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C % A IR MA N
I d id n o t c om e h e r e t o m ak e a S p eech b ut t o
h ear o n e fro m a far abler m a n an d I am ta k e n by surp ri se i n b ein g
t hu s c all ed up on I can only o ff e r a f e w u n pr em ed itated r em ar k s by
way o f sl igh t p rel u de to th e rich er tr eat w e m ay expect fro m o u r d is
t i n g u i s h e d fr ie nd
I f t h is were a n o rd in ary p ol itical m ee ting I sh oul d n ot b e h e r e
c ertainly I sh oul d n o t open my m ou th t o say a s in gl e w or d
I am
n o t i n any sen se o f t h e term a p ar ty p ol itic ian I h av e n ever assisted
at p ol i t ical m eetings n ever app eared o n p ol i tic al platfo rm s n eve r
s p o k en n ever m i xe d mysel f u p i n any w ay w i th p ar ty m e n p arty
o rgan i z ation s o r p ar ty m easures I h ave abstai n ed fro m d o in g s o n o
l ess fro m i n cl in at io n th an fro m a sen s e of p r o fessi on al p r op r iety A n d
i f I c on s id ered th is m er ely i n t he l igh t o f an o rd inary p ol i t ical party
m ov e men t yo u w o ul d n o t se e my face o r h ear m y v oi ce i n th i s p lace
If th e ques t io n b efore yo u we re m erely a que sti on o f p ol i tical c ih oe
o n e se t o f m e n o u t an d an o th er s et of m en i h an d o f a n ew d iv i sio n
o f th e sp oil s o f o fii c e i f i t were a m er e fi n an c ial o r ec o n o m ical ques
t io n Fr ee T rad e o r Tari ff I n tern al Im p rovem en t s P acific R ailr oad
o r any suc h que stio n o n w hich th e op in io n s o f th e c o un t ry h ave been
o r m ay n ow be d iv ided % I sh oul d l eave y o u t o settl e i t am ong yo ur
sel ves
B u t I cann o t so r e gard i t I n my O p in i o n the main t en anc e of ou r
C on s ti tut io n th e preservat io n of th e Un io n an d th e p rogress o f ch ri s
t ian c iv il izat i on are i n vol ved i n th e i ssues s o o n t o b e d ecid ed
It
i s m y d el iberate an d s ol em n c o nv ict io n that th e d eares t i n terest s o f
T ru th o f % us tice of C on s t i tuti o n al L ib er ty o f the wel far e o f o u r
n at ion an d of the wh ol e h uman rac e are at stak e A s a ch ristian
as a p atr io t an d as a l over o f h u m an pr ogress I feel th e refo r e n o t
o nly j u stified b u t b oun d t o u n ite w ith t h ose w h o h ave th es e i n terests
a t h ea r t i n all l aw fu l an d h o n orabl e m ean s for th e i r salvatio n Tha t
t h e sal vatio n o f t h es e i n te rests i n t h e p resen t cr isis dep en ds (as I
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4
adm i t i t d o es %upo n th e exer tio n o f p ol itical righ ts an d p owers an d
U p o n t he o rgan iz a t io n o f a grea t p ol i t ical pa r t y seem s t o m e n o re a
s on w h
y I sh o ul d s tan d al o o f th r o ugh fea r o f i ncu rring th e r e pro ac h
o f a n u nseemly m i xing i n p a rty p ol i t ics I t is a r ep ro ach ve ry c on
ve n i e n t f r t h ose w ho use i t b ut so me t i mes m o re c o nven ien t fo r th ei r
p urpos e t h a n j us t i n i t s ap pl icat io n I t m ay o ft en g ive to t he po l i tic al
p erpe t rat o rs a n d ab e t to rs o f w ro ng a n i m mun i ty an d a n ad van t a ge t o
w h ich t h ey have n o ti tle T he re a re m any e xigenc ie s i n l i fe w h e n
d u ty re q ui res tha t o rd inary c o n s id era t ion s o f p rofession al d el icacy
s h o uld b e l aid as id e T h e p resen t is t h e greates t c r isi s th at has eve r
occ urred i n th e h i s t o ry o f o ur c oun try A n o utrageous m o ral w rong
has b ee n p ol itically acc om pl ish ed a n d i s pol i tical ly uph eld
I t c an
o nly b e p ol i tically r ed ress ed T h e m ean s by wh ic h yo u p ropos e t o
red ress i t ar e n ei th e r w ron g o r d is h on o rab l e b u t c on s t i t ut ional an d
l aw ful fai r an d r igh t % an d I fee l b oun d n o t t o w i t h h ol d t h e publ ic
