The national era. [volume], March 07, 1850, Image 1

About The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860

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THE MTIQNATERI
(J. BARLEY, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR; JOHN G. WHITTIER, CORRESPONDING EDITOR. ^
VOL. IV?NO. 10. WASHINGTON. THURSDAY. MARCH ?, 18fj<). WHOLK m) Wfi
Tlif JlitUml Era ia Pabllihrd Weakly, kfTrih
Sllreet, app?*lte Odd EelUwa' Hall.
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THE NATIONAL ERA.
. WASHINGTON, MARCH 4, 1S90
(COPYRIGHT SBCl'RHD.)
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW.
A STORV OF THE ISLAND ESTATE.
BY MRS. IMS* P. K. SOI'TIIWORTII.
I took *?:OND.
Ther? is * meekness in the upturned eyes,
A tearful Imtre?hucij a* fancy lend*
To the Madonna ; ? <1 a rapt furprU-,
As if if found sfrait^d beauty in the air.
Park Penjamin.
11 Now, Susan, when we have breakfasted, 1
want you to show me all over this house; the
shut up old drawing-rooms, and the dilapidated
old bed-chambers; the attics ; the cupboards; the
cuddies and all.''
' Dear Britannia, the house is a ruin.'"
" I hive a romantic love of ruins."
' But, dear Brighty, this is not a ruined castle
or manor house, iu the old world, but simply a
dilapidated old farru-house in Virginia. What
becomes of your romance?"
Vet, 1 like it; it is nearly two hundred years
p.l.l if wna prpefpil in fl fitnp full nf ad vpntnrp if 1
v' * . ? *
must be rich in legendary lore, early Indian warfare,
French warfare, Revolutionary heroism.
* ? -? ;r vtra?t in v.- ^
and adventures of the past, and the traditionary
lore of Virginia if g^pe^JJr. I find, preserved >j>
tho old domestics of the family. Anna, your
fathers have been in the service of the Soiner- j
villes for more thft a hundred years; you have
heard from your father, who heard from his
grandfather, many a story ; you can tell us of
some heroic young Somerville who distinguished
himself in the frontier war with the savages; of
some young Captain Somerville, who raised a
company to fight ngainst the French; of some
young patriot among the Somervilles, who after
achieving miracles of valor, fell riddled with
wounds upon the field of victory. You can tell
me that, oh ! Anna.''
' My father does, indeed, remember many anecdotes
of the revolutionary war, and is well acquainted
with many stories of the early settlement
of the State; he delights to recall and repeat
them; it would give him pleasure to do so, Miss
O'Riley."
"Very well, then, Anna; to-night, after we
have supped, we will have a blazing hickory fire
built in this great old chimney, and we will have 1
a basket of nuts and apples, and George shall J
come in, ana tell us tales ot oia times, nice the
retainer of some old feudal family, who delights (
to relate the heroic exploits of the house." I
This conversation took place at the breakfast- !
table at the Crags, upon the morning after the j
arrival of Britannia O'lliley, with b?? ?. ,
ville, and si* vctka from the marriage of Louise |
A rmstrong. '
As soon as the young ladies arose from breakfast,
Brighty, with a wish to arouse Susan from ,
the sad reveries into which she was continually
relapsing, again renewed her desire to be shown 1
over the house. J
" It is a wreck, Britannia?the other half of the ,
building; a more skeleton?a shell. It is even |
dangerous to venture in when the wind is so high
as it is now. Beams and rafters sometimes fall? '
old window shatters blow down "? I
" I i ippily, no one has ever yet l>een injured by (
their fall.'' I
"No?but you will be disappointed, Brighty."
"It will serve me right, then, for obstinacy.
Come,"
With a slight expression of reluctance, Susan
laid aside her knotting, and lead the way from
the large sitting-room into a wide,bleak ball, intu {
which the wind poured, and through which it ,
roared, seemingly from every quarter, through
the broken plastering and gaping timbers. They
crossed this, sud entered a large apartment, once
the saloon of the house, but now much dilapidated "
and rudely mended.
" This was once the saloon ; and, on festive oc- i
1 '
casious, was brilliantly lighted up, and filled with
uisiinguisneu guests. you see wuai n ia , (
serves at once the threefold purpose of kitchen,
workshop, and bed-roora, for my old foster parents."
lirighty surveyed the old and extensive apartineut
with interest. It was a mixture of departed
grandeur and present poverty. The lofty windows
at both extremities of the room had been
broken up, and were rudely repaired ; the places
of some missing panes of glass had been supplied :
some by piue shingles, some by tin plates, and
some by pasted paper; but all was eltan. The
great arch that, after tho manner or most old
Virginian mansions, divided the apartment in the
middle, had been broken in many places. In the
back part of the room was a large arched fireplace,
whose marble mantel-puce was covered
with rude wooden candlesticks, and hung above
with wooden ladles, spoons, bowls, etc., carved by
George. On each side of this fire-place were
rough shelves, put up by George, and laden with
the commonest delf ware and pottery. Harriet
was standing at one of these shelves washing up
her breakfast things.
Half way down the middle of the long room,
and against the end of the arch, was a rough
work-bench, with a pile of fligs on one side, and
a pile of bottomless chairs on the other. George
was sitting there, engaged in putting a new bottom
into an old chair.
On the other side of the arch, and at the farthest
extremity of the room, w.aa an humble bedstead,
curtained with blue check, and a poor oldf.Lfthiftnfrl
nf iUiu /?Ptf vit)i a ulnninn li/l
o.?,r.?R
Oh! those memorial* of old times, how dear
they were to the poor family !
On the other side of this chest of drawers was
a large stork of baskets, mats, and children's little
chairs, made of Hags, by George.
Britannia took all this In by one sweeping
glance. She had seen Harriet several times since
her arrival, but not George Now she went up
to George, und held out her hand to shake hands
with liim. llrighty had a thorough respect for
honest George. George lifted the old white felt
hat he habitually wore, and etood up to speak to
the young lady. Miss O'ltiley examined and
praised the neatness of his work, ordered a workbasket,
and then followed Susan Romerville from
the room.
"George supports ns all by flag-work. Onr
land, the little of It that is left, is entirely worn
out We cm scarcely raise vegetables and grain
and fruit enough for our own small family consumption.
But George has taken up this trade of
flag work, and contrives to make a liring by it."
Then they crossed a short passage and ent
a room, once the large dining-room of the family,
now a depository for sacks of corn, barrels of applet,
bags of wool, hanks of yam, etc, and then
pasted through several rained apartments, and
returning to the wide hall, went up the broad
j staircase to the second story. After having gout
through uearly the whole range of upper rooms
I '-Now,'' said Susan, "I will take you into my
chamber."
She then conduct el Brighty into a large room
in which was a tall tent bedstead in nn arched
alcove, and near it a cot bed This room had
neither carpet nor curtains, but the walls wert
literally covered with old family portraits, nil ol
them faded, tarnished, and unfit to be seen?that
is, sll were so, with the. eiception of o/te, which
looked fresh and modern.
" Ah! you are looking at my pictures, Brighty!
Well, thty too are wrecks, but I have not the
heart to throw them away. They are unpresentable?therefore
1 keep them in my chamber!"
Brighty was, in fact, going from one picture to
the other, examining them with an artist's iuterj
est. She paused before one; it was the fresh and
| modern looking portrait of which we spoke. It
| was the portait of a youug, beautiful girl, w ith a
j dark bright complexion, large, soft, dark eyes,
and rippling black hair, flowing dow n in wave!
lets on her neck and botom. Brighty gazed on
this picture with surprise, with deep interest.
" Here is a portrait, at least, that would grace
your sitting-room, Susan I"
" That 1 yea?but?^
"Well?"
Nothing.'' replied Susan, with some erahirro
smcnt.
