Weekly Trinity journal., 1864-06-11
COUNTY OFFICIAL DIRECTORY,
Revsrdy Jehnson's Abolition Views.

We are under obligations to Hon. John Con-
ness for copy of the speech of Reverdy John
son, of Maryland, in support of the resolution
ry. The speech is worthy of being published
entire in every newspaper friendly to the Gov
eminent, but we have only room for the follow
ing extract
"The unimproved moral and intellectual con-
diton of the slaves is urged as an objection, and
to a certain extent 1t Is to their immediate eman-
cipation. They are uneducated, in great de-
gree their moral sense instead of being awaken
ed and improved has been designedly kept in
state of perfect paralysis. And Mr.. President, if
it was doubtful that there was nothing in the
moral law, nothing in the principles of our Gov
eminent, nothing in our Christian fpth demon
strating the unlawfulness and sin of the institu-
ton, it would be manifest as | think from that
very fact that southern masters do not hold that
opinion. Why have these poor creatures been
kept in absolute ignorance? Why has educa-
ton, the most trivial, been denied them Why
penal, severe penal laws forbidding it? Why
have the Holy Scriptures been kept from their
novels? Why has it been made to them a sealed
book Why the sacrament of marriage and its
holy ties denied them? There can be but one
answer, and that palpably exhibits the unlaw-
fulness, the immortality, the rreligon, of the
edge imparts, if they knew what the good and
the great and the pious teach, if they knew what
the Gospel of our Saviour inculcates as the duty
of all men, they would sooner or later obtain
their freedom by violence or die in the effort
And do as we may, and however this war shall
end, the time is sure to come when the institu-
ton will cease. Nothing is more true than the
prediction with which NJ. de Tocqueville closes
his chapter on American slavery
HWhafeyer he the efforts of the of the
South to maintain slavery they will not always succeed
by Christianity unjust and by political
as Preudced and contrasted with democratic liberty
aud the intelligence of our age, cannot survive
Mr.. President, | am conscious that have taken
up much more of the time of the Senate than l
had right to occupy, and conclude with ex-
pressing the hope and the belief that this war
will be brought to a successful termination,
that humanity and Christianity will enforce that
result. It can be accomplished if we are true
to duty, to honor, and to freedom. All other
considerations should for time be forgotten,-
mere party politics suspended. One single pur-
pose should ever be kept before and animate US,
the restoration of the Union, the reinstatement
over every portion Of the land of the authority
of the Government and that accomplished as |
trust in Providence it will be, and as, repeat,
think it be if the Government exerts the
power with which the people has invested it, we
shall soon stand before the world again united
and with institutions, National and State in
which human bondage will have no place, and
be able, to the relief of our consciences and to
the honor of our name, to proclaim to Christen-
dom that, however late we have been in carving
out, the principles upon which institutions
were founded, we have at last accomplished it
you see now with Union restored and slave
ry abolished. The effort may cost sacrifices but
the end can only be as prosperous as it will be
glorious. Our flag may march through the war
!! pierced with bullets and blackened with DOW
DER" but it will be seen to be more glorious
than ever with its stars brighter and mo re nu-
merous and destined to wave for all time over
nation every one of whose citizens and inhabi-
tants will be able to challenge for himself the
proud title and Chistian character of freeman"