The Portland daily press., 1864-06-01
SELECTIONS.
EMANCIPATION IN LOUISIANA.


EMANCIPATION IN LOUISIANA !
Speech of Mr.. John q. Hills, Editor of tn
Nesr Orleans Era, ID the Constitution Con
rcafioH, on the siarey Question.
Mr.. PREsIDENTs-In the National Convention
of France. ia 1874. q proposition was made Il
abolish slavery in the American colonies be
longing to France. member of that bod,
arose and proceeded to defend the principles o
universal liberty, wherenpon he was interrupted
by another member, wha exclaimed: president
do not suffer the Convection TO dishonor itssl
by protracted discussion p II seems to m,
that for three days we have been witnesses of q
most extraordinary spectacle. A body of mel
assembled on the avowed principles Of uniyer-
sal freedonl-elected on a platform Of imme-
diate emancipation, accepting seats IN this body
urder the proclamation which declared the
slave laws in Louisiana imperative and void,
because they did not apply to any class Of per-
sons in this State-I say, body so elected un-
der that proclamation and upon that platform
b compelled to listen for three days, TO one of
Its members standing up here and defending the
sccnrsed system of American slavery as il exis-
ied before this war. | said in my previous re-
marks, we could not do anything TO perpetuate
slavery without committing perjury before God
and man. For that remark / have been ar
raigned here as attempting to menace this Con-
rention by some authority of the commanding
General | repcl all such insnuations al false
aud groundless, but Irepeat, that in my opinion,
gentlemen, members of this Convention cinnot
stand up here and argue IN favor of slavery in
any form, without committing moral pe.jury.
This is what said and to that ! shall adhere.
(Applause.)
Mr. President, the gentleman from the Fifth
District Mr. Abelll has seen fit to 60 Though
long argument to overthrow my assertion
4kat tula ar riaft 4ba 70
lana. say that assertion is literally true that
thereis nor slave in the State of Louisiana to-
day. There is no slavery, and can be nonewith-
out the presence of physical power to eIforce
the obedience of the slave 70 bis master. That
is an indispensable element Of slavery, without
which il cannot exist. | ask the gentleman
where is the force to-day TO compel the labor oi
the slave in this Slater Where is the auction
blockf where is the lashy where is the power OF
the master to whip his slave aad 10 enforce his
wilg The auction block has disappeared in the
light of the new civilization that has dawned
upon us; tie slave marts, where human beings
were crowded together like cattle, thank God,
is Donore among us; and the lash has been
abolshed--hrst by the great law of necessity,
and secondly by the proclamation of military
power ~ s
II the gentleman thinks slavery still exists
let him attempt TO sell slave within the Federal
lines. Suppose he adyertises u slave for sale ut
auction to-Inorrow. Ca the way the slave says,
Il wish 70 cross the street, be goes, and the
gentleman from the Fifth follows and attempts
TO seize him by the collar and drag him TO the
auction; what is the result The gentleman
from thefifth is arrested for breach Of the
peace. committed for assault and battery (laugh-
ter) and brought into the court, aud under the
present laws uf the State the man he has at
temptelby force to take to the auction block
stands his equal, as he does in the sight of that
almighty law of justice which has overthrow
S slavery in this State foroyermore. (Applause. !
There is no slavery here, and never can be. If
all the thunder bolts that are supposed to haze
been hurled BY Joye could be gatLensa fugether
and discharged at once, 1hsy-could not shake
the earfh enough TO awaken from its eternal
sleep the carciss Of this miserable institution
The gentleman has attempted TO justify slavery
from the example Of the Egyptians. ] admire
him for il. 1t is most fitting and proper that
the man who stands up in this day and age TO
justify such system, should 90 back 10 the
Egyptians, whose religious affairs smoked with
human sacrifices, and whose idols were the most
gross and obscene Of all the pagan nations Of
which we have any historical record. | intend
no disrespeet TO the gentleman. He is much my
senior in age, and my superior IN learning; but
| say If the gentleman were to die, should ex-
pect 10 see him buried in an Egyptian sarcopha-
gus, With hieroglyphcal inscription upon his
tomb, which if | we're permitted TO suggest,
would ~ two words: sold fogy." Daughter }
Let him 80 back 10 the Egyptians; that is where
slavery belongs, Let him 70 back to the Romans
and Greeks; that is where il belongs 1t be-
longs to the rude ages of mankind, before the
light af Christianity and civilization had fallen
upon the human family. Has he forgotten that
these very men whom he holds up as models for
rs to follow and copy, had gladiatorial shows,
ard that under their institutions men were
thrown into the arena to be deyoured By wild
beasts He can justify that as well as slavery.
He can justify polygamy by the example Of the
ancient nations, and every other species Of vice
and crime. But supposed we had grown up
beyond the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians.
thought we we're free-born and enlightened
Americans, living in time of revolution, to
be sure, but still adhering to those great land
marks of freedom that were SO dear to our
fathers and which, believe, are dear to the ma
iority of this Convention. Not satisfied with
attempting 10 Justify slavery by the Egyptians,
Greeks and Romans, he has attempted to do SO
by the Scriptures and Christianity. Now, Mr.
President, ii you go back in the ecclesiastical
history of the world, you will find every infamy
that has been perpetrated, has been done in the
name Of some religion. Ii is not the first time
that men have stolen the livery of heaven to
serve the devil in. How many wars and massa-
cres have been committed in the name of Chris
fianity Does that prove that Christianity
countenances massacre, butchery, robbery and
crimeg Not at all IL only proves that they were
done hypoeritically in its name. Ii the gentle
man wishes to 60 into an argument in favor OF
fraud, he might distort some parts of the Strip
ture to prove it was right. lie might take the
case of Jacob and Esau where the former clearly
swindled the latter out of his birthright, TO
prove that swindling is proper and divine in-
stitution, and ought to be incorporated into the
Constitution of Louisiana, which we are here to
frame to-day. am ashamed that any man in
the latter half Of the nineteenth century, with
50 much learning and ability, should spend time
IN attempting to make us believe that slavery is
ID accordance with the precepls of religion. Sir,
that Divine Beng, who came down to teach US
the right path, gave US one commandment, one
precept. which blasts forever the accursed insti-
tuiion Of slavery, as itdoes hsman wrong and
injustice of every kind: Gan things whatsoever
ye would that men should do unto YOU. do We
even so uato them" | say that ia this precept
be blasted forever this Institution Of slavery,
which rs essentially unjust in itself, and founded
in piracy and robbery--a system of violence
and usufpaton from beginning 10 end
Not satisfied with the Egyptians, Greeks, Ro-
mans anu renglon, the gentleman has brought
10 his AID the lllustrious names of American
s IL Hlstory-those men who founded our ins titu-
tieus. lie has told us they were slayehollers
put very ludlciously has he RETAINED from tel.
ling us what they thought Of, slavery ;tsaIf H.
has referred to Washington, but fatrot ~ ,npl
us what was the dearest wish ~ he b.a,..
Washington said This is among the frs,
wishes Of my heart to see some plan adonted nv
which slavery in this country may be abolisheS
by law" Henry Laurens. of South Carol;na
wrote TO his son, in 1916: 81 abher slavery !,
Jefferson has been quoted here. In speskine, q
the slave he says: "We must await with nat;enc,
the working of an oyerruling Providence. AM
hope that il is preparing the deliyerance of thes
our suffering brethren.N 'sBrethren, il M
4 word which Thomas Jefferson applied to thes
men. "When the measure of their tears is ful
when their groans shall have enfolded heaye
itself in darkness the God Of Justice will ava
Ken to their distresses, and by difusing ligh