Britannia was su l lenly silent, fearing that she
had committed she ku*-w not what, indiscretion,
by asking questions. Susan perceived this, and
hastened to say?
"It is the portrait of Genevieve, my father's
youngest sister. She died young, and her death
was sudden?tragical. My grandfather cannot
bear to hear her name mentioned. He has not
seen her picture for fifteen years."
' I am sorry, Susan, thnt 1 recalled this circumstance
to your recollection,'' said Brighty, with
interest. "And yet, what a straugely beautiful
face ! it Is a study. I should like to copy it."
" 1 remember her?nothing like that port rait?1
remember ner, ns one recollects a bad dream. See
was pale, thin, nervous, end wild looking. She
died at sixteen, when I was three years old.
Now, Brighty, you are welcome to copy the portrait,
but on these conditions, that you do it in
this room, that you never show the copy to any one
in the State, and that you never mention her name
wraiMude to her fatr iflcr-Jo-d/sr."
"1 promise, with all my heart"
" Thi^(FHa her room." coptinued Susan, throwing
efen a second iloor. 'But who would have
thought of such a picture and such a story in this
house, Susan ?" asked Brighty.
" Kvery house has its skeleton, Britannia ; and
I fear no house ever stood fifty years without its
tragedy!" and Susan shuddered.
" You are cold. Susan. 1 have been selfish in
dragging you through all these passages and
staircases, full of draughts. Come, we will go
down." And the girls descended to the Bittinirroom.
Faithfully determined to persevere In drawing
Susan from her abstraction, and forcing her to
occupy herself, even when seemingly socking only
her own selfish amusement, Britannia adhered to !
her plans for their evenings.
As soon as the cloth was removed from the sup- !
portable, Brighty, making herself at home, ordered
a liberal supply of the heaviest hickory
logs, and herself superintended the piling upon
the great iron fire-dogs. Oh! Brighty was an
artist in the smallest matter, and she perfectly
subscribed to the Virginian adage, that '-a good
fire is a handsome piece of furniture." And a
wonderful fire soon crackled, blazed, and roared
up the chimney. And then the old sofa was
drawn up on one side of the fire-place, and two or
three chairs on the other side, and the table with
the lamp on it wheeled to the middle. And then
Brighty, fixing Susan with her knotting on the
end of the sofa, nearod the table, seated herself
by her side, and sent Anna to summon George to
bring in his flag-work and his legendary leaning.
George soon appeared, bringing in his hands
i half-finished basket and a bundle of flags, nnd,
ufryil ? "4 '
place from the ?of?i, ant down ana prepared to
3ommence
And thus the group aronnd the hearth sat?
On the old sofa on the left sat Susan and Britannia,
Anna occupying a low seat by the side of
Miss Somerville, with her hand resting affectionitely
on her lap. On the opposite side old Harriet
sat, with a reel by her side, winding yarn ;
George by her on a low cricket, singling oat his
itrip of flags. The table with the lamp dividing
the two little groups.
"Well, we are all ready," said Brighty. "Come,
begin."
"Mem! hem-m-m !!" commenced George, layine
away his white felt hat. "Jlera-m-m! you
ice, Miss, when this part of the country was fust
settled "
"Ilush !"
" Ma'am?"
"Some one rapped " said Bright/
" It was the wind," said Anna.
" It whs the rate," said 11riot.
" You must expect to hear strange noises about
this house, Bright/?not that it ia haunted, hut
that it ia old, and filled with rata and mice, and
exposed to the winda."
" Go on, George," commanded Bright/.
"Hem-tnm! Well, you nee, Miss, when this
part of the country was fuat settled, the Injins"
" Rat-tat-tat-tat-tu-r-r-r!!"
There was no doub' upon the subject now. The
short, aharp. rasping rap of the metal head ot a
riding whip against the door arrested George's
legend, and startled ererybody. George laid
aside his boskets and went to the door.
"Who cin it be, this time of night?" asked
Bright/.
" We are just about to see " replied SusAn.
George opened the door, threw it wide open,
and announced
" General Stuart-Gordon."
All arose to their feet Britannia crimsoned?
with pita surf, I fancy. Miss Somorville advanced
with quiet courtesy to welcome her risiter?while
George gathering up his tl ig?, and Harriet taking
up her reel, withdrew with Anni from the
room.
" Hare you supped, General ?" inquired Miss
Somereille as soon as her gueat waa seated.
Oonaeal Stuart-Gordon was about to reply in
the affirmative, and to beg that hie young hostess
would not give herself any trouble?but, impelled
by a second thought, he replied ?
''I have not, Miss Sotnerville; and, as 1 have
had a rather lone nnd cold ride, 1 will feel particularly
obliged for a cup of your excellent tea
And, Hasan, my dear! prepare it yourself. I
have a lively and grateful recollection of the tea
you made for us at the Isle."
Smiling faintly at the reminiscence, Susan arose
and left the room.
General Stuart-Gordon immediately left, hie,
seat, and, crossing before the fire, took that neit
to Brightj on the sofa, took her hands in both his,
and bending forward sought to mret her eyes. At
last she raised ber eyi s and met his glance.
"Well, BritsnnU!"
" Well, General"
" It is a blustering night."
" Yea, sir."
" More like the middle of March than the middle
of April"
" I agree with you, General."
" Britannia, I have had a very cold ride facing
the wind up this bleak ascent."
" I regret it, sir."
"Then prevent its frequent recurrence,
Brighty."
She was silent.
" How many more such rides eh .ill 1 have to
take Brighty ?"
She did not reply.
" Britannia, I am more desolate than ever Instead
of gaining a daughter by the uiarriige of
I?onia I have lost a son I once had the company
of Louis. Now ray son and daughter-in-law, absorbed
in their own loves and joys?the egotists!?forget
my very existence. They spend
long hours in their own apartments, or, coming
out, wander hand in hand like two children, all
over the isle. Thegirdener and his hands are
breaking up the noil and trimming the rose hushes
and shrubs and vines of th$ gardens, and Louis
?i.i I-I??,I
wi lionise, nana lu nan<t, a* i
their work Then they ride out together, reau
together, play cheek together, and iuroluntarily
look annoyed if any person innocently wiehea to
make a third in their direreione P1
" Bat, General,be reasonable, coneider that this
poor little bride and bridegroom hare been tantalised
to death vith oompany for si' vreeks past,
hare scarcely had a moment to thems? i*ee in which
to eultlrata each other's acquaintance. Be gen;
roue and indulge them," smiled Brighty. who
could reply to anything accept the point at issue.
"Very well! Agreed! Let them amuse themselree!
I do not complain of that! But, in the
moan time, I am not enchanted with the delights
cf my own solitude."
t u You xhould read a sermon on contentment,
, G eneral!"
' " Britannia V he said, proving both her hands
in both of hi* own, " Britannia, hate I misunder,
stood your kindneas towards uae for the last
I month ? If so, Brighty, I will not pre** upon
I you a suit that mny be very unwelcome?the suit
i of a man paused middle age; for, nbove all things,
r Brighty. I wish to secure your happiness?I hud
dreamt d to have aecured it trt'h my on u. Let it
ptss?it was but a dream, Brighty !"
' General Stuart-Gordon!"'
" 1 have misunderstood you.''
"General Stuart-Gordon, if you hnve understood
me to be coldly disregardful of your friendship,
callously ungrateful for your kindness to
me, ih'H you misunderstood me !''
' Britannia! do I comprehend you ? Is it possible,
then, that yon oan'love''
"General, I did not talk of love !"
' Oh, Britannia!"'
" You do not love mc !''
" Britannia, I assure yon "
" You are probably past the age of loving w "
' Miss O'Biley !"
" Or perhaps you be !"'
" Miss O'Riley, 1 affirm that this is very cool
on your part!"
' General Stuart-Gordon, have patience with
me; you will be better pleastd when I have concluded.