exp ressi o n o f m y sym pa t hy w i t h y o ur e ff o r ts my h opes fo r y o ur suc
ces s S e m uch S ir I h ave th ough t i t r igh t to say p ers on ally i n r ef
e ren ce t o m y appeara nc e h e re
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wh at i s i t w e an d t ho se w h o are u n ited w ith us th ro ugh ou t th e
c oun t ry i n t h is great m ovem en t wh at i s i t th at w e a ll w an t %
B riefly t hi s to r esc ue the G en eral G overn m en t fro m b e ing any
l onge r t h e i nstrumen t fo r the e x ten si o n o f sl avery to b r i n g b ack i t s
A d mi n istratio n t o th e t rue c on s titution al gro un d to p reve n t slave ry
fro m b ecom ing a n ation al i ns ti tution — to ex cl ude i t fro m territo rie s
n o w free an d to ad m i t n o m o re S lave S tates i n to th e Un io n T h is i s
w hat w e wan t w h at we m ean t o t ry fo r w hat w e h ope by t h e bless
ing o f G o d t o ach i eve
B ut w hy d o w e wan t i t % I t w oul d b e an swe r e n ough to th i s ques
t i o n i f w e h ad n oth ing m o r e t o say than sim ply th a t such is o u r w ish
u n til at l eas t som e go o d reaso n c a n b e sh o w n why w e ough t n o t t o
h ave s u c h a wish
F ree
\V c l i k e freed o m be tter t ha n sla ve ry
S tate s be tter than S lave S tates % we w ould l i k e b e tter t o s e e t h e G e n
e ral G o vern men t em pl oye d i n ex ten d ing t h e area o f fre ed o m t ha n
t h at o f sl av ery
%
T h at is th e quest i on
\V hy th en sh ould w e n o t h ave ou r w ay
W e o f th e F ree S tates ar e seven tee n m ill i on s of peopl e % t he fre e
peopl e o f th e S ou t h are s ix m ill ion s o f w h i ch th e slav eh old e rs n u m
b e r l ess tha n th re e h un d re d a n d fift y th o usan d W it h a m aj o ri ty o f
n early th ree to o n e over al l t he free p eopl e of th e S o uth i n a c o nfed
c racy w h ose fu nd am e ntal p ri nc iple i s th at th e m aj or ity sh al l r ule % i f
N
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5
w e d o n o t wan t any m o re S lave S tates th at i s reaso n en ough w hy w e
sh oul d h ave n o m o r e at l eas t u n til s ome go od re a so n t o t he con tra y
can b e sh own “ h a t go o d reas o n c a n th e S out h g ive w h y w e sho ul d
n o t h ave ou r o w n way i n th is m at te r
l e m e m b e r t h e qu e s t i o n i s n o t
ab o u t i n terfer ing wi t h sl avery wher e i t n o w l egally ex ists b ut ab o ut
e x ten d in g i t wh ere i t d oes n o t ex is t
I s th e ex ten sio n o f slavery i n to terri to ry n o w free t h e c re a t i o n o f
n ew S lav e S t ates an d th e c on trol o f th e Federal G overn m en t fo r th i s
e n d a c o n trol wh ic h th e S ou t h ha s h ad fo r m o re th an t h i rty years
an d of wh ich w e p ropo se n e w t o d ispo ssess th em is th is a n atural
r igh t of th e S ou th gro un ded i n th e j us tice of t h e c ase
N o % th is i s
n o t preten d ed
I s i t i n th e C on st it utio n
N o % n o t a l i n e n o t a w o r d o f that
i n strum en t c on fer s i t T h e C o n sti tutio n — t h e w o r d Sl ave b e ing e x
cl uded w i t h sc rupul ous an d i n ten t ion al c are p r ovi d es t h a t r e pr e s e n
t a t i ve s sh al l be app or tio n e d am on g th e several S tates ac cordi ng t o
th ei r resp ective n umb er s wh i ch sh all be d eter m i n ed by ad d ing to t h e
”
It
w h ole n umb er o f fr ee p erson s z /u e e fif t /
as o
f a ll o th e r p e r s o n s
“
p rov id es al s o th at n o p e rso n la c /cl to s e r vi c e o r la bo r i n o n e S ta t e
un der th e l aw s th ere o f escap i n g i n t o an o th er sh al l i n c on sequen ce o f
any la w o r r egulati on th erein be d ischarge d fro m such se rvice o r
l ab o r b ut sh all b e d el ivered u p o n t h e cl aim o f t h e par ty to wh o m
”
suc h service o r l abo r m a y b e d ue
T h ese ar e t h e w ord s an d al l th e
