Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-06-21

the lead. following Mr.. Calhoun
who pronounced "Slavery the mos
safe and stable basis for free institu
tions in the world, "and Mr.. McDuiiie
who did not shrink from calling il
"the corner stone of the Republican
editice," the Senator from South Car.
olina Mr.. Hammond) insists that
"its forms of society are the best in
the world" and his colleague (Mr.
Chestnut takes up the strain. One
Senator from Mississippi (Mr. Davis
adds that Slavery lis but form OF
civil government for those who are not
ut to govern themselves" and his
colleague Mr.. Brown openly vaunts
that 1t "is a great moral, social and
political blessing-a blessing to the
slave, and blessing to the master" &"
One Senator from Virginia(Mr. Hun
ter). in a studied vindication of what
he is pleased to call "the social sys-
tenn of the slaveholding States. ="
exalts Slavery as "the normal condi-
tion Of human ociety"-"benefici
TO the non-slaveowner as it is TO the
siaveowner"-"best for the happiness
OF both races" and, in enthusiastic
advocacy. declares "that the very
Keystone Of the mighty arch, which by
Its concentrated strength is able to
sustain our social superstructure, con-
slsts IN the black marble block of AZ
riean Slavery. Knock that out" he
says land the mighty fabric, with all
that it upholds, topples and tumbles
to ITS fall These were his very
words, uttered in debate here: and his
colleague (Mr. Mason). who has new
or hesitated where Slavery was in
question. has proclaimed that it is
'ennobling 20 both master and slave"
"a word which so far as the slave
was concerned, he changed, on sub
sequent Gay, to "elevating," assum-
ing still that it is "ennobling" to the
master-which is simply new YER
sion OF an old assumption. by Mr..
McDuffie of South Carolina, that
"Slavery supersedes the necessity OF
an order of nobility"
Thus, by various voices, is the
claim made for Slavery. which is put
forward definitely as a form of civili-
zatlon-as if It's existence were not
plainly Inconsistent with the first
principles of anything that can be
called civilizatton-cxcept by that
figure of speech in classical literature,
where thing takes It's name from
something which it has not, as the
dreadful fates were called merciful be-
cause they We're without mercy. And.
pardon the illusion if add that, lis
tenIng to these sounding words for
Slavery. l am reminded of the kin
dred extravagance related by that re-
markable traveller in China. the late
Able Hue, of a gloomy hole in which
he was lodged, pestered by musketocs
anu exhaling noisome vapors, where
light and air entered only by a single
aperture, but styled by Chinese pride
the Hotel of the Beautitudes. 1t is
natural that Senators, thus inscnsible
to the true character of Slavery, should
cvince an equal insensibility to the
true character of the Constitution
this Is shown in the claim now made,
and pressed with unprecedented ener-
gy. degrading the work of our fathers,
that, by virtue of the Constitution,
the pretended property in man is
placed beyond the reach of Congress-
ional prohibition even within Con-
gressional jurisdiction, so that the
slavemaster may at all times eater the
broad outlying Territories of the Un-
ION with the victims of his oppress-
ion, and there continue to hold them
by lash and chain.
Such are the two assumptions
the first an assumption of fact, and
the second an assumption OF Consti-
tutioual law, which are now made
without apology or hesitation. l
meet them both To the first l op-
pose the essential barbarism of Slav
cry in all its influences, whether high
or low, as Satan is Satan still, wheth-
er towering in the sky or squatting in
the toad. To the second | oppose
the unanswerable. irresistible truth,
that the Constitution of the United
States nowhere recognizes property in
man. These two assumptions natu-
rally go together. They are "twins"
sucked by the same wolf They are
the couple in the present slave hunt.
And the latter can not be answered
without exposing the former. 1t is
only when Slavery i. exhibited in its
truly hateful character that we can
fully appreciate the absurdity of the
assumption, which, in the express
letter of the Constitution. and with
out single sentence. phrase or word
upholding human bondage. yet foists
into this blameless text the barbar-
Gus idea that man can hold property
in man.
On former occasions, | have dis
cuSsed Slavery only incidentally; as,
in unfolding the principles that Slav-
cry is sectional and Freedom national /;
in exposing the unconstitutionality OF
of the Fugitive Slave bill; in vindica-
ting the prohibition of Slavery in the
Missouri Territory; in exhibiting the
imbecility throughout the Revolution
of the Slave State1knd especially OF
South Carolina; and lastly, in un-
masking the crime against Kansas
On all these occasions. where | have
spoken at length. have said too lit
tie of the character of Slavery, partly
because other topics were presented.
and partly from disinclination which
| have always felt to press the argu-
ment against those whom knew to