It is certain that you do not love me.
and I um constitutionally incapable of falling in
love with anybody, and therefore it is that 1 can
ring the changes on this word without embarrassment
?"
'' Madam!"
" But you are lotvsonw?listless. You expect to
live some thirty years in the world yet, and you
do not wish to pass that time either in Bolitude
: or, what is quite as bad, with a yonng couple who
j arc quite too much taken up with each other to
attend to you. You want a companion who shall
be handsome, cheerful, w itty, elegant, and who
sunn dc jour own. and hnppy in that condition!''
You are a singular, girl
" Very singular in some matters, General!?
upique even ! But, to return to the suhject, do
you expect that want of yours to be met ?" j
' A companion young, handsome, witty, gay.
elegant, and hapj.i/ as the wife of an elderly man ?
No, Britannia ! You hare convinced me! it wa%,
an unreasonable wish ; yet of that presumption f
' hare been guilty. No, E/jghty, that tcmI tf?)1
never be supplied?that companion never be
jfound.'' .......
l,*f hen \ suppose you consider me as a poor
substitute for such a prodigy 7" said Brighty, smiling.
and averting her face
" Britannia ! Britannia! you are more than all
you have described as my dream?brilliantly
beautiful, sparklingly witty, of queenly elegance,
and in the first bloom of your youth?but, Brighty
! dear Brighty ! you could not be happy, (that
is the requisite)?you could not be happy with
me?could not love roe!"
"1 am not in love with you, General StuartGordon!
any more than you are with tne! pray
do not insist upon my being so. It would bo no
compliment to you!"
" No compliment to me !"
"No, sirl I only love when I pity and protect!
Do you want me to pity and protect you ?
I love your Boft Louise, the gentle little '/oe, the
quiet, simple Susan Somerville. I love enough
for my happiness. I have a greater w int than
that. It Is to respect, admire, esteem ' It is not
necessary to my peace that I shall be in love with
the gentleman who gives me his uame?it is indispensable
that I shall he able to honorhim?that
1 shall be proud of him !"
" And I then, Britannia?"
" I honor yon. General Stuart-Gordon !'
"And 1?love you, Brighty !?love you?but 1
will not sacrifice you 1"
And he drew her to his bosom, and kissed her
tenderly, and, rising, walked away.
With his hands clasped behind his back, with
his head bowed upon his breast, he slowly and
inougtitruiiy paced up ami down the room, heaving
great highs At last he walked hack tow.irda
har aide, took both her Intuitu
her eyes again" tSffTe n a I
blush overspread her face. Yet she did not withdraw
her hands, which he continued to press. lie
spoke again, in deep, serious, aud earnest tones?
and he Raid?
u Britannia, I want you to be serious, and listen
to me, my dear, for / am very serious. Two
months ago, T admired you. and i told you so. I
loved you, Britannia, but dared not tell you so?
dared not expose my earnest and devoted affection
to your girlish scorn ; for, Britannia, there is
a sad, sorrowful dithdence in the love of the old
for the young?and therefore, Britannia, I offered
yon my hand, without speaking of my heart. I
laid my name, rank, and fortune,at your feet,and
thought that, by investing you with all my possessions,
by surrounding you with every elegance
nnd luxury that wealth oould procure, tbat I
might secure your happiness and, with your society,
my oirn happiness?I offered you my hand,
and you refused it!"
"I would not marry only for wealth and rank,
General."
"I thought that a delicate, elegant, and refined
girl, like jou, would set a due value upon the
splendors and luxuries of life, and yet you refused
me."
"I would not marry only for splendor and luxury,
General."
' I thought, also, thnt a sensible girl like you,
seeing herself alone and unprotected in the world,
would ere the expediency of a prudent marriage,
and yet you refused me."
Because I would not marry for jtrtuhiur, alius
poluy. alias selfishness, General Stuart Gordon !"
" You refused mc, Britannia, and I did not
press my suit?did not press it, because, as I said,
there is a diffidence in the unselfish love of age
that youth does not even know. Brighty, bad I
been younger by twenty years, I should not so
readily have resigned you For, Brighty, I
loved you, lovtd you. I wished for your constant
presence?I wished for your undivided affection
; but more than all this, Brighty, I wished
for your happiness ; and, seeing your aversion to
marrying an old man, 1 refrained from persecuting
you with my addresses. Now hear me, Brighty
Within the last month you have seemed to have
a softer cadence in your voice, a softer light in
your eyes, as you looked at or spoke to me. This
gave mc new hopes?nay, hear me out, dear Britannia?and
I c ime here this morning, full of
foolish confidence, with the design of renewing
my offer. Stay, stay, Britanuia! and hear me out.
I came here to renew my offer; I see the repugnance
it excites, and, Brighty, I withdraw. I)o
not believe, my dear, that I would annoy you.
But, Brighty, since I have been sitting here, f
liuvs tknoivKr of AtiothflMr nltn Rrivhiv vnu nr*
""'v " r p-?j ) j ? ?- alone
in the world, without the lore of mother or
sister, without the protection of father or brother j
and with jour rare beautr and refined twite*, yon
are exposed to all the dangers and hardships of a
homeless and unsettled life. Brighty, listen to
me, my dear. 1 have uo daughter or sister ; shall
hare no wife, since you refuse me; I have no female
relative at all?and, Brighty, I w ,nt one
Since yon cannot be my wife, he my daughter,,,
Brighty. Forget that I ever dreamed of any other
relation between as, and be my daughter. Brighty.
I will regularly and legally adopt jon You shall
come home to the Isle, and lire with Louise, who
loves you. Will you be my daughter, Brighty ?"
" No, General Stuart-Gordon."
" What I not even my daughter, Brighty ? "
" No, General Htuart-Gordon?but?"
Well?"
Britannia turned her blushing face ouite away
from him. as she held out her han I lie carried
it to his lips
"Well. Brighty?"
" But?"
? Well?"
"I will be your vri/e, if you will take a way.
ward girl, whose pride and petulance makes her
juite unworthy of you."
" My own dear Brighty?my darling sparkling
treasure! You but how oau you love me,
Brighty?"
And Mgiin, with that nnger, anxious, scrutinizing
gsze, he sought the eye of Brilsnnia. She
turned her head away, saying softly?
" Do not look at me so closely, fbr f wish to be
Trunk with you, air, because I owe it to you, and
I ball not hare oourage to My all that la on my
heart, IT you look at me to 1
41 There, then, Brighty. Now tell me, do you
lore me, tan you lore me, Brighty? Ah. I am
?o anxious upon that point, <lear Britannia"
Britannia answered in a low, trembling, but
pereevering roioe
"I know you are aniioua, because you are
doubtful, air; therefore, i force myself to apoak.
Yea, Qeneral Stuart-Gordon, I >!o eataem you.
Do not think I would acoept the high dentins you
offer ine, without You are eorered with military
glory, and I honor you for that?I am proud of
you for that, i shall be proud to bear your
' aaae?to be your wife You are the first?the
only one who has ever opened the shelter of hi*
heart to Rite me a home there, and 1 ain grateful,
deeply grutehl for it, air.''
" Vet. Britannia, my de?rest child, esteem, bouj
or, pride, gratitude, are not lore."
" And I would not marry for these only," said
Brighty, in a eery low voioe
"Then you do lore me, Brighty?" said the
; General, holding her bunds. and bending forward
to read her couutenance.
Now she turned the full light of her radiant
fuc^ upon him, and looked up clearly, as she replied?
" My only friend and benefactor, at least i hare
no one /.?/ you to love."'
" Alas, it is necessity, not choice, then. Brighty
!"
" Vou have no peer, in my estimation, General
Btuart-Oordon "
"Then why did you refuse me, Brighty?''
" From a little pride and petulance, front a
little doubt of the reality and permanence of your
affection for me."
u Oh, Britannia!"
