Year: 1862

nov and what is its characters ? 1t is not legs-
lation it is the affirmation of policy; and what
does it inaugurateP 1t inauguraies a continuous
systematic policy on the part of this Government
to engage in the manumission of slaves in the
slave States Is there anything of benefit to be
derived from the Inauguration of such policy ?
Have not questions, if not the same to which this
is collateral, disturbed Congress and the country
for years-discussion improbable, illegitimate
and mischievous 1t is now proposed to make
them permanently legitimate. The Government
is to go into the business of emancpatng the
slaves in the slave States That will be the great
iabsoi5ing topic, and the great questions that be-
long to really legitimate legislation, our inter
State relations, our relations abroad, our general
policy and measures of necessary administration
will be absorbed in this question of manumitting
the slaves of the border slave States. Sir, think
we have had enough of this character of business,
and l for one am not disposed to make this order
of business legitimate by any vote of mine. l am
not disposed by my act to approve of its superse-
ding the proper business of the Federal Congress.
!
can accomplish no good; and undertake to say,
although I know that this measure was brought
forward with the purpose of accomplishing great
and benefcent results, it can accomplish no good.
have seen the time when hoped Missouri would
soon provide for the gradual emancipation Of her
slaves, and it would have been done but for agi-
taton. have seen the same thing in Kentucky.
The same thing has been known in the history of
I Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware
believe that by the just administration of the Gov
ernment Of its own affairs, the legitimate course
of events will accomplish ali these results yet ;
but they never will be accomplished by legisla-
ton. We may have this subject agitated session
after session. year after year, Congress after Con-
gress, angry discussions, expensive discussions,
proftless discussions. Federal legislation cannot
cure this evil it cannot be reached by any such
medicine; for favorable times, circumstances,
events we may hope but if we here undertake
the management of this great social problem, we
will find that we are not merely anticipating but
that we are usurping the ways ofProvidence, and
assuming an office higher than any to which we
have been yet elected.


Powell of Kentucky succeeded McDougall in a
speech of about the same length. He declared
the resolution to be, so far as the slave States
are concerned pill of arsenic sugar coated" No
practical good could result from it. 1t does not
propose anything specific and certain. 1t is mere
ly an ennuncaton of what Congress ought to do
in certain contingencies, without even saying thai
they will do it. The whole scope and tendency of
the resolution is to keep up agitation in the border
slave States and that can result in 20 good but
it will inc evitably do much harm. 1t will be nju-
rious to our property, and create feeling of un-
easness there that cannot possibly work anything
but mischief and that, in my judgment, is its
scope and design. l think its object is to inaugu-
rate abolition parties in the border slave States .


Latham spoke next. His remarks were quite
brief, and may be given entire. He sai6 Mr..
President am free to say that believe the mo-
tive which prompted the sending of this resolu-
ton by the President to Congress was proper
and patriotic one. l have seen nothing in the
Chief Magistrate of this nation that would induce
me to believe that he is governed by any other
than an anxious desire to restore peace to the
country and to promote its best interests


"If State of the Union had proposition now
before TINS body PRAYING for aid from the General
Government to assist in emsncipating its slaves in
a tangible form, should feel, Of course, that 1t
was my bounden duty to act upon 1t; but the
proposition now before the Senate is pedging in
advance, on the part of the States where slavery
does not eyist, the taxation of their citizens to
sist any State who may see fit hereaft er to engage
in general scheme of emancipation. l know
nothing whatever of the wishes of my constituent
cy in this respect. 1t is new proposition. l
have no doubt they would go far as the citizens
of any other of the loyal free States of the coun-
try in assisting any State in removing an incubus,
an afiiction, or in aid of any proposition that a
State might submit for relief from slavery-the
great bone Of contention between the two sec
tions-within, of course, the power of the Consti-
tuition of the country. But, sir, am not pre-
the Pacific coast, to pledge the people thereof to
submit to any kind of taxation that the Govern
ment may see fit TO impose in general scheme
of emancipation. This is but an abstract propo-
sition and, in the absence of any light in relation
to the wishes of the constituency that represent,
shall vote in the negative against this and all
similar propositions"


"WHo hath gladness? Who hath joyP Who
hath growing business and full Golfers ? Who
payeth his notes promptlyP Who gaineth the
confidence and patronage of men, and riseth sure
ly to afflucnce He that advertiseth literally
he that through the journals of the day maketh
himself and business known He hath chosen
the part of wisdom, and his honors and riches in
crease like the light of the morning. His shadow
groweth broad. His complacency increaseth.-
His happiness erdureth and he is honored and
best of all men,.


MUNFIcENT GIFT.-George Peabody, the
we'll known American banker, resident in London,
has given S75O.OOO to ameliorate the condition
of the poor of London. The interest of this hand