Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-05-28


the subject or the relations OF slavery are in
yolved Is there any section of the country
which slavery has ever benefited Is
there any interest which its final overthrow
would prejudice What has slavery done for
you of the border States, that you should
stand between it and merited retr button
The facts developed in the settlement of the
western States bear me out in the assertion
that If the entire area on which slavery exists
could be swept clean of all inhabitants, if it
could be restored to the condition 1t was in
before civilized man set his foot upon it, and
If with this the very nameiof slavery could be
made to perish from off the continent, within
| twenty five years larger white population
than is now within its borders would have
carried thither the institutions and observan-
ces of freedom that there would be more
that is valuable to humanity than now
exists there after the lapse two hundred years
since some Of the States, within it were set
tied. / say this without bitterness not by
way of taunt or reproach, but in all soberness
and kindness.
Again l ask Representatives from the bor-
der States, what has slav ry done for their
constituencies What has slavery done for
Missouri, for Kentucky, for Tennessee, for
Maryland, or Virginia ! The answer is, in
part, under our very eyes. The ravaged
fields, the desolated iresides, the ruined in
dustries, which are the fruits of the struggle
of slavery, not for existence and protection,
but for absolute undivided sway over the
whole continent--these exhibit but a small
| portion of it's Internal hankiwork.
But, Mr.. Speaker, sad as are these to con-
| template, they constitute but a tridng share
| of the evil which slavery has wrought in some
of the fairest regions OF this continent. What
magnificent possibilities have been sacrificed
or held III aheyanee in ti.ose States by the in
| stitution of slaveryI They possess soil un-
surpassed by any on the continent for fertility,
deposits of coal sufficient to furnish motive
power for the world, inexhaustible supplies of
mineral wealth, and yet the average valuation
of land in Kentucky is only one half what it
is in Ohio. In Missouri with her Incalculable
mineral wealth, the average is only quar-
ter what it is in Pennsylvania; in Maryland
only one third what it is in New Jersey, while
Virginia, with fertile valleys, with unr,valed
water power and rich beds of coal and iron,
is worth only one quarter much per acre
as bleak, barren New Hamshre. Cold granite,
under the influence OF free labor, is more
valuable than coal and iron under tho ntiu-
ence of slave labor. In no spirit of boasting
or of unkindness l ask you to compare, or
| rather to contrast, the general intelligence,
enterprise, and comfort of the respective pop
ulationS of the States named.
Supposing, then, that this bill were to affect
and do not deny that it will--the institu-
tion of slavery in the border States unfavora-
bly,, are not the people of those States ready
to sacrifice not only property but life, as true
and loyal citizens of the Union =? But, re-
peat, ask no such dear testimony of their
fidelity. We have rendered them entire i'm
munty from loss in any event, and now we
ask them to join with us in all measures which
the salvation of the Union may render neces-
sary. They have now an opportunity to take
their place with the progressive communities
of the North, with full compensation for any
temporary injury to public or private interests
which might result from the change in their
domestic policy. The war which weighs and
and must weigh SO disastrously upon the in
dustrial North and rpon the States of the ex-
treme South, may be made the source of the
greatest benefits to them.
Why should not the people of the border
States rouse themselves TO u sense Of the mag
| nitude OF the issues now presented, and rise
to the exfgencieS of the hour Why allow
old prejudices and associations to bind them
down to policy which the events of the last
year have made antiquated ? If the rebellion
be crushed slavery comes out of the contest
mortally weakened. If it be successful, do
the people of those States believe that the
n orth will ever give up territory which has
been redeemed at the cost of Springfield, Pea
Ridge, Mill Spring, Donelson, and Pittsburg 2
Would they desire that it should be given up /?
Mary land has pronounced herself for the Union
overwhelmingly, SO has Kentucky. and half. at
least, OF Tennessee. Supposing those States,
then, to remain with the North, how long
would they be content, when associated ex-
| clusively with our free Commonwealths, to
lag behind in population, intelligence. wealth,
and nluence-as they must, slavery continu-
ing-their sister States7 Nay, how long
could they resist the influences from the free
States Slavery could not. under these cir
Gums tances, ditfuse itself. But there is no
such thing as standing still. Slavery and
freedom two essentially, necessarily, hos
tile forces, and one or the other must perpet-
ually advance.
border States, by their own choice and by the
force of events mightier than they or we. then,
are cast with of the free States, whatever
may be the result of this rebellion. Why
should not their Representatives on the floor
of this House recognize and act upon this fact
in regard to this measure of con1scation
The measure is intended to relieve the loyal
citizens of all the States, free aHd slave, in
some degree from the burdens imposed by
the war, and to tasten them upon those who
are responsi BILE for its existence. In this ben
eft all loyal citizens share alike. The loyal
citizen of Massachusetts, of Kentucky, of
South Carolina, has equal interest in the
passage of such measure. While the loyal
people of the country are sacrificing property
| and life in the maintenance of the forms of
constitutional liberty, is 1t too much for them
to demand that those who are seeking to
initiate them should be held responsible to
the full extent of what is periled in their de-
fense
Under what possible suppostion, then can
it be for the interest of the border States Ion
ger to cling to the support of slavery lay
aside in this argument all consideration of hu-
manity. / believe, indeed, that humanity
and the true interests of individuals and States
| are always coincidsnt; but waive all but the
plaincst considerations of immediate interest,
and on this ground alone 1 hold that every
possible supposition indicates the policy OF