"Sir, I have faults, very serious faults; 1 kuow
them too well. But, alas, self-knowledge does not
nrip me to seii-tmprovoinfcot. I am proud, vain,
high-spirited. and eitr imgant; ysi, in my heart!
| I do lore humility, meekness, and moderation ; yet,
with all my faults, I am sincere and grateful; and
at least 1 bring you a true and single heart, fir.''
" Your faults! my dearest Brighty 1 I lore you
I just lis you are. my frank, ingenuous llrigbty. 1
love you for just what you are."
Five minutes after this Susan Somerville entered
the room, followed by George, bearing the
tea tray. And General Stuart-Gordon took his
tea. and shortly after took his leave, tenderly
shaking the hand of Susan, snd fervently pressing
that of Britannia.
[to bk CONTIfil'FD ]
THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
SPEECH OF MR. THADDEIS STEVENS.
OF PEN!*S\ LYAMA,
Hjvst of Rrpresentativrs, on th* 11-! ma- of the
PresukiU's Annual Mesttgt.
Made iu Committee of th? Whole, February it, K"-o.
Mr. PuonsyTvanTi,' aft*: *
Mr. Chairman : I do not know that I should
have troubled the Cotnmittee at this time-wild
1 sue any reasonable prospect that the House
would devote its time to practical legislation. But,
for a considerable time after our meeting, the organisation
of the House was obstructed ; nnd. since
organised, a large portion of its time has been
occupied by speeches on the subject of Slavery,
mostly by Southern gentlemen, when no practical
question, to which they could apply, was before
the Committee. There was no doubt a well-defined
object in this, partly to intimidate Congress,
and partly to occupy its time, so that no legislation
could be matured obnoxious to Southern
centlemen. Indeed M'C are not left to onnieeturo
on this point. The learned gentleman from
North Carolina, [Mr. Clinoman,] who wasselected
to open the debate in behalf of human bondnge,
distinctly notified us, that unless Congress,
as a condition precedent, submitted to settle the
Slavery question, according to Southern demands,
thero should be no legislation, even to the passage
of the ordinary appropriation hills necessary to
sustain the Government; and that such measures
would not bo obstructed by meeting them In manly
debate, and voting on their merits, but by incessantly
calling the yeas and nays, on repeated
and frivolous motions to adjourn, until the end
of the session. Sir, I doubt not that, before he
ventured on so high a threat, he had full asaumnooa
from a sufficient number of Southern gentflWWk
fy.Slfrjy it i*Ui aflW Pw, If he had
generate into contemptible gasconade, which I am
sure that discreet gentleman would not indulge
in. The scenes of last Monday in this House
fully sustain him, nnd showed that they had the
will and the power to execute it.
Here, then, we have a well-defined and palpable
conspiracy of Southern members oombined to
stop the supplies necessary to the existence of the
Government, disorganize and dissolve it, until the
bands that hind the Union together are severed,
and, as a gentleman early in tho seaaion desired,
"discord reigns." Well might the gentleman
anticipate that the country and posterity would
pronounce this treason, rank treftson against, the
nation ! Sir, I doubt if there is another legisla.
_ i i_ .l. i i ..,.1, w?..u
UTC UUUJ in iiir? wunu nucrc buuu ncuiuv/u nuum
not be followed by prosecution and punishment.
Fiance has lately exiled members of her Assembly
for a similar offence Hot in this glorious
country, where nearly two-thirds of the people
are free, we can say anything within these walls
or beyoud them with impunity, unless it be to agitate
in faror of human liberty?that is mr.vre*sion
!
Let us inquire, what is the grate offence, the
mighty wrong, which can justify a threat big
with such portentous consequencos ? The refusal
of Congress to propagate or tfi establish a
doubtful or even an admitted good in the Territories
would surely be no cause for rebellion nnd
resolution?much lees would the refusal to extend
an evil, an admitted evil, an unmitigated wrong.
Will an intelligent and free posterity believe it,
when impartial history records that the only
cause for fhis high threat was the apprehension
that the Congress of this fret Republic would not
propagate, nor permit to be propagated, the institution
of human Slavery into her vast Territories
now free? Yet such is tho simple fact. It
is proper, then, to inquire whether the thing
sought to be forced upon the Territories at the
risk of treason and rebellion be a good or an evil.
I think it is a great evil, which ought to be interdicted
, that we should oppose it as statesmen, as
philanthropists, nnd as moralists, notwithstanding
the extraordinary position taken by the gentlemen
from Alabama |Mr. Hii.i.mki>| to the
contrary.
While I thus aunouncemy unchangeable hostility
to Slavery in every form, and in every
place. I also avow my determination to stand by
all the compromises of the Constitution, and carry
them into faithful effect. 8ome of those compromises
1 greatly dislike ; and, were they now open
for consideration, they should never receive my
assent. Hut I find them in a Constitution formed
in difficult times, and I would not disturb them
My those compromises, Congress has no power
over Slavery in the States. I greatly regret that
it is so; for, if it were within our legitimate control.
I would go, regardless of all threats, for
nome just, sare, Inn cmain means tor its nnat extinction.
Rot I know of no one who olaims the
right, or desires to touch It within the States
But when we come to form Governments for
Territories acquired long sinoe the formation of
the Conatltution, and to admit new Statea. whose
only claim for admission depends on the will of
Congress, we are bound to to discharge that duty
as shall best contribute to the prosperity, the
power, the permanency, and the glory of this nation.
Does Slavery contribute to either of these I
Is it not rather subversive of them ail 7 Let on
first view it in the low light of political economy.
That nation, I suppose, is always the most prosperous,
all other things being equal, that has the
most industrious and the largeet number of the
produoing clasnes. Those who merely oonsume
>.. #?i*- k/M nnlhinir Lo theatrenfflh
or wealth of a nation. Hlave countries never c in
bare a Urge number of industrious freemen
Slaveholder* form en untitled aristocracy, with
nnmeroua dependant*. Individual* appropriate
large tract* of territory to themselves, and thus
prevent it from being thickly settled by freemen.
Their laborers, having no ambition to gratify, no
love of gain to stimulate them, no parental feelings
to impel them to action, are idle and wasteful.
When the l.aab i* the only stimulant, the
npirit of mm revolts from labor.
That Republic must be feeble, both in peace
and war, that has not au intelligent and industrious
yeomanry, equally removed from luxury and
from poverty. The middling clas*es, who own the
soil, and work It with their own hands, ar* the
main support of every free Government. Despotism
may lie powerful, and long curtained by a
mixed population of serfs and nobles. Rut free
representative Republics, that rely upon the voluntary
action of the people, never can. Under
such Government*, those who defend and sopport
the country, must hsve a stake in the soil;
must have interests to protect and rights todt-fsud.
Hlave countries osver cm have such a yeomanry
; never can have a body of small proprlators who
own the soil and till it with their own hands, and
ait dowo in oonanioua independence under their own
vine and fig tree. There, there is no sound connecting
link belweep the aristocrat and the eUve.
True there is a class of human beings between
them : but they are the most worthless and misTuble
of mankind The poor white laborer is the
scorn of ibe slave himself; for slavery always degrades
labor. The white people who work with
their hamls are ranked with the other laborers?
the slates. They are excluded from the society
of the rich. Their associate*, if anywhere, are
with the colored population. They feel that they
are degraded and despised; and their minds and
conduct generally conform to their condition.
The soil occupied hy slavery is much less productive
than a similar soil occupied by freemen.
Men who are to receive none of the wages of their
labor do not carc to multiply its fruits. Sloth,
negligence, improvidence, are the consequence.
The land, being neglected, hrcomes poor and barren
; as it becomes exhausted, it is thrown out as
waste, for slave lilior never renovates its strength.
This applies particularly to agricultural States.
