The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-04-10
Mr.. Harlan. Certainly.

1 Mr.. Harlan. Certainly. ~, q =
1 Mr.. Davis. The gentleman certainly
misconceives or misrepresents the arynnent
that INSIDE The position assumed, and
which endeavored TO sustain by argument
was this: that il slaves were liberated in
States where they exist in great numbers,
without colonization, it would give rise to .
war OF races that would lead TO the results
which tho gentleman lie now dcprecating
and maintain that that is true position
Mr.. Harlan. think that that might pos
sibly be brought about through the teachings
Of such gentlemen as those who now repre-.
sent these States on this floor. They declare
on the floor Of tl,e American Senate in the
face Of two hundred millions Of Christians
now liv ing on the earth, that ifmen are to
be liberated from = slavery that is moro gal.
ling and degrading than any that has ever
EXISTED on the face Of the earth from the
commencement Of time down to this mo-
ment, their people vii! riss and murder the
poor freed men. They say 50 without ex.
pressing 30 much as regret. They declare
| is prophecy. They thus teach their
people, that in their opinion this wholesale
murder would be right, or at least the result
ofa weakness to be tolerated. They thus
approve and justify this savage feeling it
exists; but, sir, it does not exist; will de-
fend the people Of Kentucky, Of Maryland,
Of Delaware, and Of this District, from any
such slanderous aspersion. They entertain
no such purpose on their part as the indis-
crininats murder Of the oalored population,
IL they should become free. Idoubt not but
that the public sentiment that now exists,
induced by the shareholders themselves, in
the States to which have referred, is Bit
terly opposed to the liberation of the slaves;
but If these slaves should be set free, it will
be effected by their own Legislatures; and
if thus set free, no such savage war would
arise. Nor is it probable that their liberia
ton by the exercise Of arbitrary power, Of
which there is not the slightest apprehen-
sion on the part of these Senator'S them.
selves, could such historical anomaly be
produced. szfg4
The Senator from Massachusetts, very aptly
inquired of Senators who have rung the
changes on this supposed calamity, to in
form the Senate when such q wholesale
murder ever commenced between members
Of the same community on account of race
Can any Sentor put his hand on the page of
history that records it? You say that if
two races are thrown together IS freenen,
they will necessarily engender war of ex-
termination Such war never did COM
mence between two races of free people;
and until the laws of the human mind and
the human heart change, never will. You
cannot point to any great people that has ev-
er existed that has not been composed to a
greater or less extent Of, SO called, different
races. You may refer to any Of the great
empires Of antiquity-the Chaldean, the
Persian, the Assyrian, the Grecian, and the
Roman empires, and you viii dnd that they
each embraced people Of every kindred,
tongue, and race, and from every cline. It
has been 20 Of every highly snligh tened and
prosperous people since civilization dawned.
II is so now Of the most polished and pow.
erful nations of Europe and Asia. In proof
I need but cite the British and French en-
pires. To say that nea Of different, so cal
led, races are natural enemies to each other.
and will commence and wage war Of exter-
mination when brought into contact, is a IL
bel on humanity. 1t is libel on the Au-
thor of the human race. The Almighty
never implanted such feelings in the human
heart. They never have been cultivated by
an enlightened people. Wars Of extermina-
ton exists only among savages; and with
them only between belligerent tribes.
But was drawn away from the argument
of the Senator from Delaware, that il the
fifteen hundred slaves who arc now the
chambermaids, and tho bootblacks, and the
BARRIERS, and the hostlcrs, and the wood
sawyers, and coal carriers. and cart drivers,
and carriage drivers and laborers on the gar
dens aud grounds that surround this mag
nifcent palace shall be liberated, somebody
will commence wholesale murder.
Mr.. Salisbury. I said no such thing
Ifthe gentleman is alluding to me, I did
not say word about it.
Mr.. Harlan. am most happy to hear
the Senator recant the doctrine have attri-
buted to him.
Mr.. Salisbury. I do not recant anything.
said nothing of the kind.
Mr.. Harlan. The negroes then win be
saved. There is no danger Of this whole
sale murder.
Mr.. Salisbury. Twill reply to the gen.
tlcman when he is through.
Mr.. Harlan. There is no danger of this
war Of determination, At least in tho streets
Of this capital and the fifteen hundred slaves
now laboring quietly under the control Of
their masters will probably not be murdered
by their former owners If they should be
liberated. would almost guaranty that the
liberated slaves would not murder their mas
ters If their masters would not murder them.
The mere fact of their liberation could hard
" incite them to such diaboEcL course Of
conduct. Why should it? If they prefer
to live under the shelter that their masters