Weekly Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-03-21
EMANCIPATION.
REMARKS OF HON. G. 2. FISHER


n hs House Of Representatives., March IL, 1866.
10 the joint resolution in relation to the aboli-
ton Of slavery, introduced by Mr.. RoscNc
Conkllng. Of New York.
Mr.. FISHER. | am not placed, Mr. Speaker,
u the same delicate position in reference to this
esolution which my excellent friend and neigh-
,or from the eastern shore district of Maryland
las informed this House he occupies lie tells
is sir, that he is n stakeholder, land may
properly add, perhaps, that he is one among the
argest Shareholders in this House, IL not the very
argest) aud that he should feel decacy IN
voting for this resolution holding out to the
ilivehoders the pecnniary aid of the General
Government, because 1t might look AZ though |
be had personal interest 10 voting money into |
his own pocket. He also says that he has not |
yet had an opportunity since the proposition has
been before The House to communicate upon the
subject with his constituents, and learn their
views in reference 10 the proprlety OF its adNI
ton by Congresl am not in either category.
| have talked much with those of iiy constituents
more Immediately interested on this subject,
and although representing on this floor slave
holding State, Uhough she is only nomnnlly
slayeholding,) and one 10 which, deeply regret
to say that the madness Of pro-slavery senti-
,nents with considerable class of individuals
RACES as virulently and as deeply as It does
anywhere, even 10 the State of South Caroliua
or Virginia, yet an not myaelf a holder Of any
slaves, nor do | consider myself bound to stand
here to advocate exclusively the interests Of that
small class Of men in my Stale who hold slaves,
Numbering, all told. less than six hundred but
as the Representative Of the people Of the State
generally. While | would be watchfu to gee
that the interest Of the saveholding portion of
my constituency shall receive no wrong il in my
power to avert that wrong, yet | feel that the
highest duty which owe TO those who sent me
here is TO look with scrupuous regard md yigi.
| liant eye to the interest Of the toling thousands
who make up the great bulk of my people, and
whose labor, after all, makes up the wealth Of
the State. repeat, sir, that stand not here
to-day as the special Representative Of slave
holders and am free from the embarrassment Of
owning any slaves myself once owned some,
but the last of these, through bills of manu-
mission, under the operation of the laws of our
State, have become eiDancipated.
Sir, | was reared and nurtured In the lap,
upon the very bosom Of slavery. have seen il
in all it's good and evil forms and phases; aud
will here say that they who sec nothing hut uu-
mitigated wrong and oppression and uhumanitJ
10 the system, are quite as much at fault us they
who regard il as an institution divine in its origin
and chriaiianizing ia all its influences and opera
tions. 1 think can duly appreciate, therefore,
from the position which have occupied, that o
gentlemen who represent the more southern o
what are commonly known as the border slave
States. know they desire, and they ought to hav'
time to consult the sentiments and views of thei
respective constituencies upon this most grav
and interesting proposition. | can readily un
derstand how they should feel an indispositioi
to have the question pushed upon them Will
undue haste, for believe they desire to meet
in the same spirit which has prompted the Presi
dent to present it to our consideration. But
Mr.. Speaker, with all due respect for the situs
tion of my friends from the other border State
who have spoken in this debate, AMI with be
coming Difference to their Judgment and opin
ions, must be allowed to say that think the
are altogether mistaken in the view which the
have taken of the meaning Of this resolution
and Of the message in which the President ma
, been pleased to present it.
The venerable gentleman from Kentucky, MI
Wicklife, Who first addressed the IIousa i
opposition TO the resolution, has, 10 my humhl
judgment, totally misconceiged its spirit an
mscalculated its effect and operation. II
seems to regard il as the forernnner Of q serie
Of measures Of coniscatiou and emancipation h
; which the institution of slavery ia suddenly an
. violently to be upronted in all the border, ant
indeed, 10 all the seeding States; and IN
venerable and distinguished friend his colleagu,
at whose feet and from whose lips receive
some of my earliest lessons in the wholesom
doctrines Of the old Wing party, Mr.. Cfitten
den, and to whom have always looked as muc
rs to any man in the country for guidance an
instruction upon all the great questions pertain
n ing to national affairs, am sorry to see, hi
foiivwed in the wake Of his ooreogus aud take
10 the same erroneous view relative to the lei
dency of this resolution and the propriety of /
# adoption.
Gentlemen over the way, sir, seem to thir
IS that the proposition contained in this resoutio
& which is word for word the same as that prese
ted by the President in his message for Of
consideration. is to be received and regnrdei
not as matter Of option upon the part Of Il
slaveholdng States respectively--A proposiiiI
which they may reject or adopt, just as The
may choose to determine-bnt as threat upt
the part of the Federal Government, IL adoptt
}. by Congress- a virtual declaration of inteniit
that IL the slave States do not Of their own acco
adopt a policy Of emancipation, they will
forced into 1t by the power Of the General Go
eminent Mr.. Speaker am utterly at 10
II to conceive how any such construction can
2 placed upon resolution so plain and messa
q SO fairly and honestly worded. To my mind,
II seems unfair and really unkind to attempt
place any such strained construction upon eth
. the resolution or the message look upon the
u in very different light. / regard the polii
u contemplated by the President not us an ente
ing wedge for q series Of measures Of confisc
ton and emancipation under the war power
i the Government, but as altogether counter pr
y ject to any such series of measures. regard
u sir, as but q reassertion of the principle viii,
II has been always recognized by both the old VII
= and Democratic partieF, that the people Of ca,
T State shall be left free at all times to regula
their own domestic institutions in their own wa
look upon ii as proposition Intended to man
. fest In good faith upon the part of the Preside
. and his administration, and all who vote for i
u adoption, an intention to leave the States Ell
:, tirely free to select their own time and mode
Il emancipation, or to reject the system altogethe
y aud as pledge Of faith on their part to perp
trate no injustice 10 any southern State. Cou
y | believe that the purpose Of the President
" those who favor this resolution, was mere trl
u or sham-could l suppose for a moment that
u means that il we 10 not In each Of the slavehol
, y ing States Immediately or at some early d.
Il inaugurate rapid scheme of emancipation, thu
u the whole power Of the Federal Governme
Il should be exerted to compel us to,it State
State, upon the principle Of French elections,
= would be among the last to give it any connte
ance whatever.
But, sir, do not thus regard it, rath
view it as an olive branch of peace aud harmon
and good faith presented to the border State
70 and indeed to all the southern States-even tho
u which have seeded. see in its adoption a sc
. tlemeut aud final settlement of ali angry di
81 cusson aud agitat on upon this terrible questit
u of slavery, which comes up here aud ia almo
y all public delbera,ive bodies in this countr
. ., like Satan among the sons Of God, to nflct Of
y !, destroy our happiness and prosperity. ! hea
u in it's kindly invitation. the voice of the might
e North, composed of twenty millions Of free viii
10 men--men who labor for Misunderstanding Il
power now to oyerrun and lay waste the emit
southern country and liberaie its slaves, spes
ing to us language like this; ave know as "
know, that slavery has been the hot-hed in whiC
y treason has been nurtured; we know it is Il
cockatrice's egg, the Pandorn's box, whence