The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-02-05

ask the senator from hentucky, what oct
ter is h,s slave than my son.
Mr.. DAVIS Not half SO good.
Mr.. HARLAN-I will illustrate what I
mean on this subject by supposing that the
Senator, with some of his well-taught and
Christian Slaves, was engaged in personal
contest for life and death between me and
my son, As we gradually become exhaust
ed on the one side and the other, knowing
full we'll that the mor,ent give his saves
the intimation that would protect them,
they would fee from their master to my de-
fcnse, should be much short Of an idiot,
much short Of a fool, If I were not to invite
them away The loyal States Of this nation
are now engaged in q contest for its very
existence. On the one side. we have array
ed the loyal old men. and middle aged men
ofthe country. On the other side, we have
the rebel owners Of slaves arraying their
young men and slaves. On the other there
are some hundreds Of thousands of cclored
people, native born on the soil on which
they live, who win ieaye their rebel masters
the very moment they have an intimation
that A,sy will receive the protection Of the
Constitution apd laws Of the United States,
and yet we insanely continue this controver.
sy, not permitting these strong, armed men
to aid us and save the lives Of our brothers
and our sons. But the Senator from Ken.
lucky said that he thought on this subject
with horror when he reflected what massa-
cres had occurred Of white people in some Of
the West India Islands. Mr.. President,
oppressed people in every age, in asserting
their right to themselves have committed
acts Of atrocity that civilized communities
could never justify. II is no more common
to the African race than the Anglo Saxon or
the Caucassiap Of whatever country will
ak him, with his perfect knowledge Of his
tory to compare the scenes Of carnage and
blood enacted but few years since in the
streets of Paris, the capital of one of the most
enlightened and refined nations that have
existed, and which at this time stands at the
very head Of the civilized nations Of the
world. The proposition which was made to
which I was speaking, was proposition to
allow the commander Of this division Of the
army, to muster into the service of the Uni
TED States, such loyal persons as might pre-
sent themselves irrespective Of color. What
does that imply ? That they shall be organ
ized that they shall be officercd, that they
shall be commanded, that they shall be con-
troled by the lays Of the United States and
by the articles Of war. took some pains to
state on that occasion that would not ad-
vocatc proposition to arm indiscriminately
the mass Of the servile population even in
the rebel States, but that If arms were placed
in their hands they should be organized, dis
ciplined, and placed under the ordinary res
traints of military rule. have no criticism
to make in regard to the Senators eulogium
of the peaceful condition of his own slaves,
other than this If they are of the charac-
ter which he has described, and have ever
been ready to stand by him and their mas
ters in times Of pestilence and danger--if
that statement of the character of his own
slave household be correct draw the con.
clusion that the alarm of the Senator is to.
tally without foundation. II they are thus
Christianized, are thus enlightened, and will
stand BY their masters through every kind
Of calamity that can arise, what win be the
danger.of placing them in IN attitude not
only to defend themselves but their masters
and their countryf But, Sir, all this eulo-
gium Of the character Of the hoyses and
clothing of the slaves, il It were legitimate
subject Of discussion at this tune, take It,
might be said with equal truth Of the Sena.
tors horses and cattle, and oxen, and mules.
would ask him il he treats his slaves as
mene l would ask him If he treats them
as men, possessing spirits immortal, that are
to live parallel with his own spiritual exist
ence. and II he gives them the means Of men
tai cultivation and Woral development, or il
it be not in his own State with his sanction
q penitentiary offence to teach these slaves
to read the word of God They are vel
housed, SO are his horses. They are vel
clothed, so-would be his cattle II necessary
to their health and vigor. They are tendsriy
treated, 50 ia every other species ofproperty
that is under his control.
The question, however, with me, Is moi
how this.6 Christian gentleman or the othe,
may happen totsaAt those over whom hs
may exercise absolute control, but what Il
the system I How may be with impunisy
treat those human cattle, if'he chose 10 trsa
them with severity Twill venture here I,
throw in the remark, and risk its bs:ng sue
cessfully contradictee, that there is n OF nov
in existence, and has not been in 7existenc'
since the dawning Of civilization, asystem o
Slavery no Bad IS the one now in existenc,
in the United States. There never has ex
listed, and dQss not now exist, . system o
human bondage on this whole earth so loath
some as the one that nov exists in the bosom
Of this Christian Nation. And I defy sue
cessfu! contradiction. do not say tina
Christian gentlemen may not, regardless 0
the law and regardless Of the system, tca,
their slaves humanely. They do, I know
they do; am proud to say that know the,
do. But is tribute to humanity and t
the influence Of Christianity on the mind