Take Virginia, the favorite example for the South
which has been so triumphantly referred to by
the gentleman from North Carolina. [ Vlmtii.iso- ;
mas ) Whence he drew his facts that she was
more prosperous, more populous, and n.ore rich, j
than the free States, I kuow not I am sure it w is
not from personal observation. He would not I
certainly draw on his imagination in matters of i
fact. I suppose he must have been misled by the
mos> miserable of sophists, and most fulse of chroniclers,
Kllwood Fisher.
I admit that, by nature, Virginia has c.apibilities?equal,
If not superior, to any State in the
Union. She has a delightful climate; a soil naturally
fertile. She is intersected, as was well
said by the gentleman from Virginia, [Mr Bayi-y.J
by the noblest rivers. Her hills and inoun- j
taius are filled with rich minerals and covered
with valuable timber. Sho has the finest water. I
power, I believe, in the nation, in the very heart
of her State; and her harlw>rs are the beat in the
world. At the time of the adoption of the Constitution,
she was the most powerful State?her
population was double that of New York. It was
the hoaet of her statesmen that she was firimi
inttr piirtt. What is she now? The population
of New York is more than double?I think the
next census will show nearly treble hers. I ! r I
land, cultivated by unwilling hands, is unproductive.
Travel through the adjoining Statis of
Ohio and Pennsylvania, and you will see that the
land produces more than double as much as the I
same kiuu of ilnrr'n? Virginia, in <b<new
towns a-c everywhere springing up and
thriving; tholind is becoming more productive,
smiling habitations are within hail of each other;
the whole country is dotted with school-houses
and churches, almost within sight of eich other;
and, except under peculiar circumstances, their
manufactures and mechanic arts furnish lucrative
employment to all their people; and their population
steadily and rapidly increasing. Turn again
to Virginia. There is sclrecly a now town, except
at one or two points, within her whole borders.
Iler ancient villages wear the appearance
of mournful decay. Her minernls and timbers
are unwrought. Her noble water-power ia hut
partially occupied. Her fine harbors are without
ships, except from other ports; and her sea-port
towns are without commerce, ami falling to decay.
Ask yourself the cause, sir, and 1 will abide the
answer, it is essential to the existence of Republics,
that education should he generally diffused
among the people. Slavery prevents this. Rich
men employ private tutors, or send their children
abroad. Hut the children of the people generally
cannot be educated without the instrumentality i
of district schools. Iii slave States, where the I
plantations are large, the white population, is too I
sparse ever to maintain them. Beside, there is i
another fatal olistaele to them in the aversion of |
the rich to associate with the poor. The poor i
white laborer's children could never he permitted i
to mingle in the same schools, and sit upon the
same benches, with the rich men's sons. That
would he offensive. i
Slavery enfeebles a nation in war, as well as in
peace. It is impossible that n nation of masters and
slaves can be as powerful and formidable, either i
inoflF.nsiveordefcnsivewar.nHanationof freemen.
A large portion of her population must remain at
bims.Jjtym n smfe 01 iHtew wariare wun meir
oppressors. I know, sir?we have had a most alarming
description of the prowesa of the South
ur .. i i. 1 a-:. tl,.:. v.?..
onets bristle; heard the war-cry of the charging
chivalry, and seen their bowie-knives gleam within
this Hall, in the vivid picture of the terrible
gentleman from North Carolina. |Mr. Clinkman
]
We have often been moJestly reminded of the
"blood and treasure and the gallantry of the
South." This I do not dispute 1 am proud to
admit thAt ahe has furnished many gallant Hons,
whose names will ndorn the hrighteNt pages of our
history, both for the war of the Revolution, the
war of 1812, and the war which we lately assumed
as the nlly of Texas and of Slavery. I
give her full oredit fog her patriotism in furnishing
most, of the men. have borne the otliciul i
burdens of the Uoveratuent, both in the civil and
the military list. 1 know,, too, that she has fur- i
nished the kind of men for our armies, who are
apt to he distinguished when great deeds are to !
be done; for it is only the oflicers and command- I
crs of armies who live in story. The stout hearts i
and strong arms of the common soldiers, that |
fight the battles and win the victories, are un- ,
known to fime. Their birth-place is not sought
for; thcirgraves are undistinguished. And the ?
South has always furnished ollicers for our ar- 1
raise; Presidents fur the Republic; most of our \
foreign ambassadors; heads of departments; chiefs ?
of bureaus; and, sometimes, in her proud huinil
ity, hss consented that the younger sons of her
dilapidated houses should monopolize the places
of clerks and messengers to the Government. Rut f
whence are drawo the common soldiery, the men (
who peril their lives and win victories for your 1
glory 7 Almost entirely from the free States, ez- v
cept in cases of sudden emergency, when voluo- '
teers sre nailed nearest the scene of danger. The '
present Secretary of War, a Southern gentleman (
of great nbility. and strenuous for Southern rights, J,'
says, in his report: ?
"Affording to the prai tirc trhich hat long prevaile<t9 the }
great majority of enlistment* is matte in the Northern At- |
lontn ntiet ami the wijaetnt inlet on town*, whence the tc |(
n uil * are sent to the general tie/tot f*tt imtmetian, ami
fntaHy ilis/nhuteit to the Southern ami Western posts, iw- j
touting to the want* of the setroe V ^
\r ? akm Mnwi liom fft-ninPn Vova alu/ovu '
I CP, niTj UUI nuilllilll . ? VVM.VM il'i-V ... TT ,,J ?
filled the ranks of the regular army. The Nouth
hae lent ue the gentlemen to wear the epaulettes
and the sword; to take command of our troop*,
and leiJ them to Southern and Southwestern climates,
to fight the frontier battles, and whiten
your fields with their bones
I am opposed to the diffusion of slavery. because
confining it within its present limits will bring
the States theinselres to its gradual abolition. Let
this disease spread, nnd although it will render
the whole body leprous and loathsome, yet it will
luuy survive, nuuniie nun use ii^e cancer
that is tending to the heart, it must be eradicated,
or it will eat out the vitals. The soouer the patient
is convinced of this, the sooner he will procure
the healing operation.
The learned and able gentleman from Virginia,
[Mr Meade,| in a pamphlet which he laid upon
our table, takes the sntue view of it. lie says.
" Virginia lull a tluvr. population of n-ar half a milhoit,
rrhote value u chiefly ilfjritilrnt on Southern tiem/tutlV
Let us pause a moment over this humiliating
oonfeseion. In plain Knglish, what doea it mean ?
That Virginia is now only fit to be the bfrrirr, not
the employer of slaves. That she is reduced to
the condition that her prond chivalry are compelled
to turn slave-traders ft>r a livelihood f instead
of attempting to renovate the soil, and by
their own honeat labor compelling the earth to ?
yield ner aounuance; insieau 01 seesing n>r mc
bent breed of onttle and horses to feed on her
hills and valleys, and fertilise the land the son*
of tbat grant State muit devote their time to selecting
and grooming the moat lusty sire* and the
moat fruitful wenches, to supply the slave barraooons
of the South! And the jnanied gentleman
pathetically 1 imenta that the profit* of this genteel
traffic will l?e greatly leeaened by the circum
acription of Slavery. 1'hla is hia picture, not
mine.
