Year: 1860

cestors, who having been slaves he could
not maintain a suit in that Court, because
he was not citizen. | asked if that was
not the end of that case? Then, in the
name of God, Judge Taney, why did you
retain it any longer? 1t was settled upon
every principle of adjudication, and no
Court has held to it more solemnly than
than one. All, then, the Court may say
beyond the case was mere talk, and might
Just as well have been uttered in bar-room
as in a Court. The majority of that Court
are interested in that decision, and, strange
as it may appear, those who complain of
Northern aggression have had a majority
of that Court on their side. viii not say
that is the reason why the decisions are
magnifed to such importance. The very
men of the very party who, few years
ago, held the decisions of no effect, have
turned around of late and have found a vir-
tue in that Court that can ride triumphant
ly over every other part of the Government.
Such heresy, if persisted in, can result in
nothing but a consolidated despotism. And
if the dicta, or talk of such a Court should
be established, we will have the weakest
despotism that ever failed on God Almigh-
tvs earth, for the doctrine is so absurd, it
cannot stand When did they get the
Constitutional power to carry slaves into
the Territories? 1t is said now, that the
Territories being the common property of
the States, each State has a right to 90 in
to them with any kind of property. l deny
the postulatc. These Territories do not
belong to the States, they belong to the
people of the United States; and Congress
is the trustee for them Suppose for in
stance, the Senator from Illinois (Mr.
Douglass should own a plantation in Mis-
sissippi, and should wish to take the slaves
into Territory, let me ask which State in
its sovereignty is affected? That where
the negres are, or the State where the slaves
are owned? On the same ground we might
say, suppose, as will probably be the case,
we should annex the Fejee Islands to this
nation, and suppose the Senator from the
State of Fejec should appear in this body,
where l believe they not only hold part of
their population in Slavery, but they hold
to eating portion of them. Suppose he
should take his chattels to our Territory
and claim the protection of our country,
that he might practice cannibalism there,
it is plain you would be bound to protect
him. else the State of Fejee would not have
her equal rights with the other States.-
He might say it is the law of my country.
We have right to roast and eat this prop
erty, and if you don't protect US it it, We
will pull down the pillars of this Republic
and involve all in one common ruin. l
suppose the Senator from Illinois would
say the Territories have perfect right to
have cannibalism or not, and | don't care
whether they have it or not; they are per-
fectly free. Another Senator says they
have a right to bring them there, and be
protected by the laws of Congress. Anoth-
er man says that Congress has no right to
pass laws, but the Courts, which are now
omnipotent, can proclaim law, and we
must all bow down to it. There is just
this difference of opinion on that side of the
Chamber, but all agree that Slavery should
be spread to the ends of the earth. But
suppose another case. Suppose Brigham
Young should come from Utah to Kansas,
or any other Territory, with forty wives
Brigham says these are my property, and
/ must have right to bring them in here,
or the State of Utah will not have heI
equal rights. Away with such doctrine
There is no guarantee in the Constitution
for any such position as that Our safety
consists in keeping close to the Constitu-
ton, and the moment we do stray from
this we endanger the harmony of our ac-
ton


But waving the Constitutional Law,
viii suppose that you have right to take
your slaves into the Territories and hold
them there. Still. Sir, is it expedient, right
and proper to do it? And that brings me
to consider question that has been Incl.
dentally brought up. The fathers of tbs
Republic, l believe, without a dissenting
voice, agreed that slaveholding was against
the common right of man, and was wrone
in itself, and should not be cherished. But
we find they did not understand it And
now the slayeholding States have found out
Slavery is the natural condition of the
black race, and blessing to society, and
therefore ought to be extended.


That is the only issue l wish to make
because l know your determination to ex.
tend Slavery arising from this new philos
ophy, that Slavery is the normal condition
of the laboring man, and that is right, Just
and proper, if not necessary to the happi
ness of all concerned. If you are right il
that l will 60 with you Let US extend it
and let US employ missionaries to preacl
the glory of Slavery, and induce the whole
world to turn Shareholders or slaves. Ian
glad at last to see this great question PLACED
on a solid foundation, for every man know,
that no political principle can be placed OF
anything short of eternal justice and right
The Senator from Georgia may tell us tha
Slavery is the basis on which society ha.
been founded for thirty centuries. Sir, i
is discovered that it is sandy foundation
which is fast washing away with the ad
vance of mankind in civilization and knowl
edge. 1t is principle that is deemed bar
barous, and which is passing away.


On that let US stand. If slavery is right
let us extend it; if it is wrong, let it di,
the death. 1 hardly hnOw how to NEE
this issue, for have been in the habit o
believing. with the fathers, that liberty wa
the gift of God to every being. and haC
supposed that this was self-evident. l
there is any one here who will not for him
self respect the old sentiment-"Give M
Liberty or give me Death !'-let hin
speak. Who would not rather follow
friend or relative to the grave than into tn
shambles of eternal slavery? l know it i
said the African is an inferior race an,
cannot defend his own rights But m,
ethics tell me that so far from this givin:
the right to enslave him, it should teacl
men to be more scrupulous of his rights
l know he is still human being; the
are still men and women: and there ar
thousands now in bondage who are mucl
more white than black.