Year: 1862

they nave come TO disregard. An ed-


animation of the facts will show only


this, that the Calhounites discovered,


not that slavery was the moral and e.


economical blessing they professed to be-


lieve it, but that the morbid feeling en-


gendered by it might be turned to their


account in securing them political pow


er. That was the good and the only


good there was in it; and this being the


only consideration with them, it came


to be regarded as the only true basis of
government: and this theory, which was


boldly announced by Mr.. Calhoun in


1887, was confirmed by the success


which attended them till 1860.


Nor are they peculiar class of poll
ticians IN thinking that an institution
which gives them political pewer is
divine Institution. All the aristocrats
Of England, with rare exceptions, think
that primogeniture is divine and it
was argued in Parliament. with more
eloquence, learning and carnestness, to
show that the rotten borough system
was the source of English power and
prosperity, than was ever exhibited in
Congress to show that slavery was the
secret of the marvellous greatness and
growth of America. The source of
these strange perversons of reason is OBJ
viously the same. 1t was merely be-
cause slavery, in the one case, and the
rotten borough system in the other, gave
the orator or his party political power.
But now the sceptre of slavery is brok-
en-, and its empire can never be restor-
ed. Even as a personal relation, it is
out of date in this age of the world and
strangely out of place in America, and
nothing but the despotism it temporarily
possessed could have prevented its de-
struction by the enlightenment and NOR
al pressure of the age. But when to
the catalogue of wrongs inflicted by it
upon the nation, and especially upon the
laboring millions of our own race in the
midst of whom it exists, is added the
crime of this rebellion, no one can doubt
that its doom is decrced.


| But the question comes, by whom is this
decree to be executed ? reply, it can only
be done by the constitutional authorities.
l'ut tHCS to ~. IaNo ducduJ oalu
they would and my belief is, that any as
sumption of authority to expeda'e it may
stay the work, and might restore the slave
dynasty again temporarily to power; and,
indeed, the talk of such usurpation has al
ready given hopes of restoration, and lead,
| hear, to what may be called a Jacobite
conference in these Halls. 1t was not ! we
for the king, but impatience engendercd by
| fba capcalncr riuor # hn Dpr;t,,y tbot


brought back Charles II to England. IF the
pro-slavery Democracy is restored to power,
it will be by similar folly on the part of the
most extreme opponents of slavery. 1t is a
local institution and while opinion and ex-
ternal power can and must aid in its erad-
cation, yet from the very nature of the sub
local authorities it can be effectively dealt
and conselidatcs opinion against the consti-
tuition, does not remove the necessity for this
corporation. But this cooperation is easily
secured. 1t needs only the will to secure it
to find the way to secure it. A Inanfesta-
ton of the spirit of justice on the part of
the nation, and a disposition to do unto the
people of the South as the people of the
North would be done by under similar cir
tuiiistdiltcS, is all tildb lS ueCeSSdTy. IL aIH
asked to be more specific In defining the
policy this spirit would beget, point you
to the policy of Abraham Lincoln. If the
Republicans had proclaimed that policy,
verify believe we should not have had this
rebellion; and if it can even now be recog-
nizcd by Congress, ! believe it will save the
blood of many of our soldiers, and soon
bring us peace and good will, and speedy G.
Emancipation besides.


Many assume that Mr.. Lincoln's pro-
gramme of coLciliation by separation of the
races is inadequate, because the blacks are
so numerous that they cannot all be remov-
ed and time will be required to remove even
small portion Of them. They argue that
because the Liberian colony has failed to at
tract the freed negro population in any con-
siderable numbers, that any scheme of colo
nization must also be q failure. There is a
vast difference, however between the idea of
being colonized on our own continent, under
our own flag, and being buried in Africa. 1t
is the difference between life and dcath, home
and Punishment


The fact that even now many of these
persons are going to tIayti, and that multi
tudes of them have for years been looking
out for an asylum in some neighboring coun-
try, has not attracted the attention Of those
who have not been interested in the subject.
They do not know that delegate convention
was held at Cleveland by them in the year
1857, to consider the subject, and commit
tee appointed to examine and report.


| was not aware of this myself when
made my first speech in the House in 1858,
on the subject. That and Other speeches at
tractcd the attention of these people, and
have since been furnished with copies of
their proceedings, and received letters from
their leading men, cvincing not only the
deepest interest in the subject, but displaying
comprehensive knowledge of it, which
shows that they have men among them fitted
to be the founders of new nationality
was assured by the organ Of this convention
that if the Government would act on any
proposition. he WIS already authorized to
speak for five thousand persons who had
some means, who would embrace it in the
first year. do not myself doubt that ten
times that number would be found in the
first year, and that the establishment of such
a colony would be followed by an outpour-
ing of this population like the outpouring
of the Mississippi when crevasse is opened.
a., L. Al.