The some gentleman says, in the aeme speech
u If r.'c fntntrl to nrfront to th? jroltrt; of c*?a*tN? th*
tin ori rtuhm th'tr present iitnkl, w should couitrfnc
forthwith th' notk of gradual rninnrtpniioo ; 1/ it an
rtrsvr tark for vt than for out fkdtit-n ''
The eloquent gentleman from Alabama JMr
I In.1 mki'I is of the same opinion lie said HV
mutt make up out mintlt either to fruit the inter duman
of th' progf'ti of tint erg, or to tuhtnU to an
organic change in our insti/ufioniV
Yes, air; this admitted result la, to my mind,
one of the most agreeable consequences of the legitimate
restriction of slavery. Confine this
malady within its present limits, snrround It by
a cordon of freemen that It cannot spread, and in
less than twenty-Avs years, every sUveholdlng
Stats In this Union will have on its statute books ,
a law for the gradual and Anal extinction of sla- 1.
very. Then will have been coion mmaUil the fend
est wishes of every patriot'* heart. Then wil
our fair country lie glorious, indeed; and be l<
posterity a bright example of the true prineij le
of government?of universal freedom *
I am opposed to the extension of slavery int<
. Tirritorien now free?for atill graver reaeone?
because I am opposed to despot ism throughout t h<
world. I admit that this Government canno
preach a crusade of liberty into other Slates aw
Nations ; much us she abhors tyrants and tyrm
ny, there she cm only mourn over its existence
But when the ijuestion of government is within
her own control, and she permits despotism to
exist, nml aids its diffusion, she is responsible for
it in the face of the civilized world, nml befort
the God of Liberty. In my judgment, not only
the slave States, but the Geuerat Government,
recognising and aiding as it does Slavery, is a den
pot ism. I do not use the word in a declamatory,
but staidly signification. That Government
ie despotic where the rulers govern subjects
by their own mere will?by decrees ami laws
emanating from their uncontrolled will, in the
enactment and extension of which the ruled have
no voice, ftnd under which they have no right, except
ut the will of the rulers. Despotism does
not il(<|N>n.| upon the number of the rulers, or the
number Of the subjects. D may have one rliter
or many. Home was a despotism under Nero;
S3 she wis under the triumvirate Athens was s
despotism tinder her thirty tyrants, under her
four hundred tyrants, under her three thousand
tyrant*, it has been generally observed that
despotism increases in severity with the number
of despots; the responsibility is more divided,
and the claims more numerous. The triumvirs,
each deniiudcd his victims. The smaller the
number of subjects in proportion to the tyrants,
the more cruel the oppression, because the less
d inger from rebellion. In this Government, the
free w hite citixens are the rulers?the sovereigns,
as we delight to be called. All others Hre subjects.
There are, perhaps, some sixteen or seventeen
millions of sovereigns, and some four millions
of subjects
The rulers and the ruled arc of all colors, from
Ihe clear white of Caucasian tribes to the swarthy
Kthiopinn. The former, by courtesy, are Called
white; the latter, black. In this Government,
the subject has no rights, social, political, or personal.
He has no voice in the laws which govern
%itn. He can hoiu no prufarrty. flisvety wue
nnd children are not his. His Ihhor is another's
He nnd all th it appertains, to him, are the absolute
property of his rulers. He is governed. Iiouirbt.
solJ, punished, executed, by lawi to wbkdt he
never pave hi* nssent, and by rulers whom he
never chose. He is not h serf merely, with half
ti?o tights of men, like the subjects of deepotio
Russia, hut a inked slave, stripped of every right
which CJud and Nature pave him, and which the
high spirit of our Revolution declared inalienable?
which he himself could not surrender, and
which man could not take from him. Is he not,
then, the subject of despotic sway ?
The slaved of Athens and of Rome were free,
in comparison They had some rights?could
acquire some property?could choose their own
masters, atid purchase their own freedom; and
when free, could rise in social und politics! life.
The slaves of America, then, lie under the most
absolute and grinding despotism that the world
ever saw. Hut who ore the despots I Therulcrs
of the country?the sovereign people! Not
merely the slaveholder who cr icks the lash , he
is hut the instrument of dispotism. That despotism
is the Government of the slave States, and
the Unitid .States, constating of all its rulers?
ill the free citizens. Do not look upon this us u
paradox, because yon and I and the sixteen
millions of rulers arc free. The rulers of every
despotism are free. Nicholus of Russia is free.
The grand Sultan of Turkey is free The
llutcher of Austria is free. August ,s, Antony,
ind l.epidus, were free while thep drenched
Rome in hlood The Thirty Tyrants, the Four
Hundred, the Three Thousand, were free while
they bound their countrymen iu chuiua. You
una I and the sixteen millions are free, while we
fatten iron chains and ritret mnnfieles on four
cuwuren irum tnein, separate mem, wen tnem, una
doom them to perpetual, eternal bondage. Are
we not, then, despots?despots such us history
will brand, and God abhors?
Hut we sre told that that is none of our business.
'l'hnt Southern Slavery is a matter between
the slaveholders and their own consciences
I trust it tmty be so decided by impartial histoiy.
and the unerring Judge, that we may not be
branded with that great stigma, and that grievous
hnrden rosy not weigh npon nnr sonls. Hut
could we hope for that justiftc Uion, if now, when
we have the power to prevent it, we should permit
this evil to spread over thousands of square
leagues now free, and settle upon unborn millions?
Sir, for myself, 1 should look upon any Northern
man, enlightened by a Northern education, who
would direotly or indirectly, by omission or coinmission,
by basely voting or cowardly skulking,
permit it to spread one roisi over God's free earth,
as a traitor to liberty and recreant to bis God.
Slavery tends to render the people among whom
it is planted, arrogant, insolent, intolerant, and
tyrannical towards the freemen of other parts of
ihe Union. The honorable member from Virginia,
from whom J have already quoted, |iVlr
Means,| says, spenking of Slavery?
"Our p.TRf Mptor? tentUlm to the fact thai It tlcritcs the
>h*r*ftter of the white mud. Though we hare heen in a wonemiU
minority in the I 'nion ftr Ufty year?t t/tt,<lui itig the
irrutei funt of that pei iotl. ire hare manage*! to control the
tenlinie* of the f?mon Whet her on the Imftle-fWM or in
he council, the nine of the South have taken the lemi ,
in?l the record* of the nation ilford ample texttinony of
heir mjter ior tnny;/ awl genius ? 11
Sir, 1 do not oomplain of this statement. The
'ormer part of it is both candid and true. Hut I
tnnnot listen to the recital without feeling the
lurning blush on my countensnoe, that the North,
vith ber overshadowing millions of freemen, has,
or half a century, been tame and servile enough
o submit to this arrogant rule.
Th? South imprison Northern freeiuen when fouiel with
it her burl-re, If they happen to lie guilty of ? >Urk akin,
ml rarry it " between the wiml ami their nubility." Ami
rhtu a eovereiyn State senile a leerneit met venrrehlekgent
o test the It-Kklity of eiteh imprisonment before their own
rihuimle, he U it riven with violence ami indignity from
rintwr* the I mil It.
Mow ' ((? hare there walle been profaneand ttan North
limited, by tbe I .rulent threat, thkt it l.'ungrr-a leglalate
galiiat Southern will. It ahould be dirregardad, reflated to
xtremlty, and the Union deetroyed Muring the prevent
e*a|oo, we hair been inure than once tuld, amtdat raring
toltewMit, that If we dared tu leglalate to * oerialn way.
be South Would teach the Nor h a leeeon! 'Hint their
nlude were male u|i t> eitrein* re?l?taiir#! I* *tiIn the
dace to uae threat* tnetead uf argument*! Are the Hap
eienta'ieea u' f rem en ti tie I It uw treated I True, you ere
iot wholly without juatlflcatlon In tue be'lrf that It wilt he
fTectuat Yin ham too often Intimidated <'nngrrr* You
lave more than once frightened tbr tame North from It*
iroprlety | and f >und " doughface* '' enough to be your tool*
I ml when you lacked a glren number, I take no pride In 1
ay nit. you were pure to ft ml them In old Feuueylrauia, who, |
ii former yeare, baa ranked a portion of her delegation
tnoBff your moat aubnilee re elare*. Ilut I hope, with
iK 'lA Gif b|f roUliPwelY fat oOierwtee TLey wrre an
nmatily, an unr|r|U rare, inr unable, according to the law* (
f nature, of re|ito4oetion I hu|ie they hare left no
eaeetidanta. t he old nnM are drep In political grare* 1
or t tie hi , I alii aure there te nu reeui root Ion, for they were I
ouUrea Now, when the whole nlrltlied world unit** In
enouncing Slavery aa a eurae, a ahatne, aod a erltne, I
mat that when tbe great ba'tle l>etw?. n Liberty and Ma
ery eomea to lie fought un ihla II or, there will none tie
oiiud hiding among the rtnfl, no fra' dulriit oonoraliaeuU.
iot one eernraed Arbau, In thle whole eamp of the Kepre
entailer# of freeiuen.
