The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-02-07
Continued from Yesterday,
Henry CAV on Aboliionii,l..


Mr. Clay said the sole purpose of the
abolitionists was to array one portion
Of the Union against the other. with
that In view, mall their leading prints
and publications the alleged horrors OF
slavery are depleted in the most glow
lug and exaggerated colors to excite
the imaginntlons and stimulate the
cage Of the people OF the free states
against the people Of tile slayeholding
states. Why are the slave states
wanton1y and cruelty assalIed? Why
does the abolition press teen with pub.
fications tending to excite hatred and
luminosity on the part of the free states
nsainst the slave states? Why Is
congress petitloned? Is their purpose
to appeal to uttr understanding and nc.
tuate our humanity? And do they ex-
pect to accomplish that purpose by
holding US up to the scorn and con-
tempt and detestatlon OF the people of
The free states and the whole civilized
world3 . Union on the one side
will beget unionron the other. .
One section will stand in menacing
hostile array against another: the col
llslon Of opinion will be quickly fol-
lowed by the clash of arms"
Mr.. Everett. then tis3G) the governor
Of Massachusetts, Informed TIE legisla-
ture. for the admonition Of these un.
rparing agitctors against tho peace OF
the south. that ''everytlIlng that tends
20 disturb the relations created by this
compact 1.-THE constitutional Is at war
with its spirit, aud whatever by direct
and necessary operation Il calculated
to excite an insurrection among the
slaves has been held by highly re.
spectacle legal authority IN offense
against the peace of this common
wealth which may be prosecuted as a
m.sLemeanor at common law" 1t was
proposed In the legislature to pass an
act defining the offensc with more GER
taiaty and attaching to It severer
penalty. The ai,oiitionists asked to he
heard before the committee, and Rev
SD. May. Ellis tray LorIng, Professor
Charles Folien. Samuel l.. Sewell and
others of equal ability and character
spoke In their behalf. They objected
to the passage. of such an act In the
strongest terms and dcrided the value
of Union which could not protect its
citizens In one OF their most cherished
rights. During the hearing several BIT
ter alterations took place between
them and the chairman.
In New York Governor Marcy called
upon the legislature ito do what may
be done consistently with the great
principles OF civil liberty to put an end
to the evils which the abolitlonists are
bringing upon liz and the whole coun-
try. The character" and the Inter
ests" Of the state were equally ut
stake. and both would he sacrificed un-
less these furious and cruel fanatics
were etfectually suppressed.
In May, 1885, the federal house OF
representatives resolved by overwhelm.
ing votes that congress had no right to
Interfere with slavery In the states or
In the District OF Columbia and that
henceforth all abolition petitions should
be laid on the table without being
printed or referred. And one day later
than the date Of Mr.. Lincoln's protest
Mr.. Van Buren, declared in his inau.
gural that no bill abolishing slavery in
the District OF Columbia or meddling
with 1t in the states where It existed
should ever receive his signature.
There was no other FORM" says Ben
ton, sat that time In which slavery agl-
tation could manifest itself or place II
could find point to operate, the ordi-
nance of lists and the compromise OF
1890 having closed up the territories
against 1t. Danger to slave property
in the states either by direct action or
indirectly through the District OF Co.
!ambia were the only points OF ex.
pressed apprehension"
Abolition agltations Jared little better
In the Twenty>fifth congress than In
the Twrnty-fourth. At the extra SOC.
sion in September OF 1857 Mr.. Slade OF
Vermont introduced two petitions for
the abolition Of slavery In the District
OF Columbia. but after furious debate
and stormy scene they were disposed
of by the adoption of the following:
Resolved. That all petitions. memorials
and papers touching the abolition OF slav.
cry or the buying. selling or transferring
OF slaves In any state, district or terri.
tory OF the United States be laid on the
table without being debated. printed
read or referred and that no further nc.
ton whatever shall be had thereon.
Few Aboli6onists In Illinois.
In Illinois ut the time we speak OF
(March. 1880 IN aholitionist was rare.
~ seen and scarcely ever heard of. In
many parts OF tile state such person
would have been treated as criminal.
1t is true there were few Covenant.
ers, with whom hatred OF slavery In
any. form and wherever found was an
SO mn. {