Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-09

3 aIi6teafe Of the rebellion more than they
do ths South, ss well as seme who blame
them nearly Is much, are in the habit Of
asserting that al our troubles have Origl-
mated in the fsnatsoism Of the sboli-
tioaists; that alI our present difficulties
are traoeable to en- unWarrantsble interfe
rsnoeion The part Of the North in what
aid not concern them-thst is, in Slavery.
They assert, at lesst by Implication, that
in the earlier days of the Republic, when
men were pure and patriotic, before our
public men we're contaminated by our la-
ter degeneraey, there was no NEEDLE
usonsn sgitasion Of this Vsxing subject.
H How entirely grstuitous all such as
rumptOns are is shown By the whole
4 ioourseiof our histOrs as people. To prove
them such, we need no more than refer to
the struggle Of 1890, when the nation was
nearly torn in twain, though such men
ss Monroe, Adams, Clay and Calhoun were
the master spirits Of the times; and TO
TIE dificulties arising ont of this same
Bubject that SO nearly thwsrted the de-
signs Of the fathers, to give us a stable
q form Of government We now purpose,
however, 70 set forth another chapter in
our history,
At the close Of The Revolution held
slaves, and as late as 1870, none except
Massachusetts had Oblished slavery. The
public feeling respecting it at that time,
may be stated thus; North Of Virginia
and Maryland, there was an unmistskes-
bic tendency towards emancipation south
Of these States, the tendency was IS strong
towards slavery; in these States there was
divided feeling, though the sbler and
purer men-prObably majority Of all
the eitizens-were al in favor of ultimate
nal to preach politics" as it has since
been. The Assembly of the Presbyterian
church had in 1888, issued q pastoral let
ter recommending emancipation. The
Methodists, then becoming numerous, went
farther, and excluded slaye.holdors from
their communion. Even at that early
day, the QuakeTs had wiped the bloody
stain from their own skirts and we're an
ti-ulaEsry upOa principle.
During the second session Of the second
Congress, on the 1lth Of February, petit
ton was presented in The House from the
Quakers Of Pennsylvsnia and Delaware
praying for the suppression of the slave
trade. Considerable angry feelings was
manifested by the Southern members, and
the petition was laid upon the table until
the next day. On the 18th, asecond petition
praying Congress to use sll its power TO
suppress the slave trade, and to end slavery
itself, was received from the Abolition So
oiety Of Philadelphia, signed by the ven
erabie Dr. Franklin, then within few
weeks Of his death, os its President No
sooner was this petition presented, thsn
GLa.--AA4tlisa.- do-u-,zzaa- -eallhd
up from the table and its commitment to q
special committee moved. Upon this mo-
tiOn the first general discussion of the
slavery question was had that occurred in
the National Congress. The character
Of al subsequent discussions was prefg-
ured in it to the life. The defenders Of |
slavery we're angry and violent. The
harmless petition was denounced as q
Hmischievous attempt" an Improper in
reference" an act of impudencs )" it
aWss said, Hdiscussion would create alarm
and blow the trumpet Of sedition through
the southern States" With much more to
the same effect.
The motion finally prevailed by a
decided majority, and the committee was
appointed. After a months delay, the
committee submitted it's report embodied
in seven resolutions. These resolutions
we're mild and cOnoilistory, but the dis
eussiOn did not by any means psrtske Of
those qualities. The discussion continued !
sizdays, some of the foremost members !
taking part in it. The speeches we're
more violent than they had been month
before. Smith of South Carolina, (even
then South Carolina was exalted to the
Z" bad eminsnce she has since held against
all COmers, said sIl opposition to slavery,
and the slave-trsde, resulted from "mis-
guided and misinformed humanity" A t
Georgia member gave the following as s1 {
reason for dismissing the whole subject: ?
SAnother reason was the influence it had o
upon the temper Of the members. For
several days the House had been in con- =
slant storm. The subject contained ma n
tsrials Of the most combustible character"
etc. A report, greatly differing from that p
made BY the committee was finally agreed a
to, and entered upon the journals of the +
House. !
This recital Of facts makes it evident /,
that slavery agitation is no bantliDg Of 8 q
Ists faastieism; that the troubled ghost of ?
slavery was Cup" in the fathers days Y
snd weuld not "doWn." Itis further evil
dent that thia agitation was never a Aedg- q
ling, but that it sprung into life full grown, d
st the same time with the Government, Il
ready armed to sssail its very life. We J,
dOnot see how another conclusion can be !, +
oOhtroVerted. C
'Weiying s1 question of its justice or v
Policy if Slavery has been the source of
eur discOrds and the cause Of eur weak p
hess, il il has been the word with which O
'Onjurors have called up evil spirits to yex !,
our country and destroy its peace, what is y