The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-09-20
Speech Of Carl Schurz, Delivered ~
vero "dAh Hail, -. Louis, Aug. 1.
u6K0

Speech Of Carl Schurz, Delivered ~
| Veran Hail, 81. Louis, Aug.
1859.
Mr.. President AND GENTLEMEN: To de
ny the existence of evil they do NJ
mean to remedy, to ascribe to pal'ry causes
the origin of great problems they do NO
mean to solve, TO charge those who define
the nature OF an existing difficulty viii
having originated it-these are exI,edie itl
which the opponents of reformatory move
men.s have resorted to siuce mankind had 4
history. An appeal to ignorance or tinid
ity is their last hope, when all resources o
logic and argument are exhausted. The ole
comedy is repeated again and again.
The assertions that the great contest be.
tween Free and Slave Labor has no founda
ton in fact, that the origin OF the Slavery
controversy il to be found in the fauatcism
of lew Northern Abolitionists, and thai
those who speak of an ''rrepressible con.
fict" are to be made responsible for its ex
istence-these form the argumentative sta
pie Of those who possess either not sagacity
enough to discern. or not courage enough
TO state facts they are.
In Investigating the causes OF the great
struggle which has for years kept the minds
of the people IN constant uneaslness and ex.
element, | shall endeavor to act with the
most pei iect fairness l shall not indul se
in any denunciations. l shall impe.ch the
motives Of no one. l shall not appeal to
prejudice or sssion. invite you TO pass
in review the actual stale of things with
calmness and impsrtiality.
1t is one of the best traits Of human ns-
ture. that we form our tIst opinions on mat
ters Of general Interest from our innate sense
OF right and wrong. Our moral impress
sions the dictates of our conscisnces. the
generous impulses of our hearts, are the
source from which our first convictions
spring. But custom, material interest, and
our natural inclinations to acquiesce in that
which IS whether right or wrong. that uis
snsyt.Oe which has brought so much suff-r-
ing upon humanity. are apt to overrule the
native instincts of our moral nature. Thy
are sicklied over by the p ale cast of caIculs-
ton. the freshness Of their impeIling powers
is lest. and questions essentially moral are
changed into questions OF
material interest, national economy. or po-
li,icsi power.
The people Of the South have evidently
gone through that process in regard to the
institution of Slavery; they have become ac
10 identify its existence with the
existence ut Southern society. while even .
arge majority OF the people OF the North
we're rather inclined To silence their moral
objections to it, and to acquiesce. until its
immediate interference with matters of gen.
sral interest gave a new impulse to their
native antipathy. Although l am not
ashamed To confess, that the moral merits
The question would alone have been more
han sufficient to make me an ANU Slavery
man. yet | will s,ntine myself to discus
sion Of its practical effects. in order to make
my self intelliXibls even to those who do
not sympathize with me. This Is the hrst
time that have had the honor to address q
meeting in Slave State, and even now |
owe the privilege Of expressing my opinions
freely and without restraint TO the circum-
stance that. although 10 a Slave State, l
stsnd upon the soil OF free city, aud un-
der the generous protection OF free men,
T Applause Must call "a privilege" what
ought to be universally respected As the sa-
cred birthright Of every American citizen?
Ask any slavehslder who may be present in
this vast assembly whether he does not deem
it wrong and unjustifabls that |. an Anti
Slavery man. should be permitted 10 give
q public expression of my views in Slave
State? whether he wouli not be in favor of
silencing me by whaever means within his
reach? whether l would not be silenced at
once in q strong slaveholding community?
| do not mean to blame him tor it. Let us
give him fair hearing. The stakeholder
will state his political views substantially IS
follows:
ION point Of astronomy, or chemistry.
or medicine. You may entertain and express
whatever opinion YOU please; but We cannot
permit you 10 discuss the relation between
master and servant, as II exists here in the
Slave States, for in doing So you would en-
danger our safety and undermine our social
sy stem. Our condition is such that the
slightest movement of insubord,natiou once
started. is apt TO grow with uncomfortable
rapidity; We have. e.therefore, to guard against
every thing that may start IL; we canuot AL
low free discussion of the subject: we have
to remove from our midst every incendiary
element; we canno; be expected to tolerate
opinions OF persons among US that are oppo-
sed to the ruling order of things. When
ever a mis- hi@vous attempt is made, We
Obliged to repress il with such energy and
sAverity as 10 strike terror into the hearts of
those who might be capable of repeating
the attempt. Our condition requires the
promptest action. and If. in case of imminent
danger. the regular process OF the Courts -
too slow or uncertain, we are obliged to re-
sort to lynch Law in order to supply it's de-
6cie ucies.
..Moseever, we must adapt our rules aud
customs Of Government to the peculiar
wants of our social organization La order
to be safe, We must int ust the Government
in its general administration. we'll its
details, to those who. by their own interests,
are bound to be the natural guardians of the
system. Hence our safety requires that the
political power in ous States should be put
into the hands of slsveholdess; and where
we have no law to that effect, custom mp.
holds the rule.
"Jn order to put the political ascendency
Of those who are most interested in the pres.
ervation of Slavery 1pon = solid basis. we
must put down anything that would pro
duos and foster independent aspiratisn'
amocg the other classes of society. II
H.. Il, ~