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

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Congress; extraordinary in its origin; ex-
traordinary in reference to the source from
whence it proceeds extraordinary in the
object which it contemplates; mischievous
in its tendency; and I am not at all sure
that it is anywise patriotic, even in its de-
sign. Sir, it is an ignoring of the policy
which has always been proclaimed by the
party now in power. | am not member
of that party, and thank my God to-day
that / never was and never expect to be,
especially after the introduction of such a
resolution as this into the Congress of the
United States, What was the declaration
made by that party before the recent pres
idential election What have been their
declarations ever since they came into pow
err? 1t was that they did not intend nor
contemplate any interference with the sub
ject Of domestic slavery within the States.
1t is folly to say that this is not an in
reference with the domestic institution of
slavery in the States. To be sure, it does
not propose, by force, and in terms, to lib
crate the slaves in the slaveholding States.
1t does not say, eff you do not emancipate
them, we will;' but it is an interference
in this wise and to this extent; it is an at
tempt to awaken controversy in those
States, to initiate emancipation in those
States, to commence the work of abolition in
those States, by holding out pecuniary aid
to the States, by holding out an induce
ment. That i virtually as much an in
reference as though they had proposed
directly and by force to liberate the slaves
in those States. 1t is not an interference
of the same character and Of the same
kind but still it is an interference with
the subject of domestic slavery within the
States. ,a ''" '..
Now, sir, where is the propriety for the
introduction of such resolution as this
Has any one of those States asked your
aid? Has any one of them suggested that
they would like to be relieved from this
incubus of slavery, if incubus it be p
Have the persons interested in this ques-
ton sent any petition here asking the Con-
gress of the United States to aid them in
the work of emancipation? If they have
not asked your aid, submit that your
profered aid is not very delicate, to say
the least of it; aud when 1 say this, I say
it because, representing one of those States,
the smallest slaveholding State in the
Union, l have right to say it, because
my State has said it.
Mr.. President, this is no new thing
suggested by the President of the United
States. have reason for believing that
he contemplated it sometime before he
sent in his special message to Congress-
The Legislature Of my State has recently
been in session; and somehow or other a
printed bill found its way to the capital of
my State, with the generous offer of the
sum Of 5000, 900, or bonds to that amount
at least, payable in ten years, in consider
alton that the State of Delaware would
emancipate her slaves. influential out
siders were employed and engaged in the
effort to engineer that bill through the
Legislature; but before the session closed
it was found that it would not meet with
much popular favor. Some members of
the House of Representatives, however,
obtained printed copy of the bill, incor-
porated it into set of resolutions-which
| had here some time ago, but which was
taken from my table--in which they said
distinctly that they believed this scheme
had its origin in the city of Washington;
that the State of Delaware had not asked
the General Government for any aid in
the work Of emancipation, that whenever
she wished to emancipate her slaves, she
would do it her own way, and without any
expense to the General Government; and
until she asked the aid Of the General
Government in work Of that kind, the
General Government might keep its prot
fered aid to itself. The matter was not
expressed in these words, but that was the
substance
Now, Mr.. President, what is the design
of this resolution ? / submit that it can
have but Que design; and that is, to renew
and intensity the agitation of this subject
of emancipation, in the States where sla-
very now exists. Tt is to create party
in those States who, for the sake Of the
pecuniary aid profered by the General
Government, will organize themselves and
fight the battles Of abolitionism in those
| States; and we are to have, through the
direct agency and invitation Of the Gene
raj Government, this whole question Of
abolitionisn again intensifying the people
of the Border States. This fall, when the
election comes OFF 10 my State, what will
be the fight, what win be the issue p