Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

706 ABRIDGMENT OF THE SENATE.] Abolition of Slavery. [JANUARY, 1836. men, and who have been the efficient and per- remain. The Constitution of the United States severing friends of humanity in every clime. never would have been called into existence; To their untiring efforts, more than to those of instead of the innumerable blessings which have any other denomination of Christians, we owe flowed from our happy Union, we should have the progress which has been made in abolishing had anarchy, jealousy, and civil war, among the the African slave trade throughout the world. sister republics of which our confederacy is This memorial was their testimony against the composed, had not the free States abandoned existence of slavery. This testimony they had all control over this question. For one, whatborne for more than a century. Of the purity ever, may be my opinions upon the abstract of their motives there can be no question. question of slavery, (and I am free to confess As I entirely dissent from the opinion which they are those of the people of Pennsylvania,) they express, that we ought to abolish slavery I shall never attempt to violate this fundamental in the District of Columbia, I feel it to be due compact. The Union will be dissolved, and into them, to myself, and to the Senate, respect- calculable evils will rise from its ashes, the fully, but firmly, to state the reasons why I moment any such attempt is seriously made by cannot advocate their views or acquiesce in the free States in Congress. their conclusions. What, then, are the circumstances under If any one principle of constitutional law which these memorials are now presented? A can, at this day, be considered as settled, it is number of fanatics, led on by foreign incendithat Congress have no right, no power, over aries, have been scattering " arrows, firebrands, the question of slavery within those States and death," throughout the Southern States. where it exists. The property of the master The natural tendency of their publications is to in his slave existed in full force before the fed- produce dissatisfaction and revolt among the erai constitution Was adopted. It was a sub- slaves, and to incite their wild passions to venject which then belonged, as it still belongs, to geance. All history, as well as the present conthe exclusive jurisdiction of the several States. dition of the slaves, proves that there can be no These States, by the adoption of the constitu- danger of the final result of a servile war. But, tion, never yielded to the General Government in the mean time, what dreadful scenes may be any right to interfere with the question. It enacted, before such an insurrection, which remains where it was previous to the establish- would spare neither age nor sex, could be supment of our confederacy. pressed! What agony of mind must be suffered, The constitution has, in the clearest terms, especially by the gentler sex, in consequence of recognized the rights of property in slaves. It these publications! Many a mother clasps her prohibits any State into which a slave may infant to her bosom when she retires to rest, have fled, from passing any law to discharge under dreadful apprehensions that she may be him from slavery, and declares that he shall be aroused from her slumbers by the savage yells delivered up by the authorities of such State to of the slaves by whom she is surrounded. his master. Nay, more; it makes the existence These are the works of the abolitionists. That of slavery the foundation of political power, by their motives may be honest I do not doubt; giving to those States within which it exists, but their zeal is without knowledge. The hisRepresentatives in Congress, not only in pro- tory of the human race presents numerous exportion to the whole number of free persons, amples of ignorant enthusiasts, the purity of but also in proportion to three-fifths of the num- whose intentions cannot be doubted, who have her of slaves. spread devastation and bloodshed over the face An occasion very fortunately arose in the of the earth. first Congress to settle this question forever. These fanatics, instead of benefiting the The society for the abolition of slavery in Penn- slaves who are the objects of their regard, have sylvania brought it before that Congress by a inflicted serious injuries upon them. Self-presmemorial, which was presented on the 11th day ervation is the first law of nature. The masof February, 1790. After the subject had been ters, for the sake of their wives and children, discussed for several days, and after solemn for the sake of all that is near and dear to them deliberation, the House of Representatives, in on earth, must tighten the reins of authority Committee of the Whole, on the 23d day of over their slaves. They must thus counteract March, 1790, resolved " That Congress have no the efforts of the abolitionists. The slaves are authority to interfere in the emancipation of denied many indulgences which their masters slaves, or in the treatment of them, within any would otherwise cheerfully grant. They must of the States; it remaining with the several be kept in such a state of bondage as effectually States alone to provide any regulations therein to prevent their rising. These are the injurious which humanity and true policy may require." effects produced by the abolitionists upon the I have thought it would be proper to present slave himself. Whilst, on the one hand, they this decision, which was made almost half a render his condition miserable, by presenting to century ago, distinctly to the view of the his mind vague notions of freedom, never to be American people. The language of the resolu- realized, on the other, they make it doubly tion is clear, precise, and definite. It leaves the miserable, by compelling the master to be sequestion where the constitution left it, and vere, in order to prevent any attempts at insurwhere, so far as I am concerned, it ever shall rection. They thus render it impossible for the

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 706
Publication: New York, [etc.]: D. Appleton and company [etc.]; 1857-61.
Subject terms: United States -- Politics and government

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Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

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