The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-05-17
SOVEREIGNTY AND
THE AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADE.

SOVEREIGNTY AND
THE AFRICAN SLAvE-TRADE.
A Speech by Mr.. s.auidess Of Gcorstn.
Deliusred i= t.e Den.oerasic Conrention at
Charleston oa Tuesday. .Nrg l. 1850.
Ma PREsInENr AND FELLOW DEMOCRATS:
As | stated to you few moments ago. l
have been confined 10 nay room by severe
indisposition, but learning of the commo-
tion and the intense excitement which were
existing upon the questions before this body
felt it TO be my duty. feeble as was. TO
drag myself oEt to the meeting Of my dele
CATION, aud when there | was surprised TO
find large majority OF that delegation vo-
ting to secede at once from this body. l
disagree with those gentlemen. l regret
to Disagree with my brethren from the
South upon any OF the great questions which
interest our common country. l am
Southern States Rights man; ana an Afri-
can slave trader. | believe l am one of
those Southern m n who believe tha, Slavery
is right. morally. relgiously. socially. aud
politically. Applause l believe that
the Institution OF Slavery has done more
for this country, more for civilization, than
All other interests put together. believe
il il were ir the poser of this country 10
strike down the institution of Slavery. it
would put civilization back 600 years
Holding. then, this position that Slavery is
right in III, point OF view | have stated,
would demand of the General Government
our whole rights in this regard. l believe
that the General Government by the Con-
sttution never had any right to legislate up
on this subject. believe that our Govern
ment was a confederation of States for Ger.
tain specified objects with limited powers;
that the domestic relations OF each State are
to be sn3 should be left to themselves; that
this eternal Slavery question has been the
bone of contention between the North and
South, which II kept III the halls of Con
greSs must break up this Government.
am one of those who believe in non inter-
vention. either in the States or Territories.
Applause | am not in favor of breaking
up this Gov veTnment upon an impractcable
issue. upon mere theory. ! believs that
his doctrine oi protection to Slavery in the
Territories Is a mere theory. a mere abstrac
ton. Applausc Practically it can be
OF no consequence 10 the South. for the
reason that the infant has been strangled
before it was born laughter. You have
cut off the supply of slaves; you have Grip
plea tue IHSAiiutlon hi slavery IN the states
by Your unjust laws, and il Is mere folly
and madness now to ask for protection for a
nonentity. for a thing which is not there
We have no slaves TO carry to these Terri
tories. We can never make another Slave
State with our present supply of slaves
But If we could, it would not be wise for
the reason. that If YOU make another Slave
State from our new Territories with the
present supply OF slaves, you W Ill be obliged
TO give up another Safe, either Mary land,
Delaware, or Virginia, 10 Free Soil upon
the North. Now, | would deal with this
question, fellow Democrats, as a practical
one. When | can no possible practical
good TO resultto the country from demand.
ing legislation upon this theory, am not
prepared to disintegrate and dismember the
grea, Democratic party Of this Union. 1
believe that the hopes of this country de-
pend upon the mantainance OF the great
Democratic party North. Applause 1t
is no ir. uble for a m an to be saint in Heav-
en-. Cheers and laughter
'wb-n t'1e devil vas six,
The deS,l Ia a mon, monk would bel
The dFy got yell
rut deviI monk he -
( We. the Democracy Of the South are mere
carpet knights. It is no trouble for us to
be Democrats. Applause and laughter. !
When | look TO the Northern Democrats,
Sc them standing up there and breasting
the tide of fanat'cism. oppre> sion. wrong.
and slander with which they have to con-
tend. / view IN these men types Of the old
ancient Romans. | view in them all that is
patriotic aud noble; and, for one, am not
willing TO cut loose from them. Great
cheering | say, then. that l will hold on
to my Democratic friends of the North TO
the last day Of the week-late in the even
ing Great laughter 1 an, no. willing
to present to them half issue of this sort.
| am not wiling t, disiniegrs,e. dism- IN Der,
and turn them over TO the ruthless hands OF
the thiesing Bla Republicans of The North
| would ask ms frients of the Souh TO
come up in a proper spr I, ask our Northern
friends to give ali rights. and lake
eff the ruthless restrictions which Gu. off
the supply OF slaves from foreign lands -
As a matter OF righ; and justice 10 the South
l would ask the Democracy Of the North tc
grant u this thing. and believe they have
the psfri tism aid honesty TO do it. becaus.
ii is right in itself. Tell you. fellow Dem
oc,ats. that the African slave trader Is IT,.
/ true Union man. Cheers and laughter.
tell you ,ka, the slave-trsding of Viryini.
is more immoral. more uDchristian in ever,
possible point OF view. than that Africa,
slsve-trade which goes to Africa and bring
heather and worthless man here, make
him useful nan, Christianzes him, an.
sends him and his pnsterity down the ssrean
of time 10 Join il tie blessings Of civiliza
tion. [CheeTs and laughter Now, fel
ow-Democrais, far as n public expires
sion of opinion Of the State of Virginia
the great slave-'radirg Safe Of Virginia
has been given. they are ali opposed to 'h'
African slave-tEalIe-
Dr. Reed of Iadiana-t am from Indiana
AMI am in favor OF i.
Mr. Gaulden--Now. gentlemen. we ar'
told. upon high authority, that there is
certain class Of men who strain .; q gna