The elo?|nen! gentlemen from Virginia, iMr. SatmoN,)
lie other day, In bin tiriutiful peroration, pereoiiated tli*
real State* nf Virginia, Kentucky, end lamlelana. and In
heir name apoatmphfinl the goad, and, I will add, the grea*
nan whn now orrup e? the Kiecutlre ohalr; and bavouglit
11in, at* be lot ed tbr place of hie birth the place of bl? nur
ura and the place of hla neldenre, not to foreake hla
tontbern liretbren in thle emergency, but to etaiul by them
n defence of linuien hondeg* Mow much m?re efeetire,
nduring, end hallowed, would that eloquence hare been
ltd the orator * ll|ie been touched with a roil from the Altar
>f I' reedoui ' Then could be hare gone with friendly ami
y tol'.ar rionia, H'-llPfUfHii, mi'i aw oo man aim a,,
b*d hioi, the' although hr had galherxi all the ear'hly
anrele that ?>n !,< r**|??d ? y ih* elnkl* of I'aalh, yet If h?
run ft hurt hla name deerend to poaterltr with Ihcreaalng
uatr*. he mini hy on* great . Juit, and }*' rlotlc nain|le
rip* out ih* only aput that obcura* lh? ?nn a f hi* glory
I- might with propriety ki?r t.*k?n with him th* Itirnad
rantlaman frun A ahama, i Mr Hii.lmbd.1 and tofethir
iiir putnled kiln lo that aolauiii hour, which to him, ami to
ill of m who ar? trim ling th* down hill of lira, ami
loon arrlrr, whan th* alalona of amhltlon and of aarthly
realfh ahal1 have |,???*d from lafnt bt* ryaa, and Irftblm
lot hing hut a raping grave and an eternal Judgim nt.
I'lir a-noiiplahed gentleman Iron Alabama iHer Mr
Kit.i.i* a hi Mit> hi, with peculiar propriety, do what wltb
rof.ii* 11(> I dare wot go to III* lllual rioua friand, and with
i?iaid Maty, ami aimruauoe mora Ihillilug than (hat which
Iiada Kalla Ifamhla, tmfdnr* hint hy a lo*a deeper than (hat
if birth |ilva of mtrlura and of raildanca, hy Iba loaa of
tla own Immortal aowl, hi ha warnad In time hy lb* awful,
ha tnaeombta doom, " Aaaoraa-I I* the man-ataalaf II*
Blight, p*llia|>a, barr pointed bliw to th* gloomy journey
Ibatleada ihrmgh lha dark ihvtow, and ahown him bow
nettahly hrighiar ar* tha flora* of that kingdom wbara
ill ara fraa. I'crahaniw. too, h* Would baa* noticed tha
brmglng ihotiaand* Iran llli g to that aam* draad tribunal,
i minion.d lo gir* aeldaiica of demla done In lha body,
o>m* of whom war* hondainen and alaaa* on aartb, lint
?h ,.a dlx u.bodied apirtla war* thau dlaantbrallad, araot,
.all *a tha prou iaat of earth'* oppr****r* and aahed him to
n j a I re of hie own eonaelenre, who waa uioet likely to
aaet a baarly welcome there -be wboaaaauaa waa advocated
>y th* auppllnatlng roloae of ttiouaanda wltb wboaa be bad
laalt juatly on aartb, and mailt fraa Indeed, or b* whoa* admaalon
abunld b* wltbatood by myriad* of ernabad and
aim rated aoula, abowtng their ebaiae, their atrtpea.and
hair wound*, to tbalr Kathar, ami to bit 1 atbar , to tbalr
tod, ami to bla Judge.
. * / V/
II - %
THE SI.AVE QUESTION.
I
3 SPEECH UF JR. \\ ilLI\M II. BISSELl,
OK iU4>om,
IN THIS MOlJSKOf IU.PKKsKNTATIVKS,
Till HM/aY. F> rki ?kv VI, 1S'?0.
, //i C(,tnmi'l" of lh Who/' on th- f>at? of rht I'liifln.
( I o/i lh' T'f-m,/. Ih /'/ if" f ,-1/. nt/rl
i I Mru0f* ' > tkt 0ffr*prittt Nv . QmmIMK
' | Mr KISS F.LI, mid :
i Mr. Chairman : Our discussions in this Committee
have already produced a profound and
painful sensation throughout the Union The
' public miii<I has htcomc agitated and anxious. and
oppressed with apprehensions of impending calamity.
This state of things, air, ought not to con
tinue; or. nt nny rate, that uncertainty which
makes the future more tcrrihlo than would perhaps
the realixvtion of our worst f.-ars, ought to
he removed. If this Government of ours is really
so near its end as gentlemen hero declare it to be.
or if its longer continuance depends upon contingencies
so uncertain, it were well that we Uuew it
now, that we might make timely pr? par ?t ion. If,
on the other hand, the apprehensions I have spoken
of arc groundless, the people ought, in tuercy
<? undeceived. Tltey ought to he undeceived
at once, air, in order that they may have that repose
and conscious security to which tl.ey are entitled
under a Government created and sustained
by their own hands.
Reluctant as I am to add to the public anxiety,
I yet do not feci at liberty to withhold the expreasion
of my owu opinion upon the absorbing topic of
this discussion, and of the day. And I do not he??
it Ate to declare, as my settle 1 conviction, that, uti- "
leas Representatives who have assumed to S| eak
for the slavt-holding States have greatly mist: ken
the purposes and iutentions of the of those
States, war and bloodshed, consequent upon an attempt
to overthrow this Government, nrc in vitnhle.
This declaration I desire should go forth to
me country, ana with if the reasons upon which
my opinion is HiwkI. These reasons are found in
(he extracts which I shall tjtiote, first, from the
speech of the honorable gentleman from Mis.is[
sippi, [Mr. Brown.| Here arc the extracts:
" Whilst you hare been heaping outrage U|on outrage,
aiMllut Iniull to insult, mir people bine been calmly calculatlrgthe
value of tl^ Melon The H'lesflho been cob...
Co'Wiri, inn vut i*n...h ?i* rraire op
" We owe It I yen, to ourselves, to our common country,
to the friend* of tree J on throughout I lis world, to warn you
I that w? Intend to submit no Ibyvgev.14
" l.on< years of outr.ge up?u ..?r feelings and disregard of
uur rights have ItiluiMd In every Southern hesrt a feeling
of etern resistance Think wbat you will say what you
will, |>er|s>trale again and again if you will, these ueta of
IswIcNS tyranny (be d?y and tlie hour is at band wben every
Southern son will rise tu rebellion, wben every tongue will
say. give us just re or give us death.''
" t!o home aud tell your people the Issue la made up; they
mn?t now choose between not Interference with Southern
ri 'lit* oil the oue side and a dissolution of the I 'nion on the
other "
' if von fancy (hat our devotion to the i nion will heap us
in the Mnion, you are mistaken, ttur love for the Union
oeasss with the jusll'e of the Melon. We cannot love op
passion, n r hug tyranny to0111 let-.one "
" t tell you candid y, we have calculated the value of the
Mnion Vour injustice has driven us to It Your nppretaiou
justifies iue to day in discussing the value of the Mulon, ami
1 do so freely aud fearlessly. Your press, your people, and
your pulpit, may druonnee thia as treason; be it so You
may slug hosannas to tbe Mnion It is well llritish I'.rd*
caliel it. tr ason in onr father* when thry resisted llritish
tyranny. British i rotors were elouucnt In their eiilogiuiiia on
the British ( rown ttur fathers felt the oppression, they
?H<v the hmil that aimed the blow, and reanlveil to resist.
