The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-05-03

| ieS'ihS ouSCuueiCu Wy ~ hiSht NC tuiheu
to their account in securing them politi-
cal power. That was the good and the
only good there was in it; and this
being the only consideration with them,
it came to be regarded as the only true
basis of government and this theory,
which was boldly announced by Mr..
Calhoun in 1887, was confirmed by the
success which attended them till 1860.
Nor are they peculiar class of politi-
clans in thinking that an institution
which gives them political power is a
divine institution. All the aristocrats
of England, with rare exceptions, think
that primogeniture Is divine and it was
argued in Parliament, with more ear
nestness, eloquence, and learning, to
show that the rotten borough system was
the source of English power and pros
pcrity, than was ever exhibited in Con-
gress to show that slavery was the
secret of the marvellous greatness and
growth Of America. The source of
these strange perversions of reason is
obviously the same. 1t was merely
because slavery, in the one case, and the
rotten borough system in the other, gave
the orator or his party political power.
But now the sceptre of slavery is broken,
and its empire can never be restored.-
Even as personal relation, it is out of
date in this age of the world, and
strangely out of place in America, and
nothing but the despotism it temporarily
possessed could have prevented it's des-
truction by the enlightenment and moral
pressure of the age. But when to the
catalogue of wrongs inflicted by it upon
the nation, and especially upon the
laborng millions of our own lace in the
midst of whom it exists, is added the
crime of this rebellion, no one can doubt
that its doom is decrecd.
But the question comes, by whom is
this decree TO be executed | reply, it
can only be done by the constitutional
authorities. But will they do it? l
have already said they would and my
belief is, that any assumption of author
lty to expedite it may stay the work,
and might restore the slave dynasty
again to power; and indeed, the talk of
such usurpation has already given hopes
of resora ion, and lead, | hear, to what
may be called Jacobte conference in
these Halls. 1t was not love for the
king, but Impotence engeudered by the
scnseless rigor of the Puritans, that
brought back Charles II to England
If the pro-slavery Democracy is
restored to power, it will be by similar
folly on the part of the most extreme
oppoucn of slavery. 1t is a local
institution; and while opinion and extcr-
nal power can and must aid in it's
eradication, yet from the very nature of
the subject, it is only by the co-opera-
ton of the local authorities it can be
effcc lively dealt with, and the rebellion,
though it intensiies and consolidatcs
opinion against the constitution, does
not remove the necessity for this co OPP
era ion. But this cooperation is easily
secured. 1t needs only the will to
secure it to find the way to secure it
A manifestation of the spirit of justice
on the part of the nation, ami DISPOSE
ton to do unto the people of the South
as the people of the North would be done
by under similar circumstances, is all
that is necessary. If | am asked to be
more specific in defining the policy this
spirit would beget, | point you to the
policy of Abraham Lincoln. If the
Republicans had proclaimed that policy,
| verify believe we should not have had
this rebellion; and if it can even now be
recognized by Congress, l believe it
will save the blood Of many of our sol
diers, and soon bring us peace and good
will, and speedy emancipation besides.
Many assume that Mr.. Lincoln's pro-
gramme of Cancellation by separation of
the races is inadequate, because the
blacks are so numerous that they cannot
all be removed, and time will be required
to remove even small portion of them.
They argue that because the Libcrian
colony has failed to attract the freed
negro population in any considerable
numbers, that any scheme of colonization
must also be failure. There is vast
difference, however, between the idea of
being colonized on our own continent,
under our own flag, and being buried in
Africa. 1t is the difference between life
and death, home and Punishment.
The fact that even now many of these
persons are going to Hayti, and that
multitudes of them have for years been
looking out for an asylum in some neigh.
boring country, has not attracted the
attention of those who have not been
interested in the subject. They do not
know that delegate convention was
held at Cleveland by them in the year
1857, to consider the subject, and
commission appointed to examine and
report.
was not aware of this myself when l
made my first speeuh in the House in
1858, on the subject. That and other
speeches attracted the attention of these
people, and l have since been furnished
with copies of their proceedings, and
received letters from their leading men,
evincing not only the deepest interest in
the subject, but displaying comprehen-
sive knowledge of it, which shows that
they have men among them fitted to be the
founders of new nationality. | was
assured by the organ of this convention
that if the Government would act on
any proposition, he was already authori-
zed to speak for five thousand persons
who had some meana who would anhrooa