The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1862-05-10
From the National Intslligeu Ger

- In reading over. in the Congress
siooal Globe the record of the House debate
upon the district emancipation bill. we find
striking evidences in the remark Of Mr..
Divso. of New York. and of Mr.. Dunn. Of
Indiana. (both gentlemen distinguished by
extremely conservative tendencies.) of the
general ackno " Judgement Of the truth. that
she end OF national agitation Of questions
Of slavery is to be found. not in the patch
work compromises. but by exercising on the
side Of freedom all the power which Con-
gsess has, and thus leaving nothing to be
the subject matter Of debates.
Mr.. Diven said
IL wish to say to those who regard this.
1.-THE bill to abolish slavery in the District OF
Columbia, Is but the first link in the chain
that is to extend to the interference by the
General Government with slavery in the
States. that think they are miRaken. /
believe thor could not do more towards
uuiesiuQ the agitation of the slavery ques-
t;os than by voting for bill likes this, ard
b. carry ing the same principle to the ex-
tsot given TO Congress by the Constitution.
The power given to Congress will then
have been spent, and there will be no more
right claimed for Congress on the subject"
Mr.. Dunn said.
alt is doctrine Of the Republican party
that Congress has the right, the constitu-
tioral power. to inhibit slavery in the Ter
ritories. and abolish it in the District OF
Columbia Ibelieve the troubles that afflict
the nation have come upon us because we
ceased to follow the footsteps Of our fathers
with reference to slavery. They evidently
regarded slavery As inconsistent with our
theory Of Government. end expected 1t
gradually to he removed under the beniticens
influences Of our free institutions. They
endeavored. rs best they could to found this
Government on the broad principles OF
mans natural rights. Their early policy
was against slavery. One of their first
great acts was to exclude it by ordinance
from tho great Northwestern Territory
They did not regard slavery Is an institution
20 be cherished aud strengthened. but IS an
evil. to be tolerated where it was protected
by State jurisdiction.
"Sir, let us return to the policy Of ouE
fathers. and then we shall have peace. Let
the nation be divorced from slavery. Let
slavery cease wherever the national author.
ity is exclusive. Leave 1t in the slave
States to be managed solely BY those who
are responsible for its continuance there, and
then we may hope that this unhappy asita-
0on III the puOnc counciis OF the natlou VIII
cease. And, sir, must say that iu my
Judgment, in no way could the representa-
lives of the slave States do greater ser
vice to their people than by aiding to re
store the policy of this Government to thai
established BY Washington and Adams, and
Jefferson and Franklin"
These are words Of wisdom, and. coming
from such sources, may command an atten-
ton at the South which may result 10 IN
eventual acceptance Of their teachings.
Mr.. Lincoln. in his debate with Judge
Douglas. in 1858. well said that. when the
"public mind rested in the belief" that sla
yery was in the course of gradual extinc
ton, there was no agitation. but that whe'
this ..belici'' was shaken by aggrsssv
movements tending to the eternal perpetual
ton OF slavery. agitation became inevitable
and would con tinue 50 long as this cause 70
il continued.
This is the true wisdom, from the poin
Of view OF the interests of slaveh olders them
selves Peace for them. who. of all 9th
ers should desire peace, connected, as the,
are, with an institution most obnoxious &
the ,il.will Of mankind. is only to be found
a Mr.. Dunn, who is not their enemy. vel
says, in return to the policy of our ia
theirs"