The result is before the wot d We will resist, and trust to
God and our own stout heart? for the Onneri|Oenrrs "
' The Sotilli afraid of dissolving the Mnion '?why should
w? fe?r 1 What is tliere to alarm ua or awaken our apprehen
Pioim i j?rn wr a?< n"ir K> [ilHlll-n n oumiTf* I Ml ill (Ikbl
mlMhuia of frcein*n, with more than one linn ircl million* of
annual export*, leer to take theirpo?lti<>n anion* the nation*
of the earth) With our cotton, *U|f?r, rice, an<l tobacco,
proiluot* of a Southern noil, yielding ti* annually more Itiau
a linn I red million* of dollar*, need we fear t..r I roan* of the
world t"
" Mare we any reaaon to J'mr a dliaolutlon of the Union 1
I.ook at the ipitktlntl olapaeai nately. and anawer to yourarl?e>
the iiii|K>rtant itnpilry, ('an anything be expected from
the frar* of the Sou1 hern people ( I'o not deeeire yonraelrea ;
look at thliina a* they reaily are. for my a* If, I can aav with
a clear eonaelenee, we do not (ear it; we are not appalled at
the proHpect before in; we deprecate dbnnluti. Imt we do
n it fear it; we know our poaith n too well for that
" Have we anything to fear from you -n the eernt of dlaeolutlon
I A iltt'e gitMonadc and aometime* a tlir<at or two."
,.,i',vle..ty.Ah*Wt?MMiaraiwio".*( ?' rtitniy ?e*
poae to take them out of the Union?to dlaaolee the unpleaaaut
aaaoelation Will you arek a battle field to renew, amid
blood and carnage, thia loathaome na*< elation t i take It f. r
granted that you will not. Hut If ynn ahould, we point you
to the record of the p*at, aigl warn you, bv ita bloodstained
paaea, that we ahall be rraiv to meet you "
These extracts from the speech of Ihe gentleman
from Mississippi |Mr. Bnowm] are sufficient
for our present purpose.
The gi-ntleniiin from North Carolina (Mr.
Cuh<*MA?J tells ua ' ?hat t.< the it.it pmstntul in
prihjf ct lo mum/ of l ho high? it mtdlrcts of the South
ami it is substantially this that as it srpitrnte Confederacy
the alnveholding Htatra " might expend
a* much ss the Uuited States ceer did in time of
peace up to the beginning of (jcn. Jackson's Administration,
aDd still liuve on hand twenty-five
millions of dollars to devote to the making railroads,
opening harbors nnd rivers, and for other
domestic purposes." The same gentleman has
thus disposed, in advance, of some lutlr matt'U
pertaining to tne interior regulations of the "Southern
Confederacy " to he : "The northern tier of
counties in Kentucky," says he, "would perhaps
he obliged to remove their slave* to theSouth. But
there would be to her advantages in the change,
similar to those of Maryland. Kentucky suppliea
the South with live stock to a great extent ; but
she hss to encounter the competition of Ohio and
other Northwestern States. If tho yrotluclioits of
thru St'itf.t wrr suhjret to a duty, she might for a
time have a monopoly in the trade." I doubt not,
sir, that it will astonish the people of the great
West and Northwest lo find (hut thefathersof the
" Sou thorn Contoitororv" have disposed of the nsvi
gatiun of the Mississippi with such celerity, as
much bb it will the people of Kentucky to learn
that their slaves ere henceforth to ho removed
South?Ms/eail of A'orih. The aamo gentleman
I Mr. Ci.iakjman| haa divulged hia plan for removing?though
not. quite so gently?all thoMC in Kentucky
and the other sluveholding Statea who hesitate
uhout swearing allegiance to this "Southern
Confederacy." lie intitnatenthat it will not take
?8 long to hang them us it did the "Tories in the
Revolution/'
I think, Mr. Chairman, that I have now given
extracts enough to justify the opinion 1 expressed
at the outset of my remarks. We cannot tail to
see that, if the feelings, purpose*, and intentions of
the jooplr ot the slnveholding Statea are correctly
represented in these speeches, our countrymen
nitiy well apprehend the most fearful calamities
The subject has been calmly considered in all its
a?ptolK hy the hwhttt uutllrttt of tho South. It
has he en ascertained by cumulation that if the
Southern States were separated from the Northern,
not only would they escape from " Northern
aggression" in future, hut they would also derive
a direct pecuniary advantage of %'2!i Ot?'?>ooo per
annum. And though it does not appear that the
ntrnmiMi of duty to ho naid hy the people of the
West and Northwest to the " Southern Confederacy,"
for the privilege of navigating the Missisuippi
river, has vet heen fixeJ, it nevertheless does
appear that such a duty iatohe exacted I allude
to these things, sir, to show the minute calculations
that have heen entered iuto in reference to
the altered oondition of things consequent upon
tho meditated dissolution of the Union. Thev
<hnw an Jadtsncvd slog* in tha progress of this
movement, which, in my judgment, will astound
the country.
Now, air, let us ere if we can glean from theee
gentlemen's speeches the shadowing forth of any
plan by which this movement is to tie commenced
and carried out. I first quote from the speech of
the gentleman from Alabama, (Mr. lane ]
" Will Oi? lie preseuieHvaa of tb? North attempt, by the
power of numbers, to outrage the CYnatltullon ami degrade
tba South by the adrnleeton of this Territory |(Jailformal ae
a Slate, without tbe oBer of soma equivalent 1 I suggest to
them tu rrmeuibe that we are aworn to support tba Constitution,
and eould scarcely elt In tama acquiescence and witneaa
Ita open mud ahaineful rtolatlon. Tba attempted consummation
of such an aat would b? tba ortrtbruw of tha
Constitution, wblah tba People we represent would nwlat
1 to the laat aatremlty ' Wa are bare aa tha Kepreeentstlrce
of the People, but art our obligations to the Constitution
aed the Honth laaa than those of other Individual ettisrne,
who lu tha aggregate ore the People' W? aaaum* addition
uI nb ifo/ion > when wa eotae as KepraeaulaUree ; hut are are
relieved from those which reeled ii|ioii us as private gitIlenel
Nly Individual opinion It, that If tha Southern peopla
ought to raalal a msaaura of aggression, after its eun
uinmatlon wa are hare under the earns or a higher obligeMan
to resist Ita NfMUMliN These auggaallona are
made. not In the nature of threat or menace I do not underrate
Ilia firmi.eae of Ilia Sorth As * uiaftrr of iftacretlin,
it la always pvtipar to taamne that your antagonist la
linn, even If (ha fact be doubtful. But the o >uraa proper
i<? m pnr?tt?<i in ***y twi rr ? ? iui
lion of HvuHirrn mrmhrrn. I am wlIMn* to nigral, and If
mr nonrto I* not anpri'vwl, to fallow aay path of bum*
hWbeaajr ba pulliUd out bj tboM ebo tra oldar and wiaar,
I (run* that wc ahnll aUnd tug?lh?r aa una man, and pr??ant
our hraaata aa tba ahktld of the Conottlutloa "
Thin language, air, acaroeljr mlrnira of a doubtful
construction. I uuderatand it to mean thia
That the gentleman oonaidrra himaelf and other
Southern Repreeentatifaa aa acting here in n
double oapaeity ft rat, aa RepreeenUtirca, In which
character they are to reeiat the paaaage of an ununoonatitutioual
law, (aa, for inetanoe, one admitting
California in the Union,) in the manner and
[ aa roraiu r*ui]
^