,
the gentleman may 90 on with his speech.
Mr.. Lovejoy am entitled to the floor; do
not yield to the gentleman and l will proceed
rtleman's permission, or without il.
Mr.. Stanton, (Rep., o. l would be glad to
know what is the understanding of the Chair,
and of the Chairman of the Committee of Woys
and Means, as to what is to be the course of dis
eussiou upon this bill, whether the twin relics
are in order not or whether the discussion lie to
be confined to the bill itselfi The questions
propery involved in the bill itself are sufficiently
comprehensive, in my Judgment to command the
sntire attention Of the Committee, and think we
should con6ne the discussion strictly to it. When
- We arc all in the Committee of the Whole on the
state of the Union upon the President's Message
q the gentleman from Illinois will be strictly in or
der. have no special interest about the matter
except that if the question is to be opened to this
/! general discussion, am afraid the whole time will
& bo taken up with it, and the important sub
iect connected with the bill itself overlooked.
Mr.. Sherman / will state that, as l under
stand it, he debate may be is general upon this
bill in it's present condition upon the Pres
dents Message. 1t is within the power of the
House; however, at any time, to mako the bill Q
y special order; after which, debate must be con-
fned strictly to the question under consideration
II il be the pleasure of the House. propose il
20 the HouAe.
The Chairman: The chair supposes that genera
debate is 10 order upon this bill, the House now
being in the Committee of the Whole on the
state of the Union, and no special order pend
ing.
Mr.. Lovejoy: I was about to say when inter
rupted that am aware that the practical question
&c presented to this House and to the country, is
whether Slavery shall be extended beyoud its pres
limits; as that is the only question over which
they have exclusive jurisdiction. And if slavery
were contented to remain restricted and 6nd it,
future where it now is, we might perhaps fOrbeai
this discussion. But when it is proposed to ex
tend what is termed an instituton-but which il
not an institution (which is simply a practce-th'
question naturally arises, what is the nature, ,wha
d ere the influences, and what are elements Of th
prscticei and what will they prove to be if allow
cd expansion I am aware that it has beer statet
upon this floor that the morale of Slavery Is set
tied that Its ethics longer to be discussed
that they were settled ages ago by the Stagirt
: Of Greece, and have been reaffrmed and reestab
lished by the chanticler Solon of Ohio. in rhetoric
gorgeous as sunsets glow. We are told tina, wher
slavery will pay slaV cry will go. Precisely upo
bery will pay robbery will 60 and where adj
pose human Aesh is cheaper than that Of beeves
cannibalism will 60, because it will pay. Sirthal
robbery, than piracy, than polygamy, slavehodnI
is worse-more criminal. mere injurious to man
and consequently more offensive to God. Slave
holding has been justly designated as the sum O
g all villainy. Put every crime perpetrated anon
men into moral cruobe, and dissolve and com
bine them all, and the resultant amalgsm is slave
d holding. 1t has the violence of robbery.
r4..A Member: You are joking
Mr.. Lovejoy; No, sir l am speaking In des
z earnesti before God, Gods own truth. II has tn
violence of robbery the blood and cruelty of pirs
eysit has the offensive and brutal lusts Of polyg
amy, all combined and concentrated in ITSELF wit
ssgravations that neither one of these crimes eve
know on dreamed of. Now, Mr.. Chairman. tn
justification Of Slavery is placed, so far as know
mainly upon these grounds The inferiority Of tn
"a enslaVed race the fact that enslaVing men i'm
parts Christianity snd civilization to :hem aud
thirdly the guarantees Of the Constitution. Thes
3 ere the three main arguments presented to justif
Slavery, and consequently to justify its expansion
sl And, by the way. hold that the extreme men
il as they are called, this question, are the onl
men who have the logic Of it, / am right, or th
b, Ore eaters are right. If Slavery is right in Vir
giniA, IL is right in Kansas. II il is wrong il
Kansas, it is wrong everywhere. Now, Sir, in re
gard to the first point-the inferiority Of the en-
3 shaved race. We may eoneede il as matter o
fact that II is inferior but does il follow, there
= FORE that tits right TO snslsve man simply be
cause he Is iuferiorI This, to me, 10 most ab