New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-19


God he presents to this nation opportunity never
presented before. If the rebellion now raging il
this Republic covering our plains with the blood o.
Our brave men, has its horrors and It's miseTIes &c
make humanity weep, is not without some aspects
Ito reIeva the dark siades Of the picture If this re-
beon, rus long 20 be crushed cut, shall sfiord
to this nation the opportunity 10 try here in this little
ten miles District, the experiment winch other Ia
tions are trying upon great scae snd if We shall
be enabled to show TO the world that II Is sometimes
safe TO DO right, and not always ineSpedien then,
Sir, we shall have achieved something at which hui
manly shall rejoice, and for which posterty, to the
latest generation, will bless Us. The Governments
of the Old World to-day trying this experiment.
The Emperor of Russia or his throne, and over his
vast dominions, is now striking the bonds OF oP'
preston from his long down-trodcen MI
lions of serfs. The amelorstng influence
of better principles and purer Chris
tianity are melting the iron despotisms OF the
Old World and calling into practical effect tns'
great Lesson Of Christianity, " Break every YOKE,
and let the oppressed 90 Free And II would DC 4
shame aud reproach which should mantle the cnees
of every citizen of this Republic, if, at this day and
this hour when the old monarcbiee OF tue earth are
waking up TO the great question Of human rights,
and making Christianity, instead Of a barren specn-
lation practical, efficient principle OF their Gov
erDments this Nation should fail 10 meet tins ques-
ton in all its breadth, and to DO justice 10 the op
pressed do not ask that Congress shOuld tramile
upon the Constitution in any OF its PROVISIONS.
believe that up 10 very late period it Yves conceded
by all that the constitutional power to iegislme
| upon the subject Of Slavery IN the DISTRICT oil
| Columbia existed in Congress r know Of lao
years this has been denied. know that within the
last ten or twelve years there has sprung up Dog
ma which denied the conf,itntIonat power OF Con
gress to legislate for the Territories. know thas
the Supreme Court undertook by TIER puny "o!cs 10
throw themselves in the way of thls great question,
and by the bred Scott decision to say 10 the surng
waves OF humanity that were washing out the stains
Of oppression from our history; Thus far soait
thon 70 and no farther" The Supreme Court will
find out ere long how much they have effected and
whether j, has done more crush out th great con-
troversy or to oberGte whatever OF respect there
was for them in the country But, Sir, beyond this
decision In regard - the Territories Of the United
States, believe they did not 20 TO the extent OF
saying that Congress has no constitutional power 70
egislste in tho District Of Columbia. am glad they
did not | think they would il they bad thought OF
IT, Bat there is left to this little spot on which we
have confesedy thelght lessate. And here to-day
in our midst and by laws, this system OF human
slavery exists, and We are called upon to-day to
abolish il, and to repeal the laws upon which II rosts
and 10 try to mos, limited extent, what will
bo the effect Of emancip ton Of the few ssyes in
this District. l do not question in the aightest
degree the strong convictions OF the Senator from
Kentucky, but ask him and every ran, that they
will take the trouble to .ead not the tothy speeches
made upon this hoorupon the floor OF the House OF
Benre,enta,iyes or the Sena,e-but go to the facts
"a thew are portrayed by the impartial pen OF history
Read The statistics as they exist to-day, and which
show that no such disastrous consequences have en-
sued The account which was given Of the final in
suguration OF emancipation In the West India
I.Isnds ought to stand in all time, TO be
read as a vindca,ion Of the character Of this much
abused reputation Of rio effects Of this muchabused
measure What did they do, Sir, 81 - o'clock md
night which ushered in the let Of August, 1898
The whole system was wiped oct; and the Last man.
/. Ia In fla ILL oil
was the aspect they exhibited kiotous acts Of
DEGRADATION. crime, ana such scenes az you might sx-
neet from those who the Senator SAYS will become
The rest Of society No, Sir. Ainost the whole
population gathered together in their churches and
tlacey OF worsbip and when the hour OF II struck
thew zen, M one united shout of thanksgiving 10 Al
mighty God FOR the great boon conferred upon them
The conduct OF those emancipated slaves has been
such ~ yndicates not OIL. The WISDOM OF
Justice. but the eIpediency OF that meas,
ure. Now, Sir, II Tue raising u hNe'T aIu
the Gs;illation Of molasses ilto rum be the
highest end to which human ingenuity can be en-
Moved. Then perhaps these islands have not sue
ceeded 10 the full extent But they have established
in the place Of an ignorant, degraded race OF oArOa
rans, an Industrious happy, eoAi.n'ed ana prospel
uniui, and nrkind than for this boosting white eau
cssan race to e3sLye the coored race, ana 10 keep
them in such state al ignorance that u Is penal
ofense to read much OF the Bible - VIII tell them
that God made them and that Christ died for them.
IL is cruel and unjust TO deny them every right, and
70 have the whole intelligence OF the world shut cut
from euEghtaniBg their understanding and then 10 |
pronounce them degraded, ignorant AID incapable !
of elevation. because, under the crushing WEIGHT !
of all thes. disabilities, they have rot made |
such progress as TO enable shem at once TO /
stem into condition Of eqralny with their
masters. II il us as unjust AS II would DC To pu' /
ont the ewes of z man. and then 10 taunt hun with
blindness II is as Just IA II is pOss bic Tor perverted
human nature 10 be. lake of these burdens. Give
them fair chance. Let the light Of science shine
INTO their hearts. Make it no longer crime Tor |
them 10 optn the pages of God eternal truth GiVe
them eIevating influences; and II agngr al these
they fail 10 improve, then and lot TIL thep, VIII
be time enough TO reprosoh them for inability to-
cone and contend with their white matters. IL ANY
man will read the old prophets he viii SEQ that II
there ia any sn upon which they invoke the justice
of God il il this very sin OF Slavery. But we don Z
read the prol bets with any such IDEA. The Senator
from Kentucky p, diets that crime, psrperlsn, anc
burdens on society will follow the result Of eman
cipa.iou. ] will read passage IRON the conse-
oeucee fore,old, which are Of very different char
acter MIR Halo read here the 9th, nh, Sin, m
lOtn llth AMI ll,h verses of the 18th chGp;er Of
Isalab and sgd, Now Sir, il would seem tha this
nation has the opportunity, aud cay IL reNeren,ly
Of pnttipg the Almighty TO the test and of seeing
whether the conse0ue which his prophet Fore
told or those which the Senator predicts i'll follow
ar lie result OF the passage OF thls bill.
On motion oi Mr.. WILSON, rep, Mass.l, the
subject was Iostpoued al tomorrow, aud the Senate
went intO executive session.
After which the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENrhTINE rs.
The Honse proceeded 10 she consideration Of tue
Senate bi 10 increase The efficiency OF the Medical
Department Of the Army.