Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-06-15
SPEECH OF
HON, CHARLES SUMNER,

a. Much has been said to exhibit the
character Of slave-masters, the work would be
incomplete if failed to point out that uncon-
seriousness Of the fatal influence of slavery.
which completes the evidence Of tho Barbar-
ism under which they live. Nor am at lib
erty to decline this topic but | shall be
brief
That Senators should openly declare sla-
very "enobling," at least TO the master. and
also "the black marble keystone Of our ma
tlonal arch, would excite wonder il it were
not explained by the examples OF history
There arc men who, in the spirit Of paradox,
make themselves the partisans of ii bad cause.
as Jerome Cardan wrote an Encomum on Ne
TO. But where thore is no disposition to par
adox, it is natural that a cherished practice
should blind those who are under its inau-
ence nor is there any end to these cxaggera-
tons According to Thucydidcs. piracy in
the early ages of Greece was alike widespread
and honorable so much so that Tclemachus
and Mentor, on landing at Myconu, were
asked by Nestor if they were "piratcs pre-
cisely as a stranger in Sourh Carolina might
be asked if he were a slavc-master. Kidnap-
ping too, which was a kindred indulgence,
was openly avowcd, and ] doubt not held TO
be "enobling.' Next to the unconsciousncss
which is noted in childhood, is the uncon-
seriousness Of barbarism. Tho real barbarian
is as unconscious as an infant; and the slave
master shows much of the same character
No New Zelander exults in his tattoo, no saw
age of the Northwest coast exults in his fiat
head, more than tho slavc-mastor in these lat
ter days-and always, Of course, with honor
able exceptions-exuts in his unfortunate
condition, which of itself is worse than any
TAFT m Hat 10 81.
hugs his disgusting practice as tho Carb Of
the Gulf Rugged cannbalism and as Brig
ham Young now hugs poligamy The dclu-
sion OF the "Gotre" is repeated. This pro-
dgious swelling Of the neck, constituting ga
hidcous wallet Of flesh pendulous upon the
breast, is common to the population on the
slopes of the Alps but, accustomed to this
drinrmity. the sufferer comes TO regard it
with pride, as slavo-mastors with ms regard
slavery. and it is said that those who have
BOO swelling are laughed at and called goose
necked"
With knowledge comes distrust and the .
modest consciousness Of mperlecton but
the pride Of barbarism has no such limita-
tons. 1t dilates in the thin air Of ignorance,
ma makes boasts. Surely, if these illustra-
tons arc not entirely inapphcable, then must
we find in the boasts Of slave-mastcrs new oc-
oasion to regret the influence Of slavery.
1t is the same influence which renders slave |
masters insensibe to those characters which |
are among the true gories Of the Republic
which makes them forget that Jefferson, who
wrote the Declaration Of Independence, and
Washington, who commanded its armies,
were Aboltionists; which renders them in
sensible to the inspiring words of the one,
and to the commanding example OF the other.
OF these great men, it is the praise, well de-
serving perpetual mention, and only grudged /
By malign influence that, reared amidst /
slavery, they did not hesitate to condemn it, |
To he present debate jefferson, in repeated /
utterances, alive with the fire Of genius and /
truth, has contributed the most important
testimony for freedom ever pronounced in this /
hemisphere, in words equal to the cause, and |
Washington often quoted as a slave master,
in the solemn dispositions of his last will and .
testament, has contributed an example which
is beyond even the words Of jefferson Do .
not, sir, call him a slave master who entered I
into the presence of his Maker only as the /
omancipator of his slaves. The difference
between such men and the slave masters
whom ] expose to-day is so precise that it .
cannot be mistaken. The first looked dorm
upon slavery the second looked up to slave .
~. The first recognizing its wrong, were at
once liberated from ats pcrnicious influences,
while the latter. UNFOLDING IL ns rieht and
"enuoblinr." must naturally draw from, !,
motives of conduct. The first. consciops of
the character of elaverv. were not mislod H.,
il; the second. dwelling in unconsciousnoss
of its true character. surrender blindlv IN i,s
barbarous t,ndencies. and VERIFYING tbc ,,o,ds
of the poet.
$50 porfcet 4. their ,,ise,r
Not once perceive their foul Disagreement,
no' OnA'' themselves more 'oney than before
Mr.. PRESIDENT 1t IS time to close this /
branch OF the argument The barbarism of
slavery has been now exposed, first, in the
law OF slavery with ITS five pretensions,
io"nded on the assertion OF property in man,
inc denial OF the congugal relation, the in
iacuon OF the parental relation, the excln-
SION from knowledge, and the robbery Of the
ir'hts Of another labor, all these having the
single OBJECT OF competing men TO 'oort NTH
o." "age'' while IT'S barbarism was still fur
Their tested by tracing the law in its origin to
oaroarons Africa and secondly it has been
exposed IN careinl examination Of the eco
nomlcal results OF slavery, illustrated by a
contrast between the free States and the slave
states, sustained by official figures.
from TINS exposure OF slavery, proceeded
TO consider its influence q slaVe tpasfers