The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-05-03

and Missouri? Will they not have taxes
enough at the end of this war and during
its existence, to pay, without paying to
buy slaves in those States? Sir, The pro-
mise will never be kept by the Federal
Government, even should these States un-
wisely enter upon this project Of emauci-
patton. 1t is not designed, in my opinion,
to be kept. The only design of this reso-
luton, in my judgment-and I have a
right to say SO here-is to continue the
agitation of the slavery question, now that
the Territories are disposed of, within the
Border Slave States; and after they get
parties divided on that issue, and the work
of abolitionism progresses in the Border
Slave States, and is perhaps ultimately, by
agitation and continued agitation, accom-
plished, then the representatives of the
people from the States already taxed to
support this war to their utmost ability to
pay, will not vote dollar to redeem this
promise which you are about to make.
1t is not my intention, however, Mr..
President, to discuss this question at
length. had hoped that it would not be
called up in the morning hour; that
question of so much importance, one in
which such consequences are involved,
would at least be allowed to be considered
more fully than it can be in the morning
hour. Of one thing, however, I wish to
assure gentlemen; you make your promise;
we know what it means; we know the f.
deity with which it will be preserved; as
far as my State is concerned, she has al.
ready rejected it, and she will reject,
whenever and as often as it is made. One
other remark, Mr.. President. Why is it
that Congress cannot confne its attention
to the prosecution of the war for the res
toration of the Union, leaving the States
that are peaceable and quiet alone in the
management of their domestic institutions?
Why is it that this question of slavery,
| slavery in the States, slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia, slavery everywhere,
must be brought into all your legislation !?
In my opinion, had you let this question
of slavery alone, had you not attempted
by your bills to abolish slavery in this
District, had you not attempted by res
olution of this kind to rc-awaken the agi~
tation of slavery in the States, had you de-
voted yourselves to legitimate Legislation,
and proclaimed to the American people,
and adhered honesty to it, that your only
object was the preservation of the Union
and the constitutional rights of the people
everywhere, including the rights of the
master to the slave, as we'll as his right to
other property, your war would have been
nearly over by this time. This would
have awakened the public confidence ev-
erywhere that the great battles of the
present day we're being fought for the res
toration of the Union and the preservation
of the Constitution. But by your bring
ing in this question Of negro slavery upon
every occasion, hundreds and thousands of
men honestly think, that you have other
objects in the prosecution of this war than
the preservation of the Union, because by
such proposition as this you indicate that
you mean to attack the constitutional
rights of the people in the States. Adopt
these measures, continue your work of
emancipation, and the war upon which you
have just entered, ms lead of being speed
lily closed will not be closed in your day or
mine, sir. 1t is folly to suppose that the
people of this country, the peaceable quiet
citizens at home are going to allow you to
interfere with their domestic institutions,
and under the pretenee of prosecuting a
war for the restoration of the Union and
the preservation of the Constitution, to
destroy their constitutional rights. But
if Congress think it is wise to proceed in
this manner, if they think that this is the
way to create and strengthen an attach
ment in the border States to union with
you, Of course their Judgment must con-
troll their action, and they will continue
this same course of conduct. I cannot,
however, withhold the expression Of opin-
ion that these measures, instead Of being
calculated to bring about speedy close Of
the present war and to deepen the attach
ment Of the people everywhere for. the
Union of their fathers, will, only have a
tendency TO weaken that attachment and
70 prolong the war. sasE .a. b 4.
D6s-sH don't believe il is any use to vac
cinate for small pox, = said d baokwoods
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