w ord s T h ese are al l th e con c essi o n s m ad e t o s lavery i n t h e C o ns ti
t uti e n T h ey w ere m ad e i n t h e S pi ri t o f com p r o m ise
T h ey in d i
r e c tl
y recogn i z e th e ex ist en ce o f S lavery i n som e o f t h e S ta t es as
th e m ere c reatu re o f the l aw s o f th ose S tates an d t h ey m a k e c erta i n
c oncession s t o i ts ex isten ce t h ere T hese c o n cess i on s a r e o f c ou rse t o
b e n ot l o osely but str ic tly c o n str ued T hey s ay t h ree fi f t hs o f t h e
sl aves s h al l b e en u m erate d i n t h e fe d eral n umb ers up o n w h i ch r e pr e
scutat ion i n C ongress i s bas ed % an d th ey say th at fug i t iv e sl av es sh all
b e del ivered up T h i s i s a ll th ey say % oes th is give t h e S o uth any
cl a im to dem an d th e exten s io n of slavery an d t h e ad m iss io n o f n e w
S lave S tat es i n t o t he U n io n as a con sti tuti on al r igh t
N ot th e
shad o w of a clai m % I t d oes n o t c om e w i t h i n a th o usan d m iles o f
l o ok ing i n t h at d ire c tion
B ut if n o t given i n ter m s i s i t im pl ie d i n th e S pi ri t of com p ro m ise
an d c on c essio n wh ich p res id e d at th e fo rm a t io n o f the C on sti t u t ion %
N o t at al l T h e w hol e h istory o f t h e fram in g an d ad optin g of that
i n strumen t % th e r eco rd e d lan guage an d k no wn v iews o f i ts great
auth o rs , men of th e S ou th as w ell as of th e N orth % an d th e w h ole
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6
adm in istrat io n o f th e gover nm en t fo r s om e t i me after it s ad e p t i on
give t h e l ie t o such a p reten sio n
N o th in g i n t h e w o rld s h istory i s
m ore absol utely an d und en i ably dem o n strabl e than t hat th e spir i t o f
c om p ro mis e an d m u tual c o n cessi o n i n wh ich t h e C on stitu tio n wa s
fram ed an d ad m in istered d u rin g i t s early d ays was a sp ir i t wh ic h
r ec ogni zed sl ave ry as a l ocal i n s ti tu t ion t o b e pr otected w i t h in th e
l im i t s wh ere i t t hen ex isted bu t k ep t w ith i n t h o se l im i ts wh os e
e x t en si o n was n o t t o b e p ro vid ed fo r b ut pr even ted I w il l m eet any
T her e h a s b ee n a great c h an ge
m a n i n t h e u n iverse o n t h i s gr oun d
i n a par t o f th e S outh at leas t
T hey
i n s ou th er n fe el ing s ince th en
n ow d esi re n o t o nly th e p erpetua t io n of slavery wh er e i t exists b ut its
e xten si on wher e i t d o es n o t e xist V e ry n atural p erhap s % b ut t hey
mu s t l o ok so m e w h ere el se th an t o th e spiri t o f co mp ro m ise an d c o n
cessi o n wh ich p revail ed at t h e form at io n o f th e C on st i t u t i on t o fi n d
any groun d o n wh ich to rest th e i r cl ai m up o n u s t o l e t th em h av e t h e i r
w ay
”
B ut say th e slavery e x te n ti o n i s ts
d oe s n o t th e sp ir i t o f th e
C on st itu tion fai rly give u s as equal p ar tn er s to t h e U n i on th e righ t
t o car ry ou r p r op erty i n t o th e c o m m o n T err i tory of th e Un i o n as wel l
as th e in hab itan ts o f th e Fr ee S tates % T o b e sur e I an swe r i t gives
t o y ou th e righ t to c ar ry every th in g th a t th ey ca rry ev e ry th in g th a t
”
“
i s p roperty i n t he o r d in ary an d un iv ersal ac cept at io n o f th e term
every t h in g t hat by n atu ral law an d th e gen eral con sen t o f m ank in d i s
r ec ogn i ze d as p ro perty an d th r ough ou t th e c ivil ized worl d i s l egally
p ro tected as su ch B ut p r oper ty i n m e n
T h at i s n o t p rop erty by
n atural la w an d gen eral c on sen t I t is p roper ty o n ly by your l ocal
l aw s T o cal l i t s o i n th e gen eral acc ep ta t io n o f th e t e rm i s a v i cio u s
abus e of l anguage % an d fo r y o u to claim th e r igh t o n th i s gr ound t o
c ar ry y ou r l ocal law s i nt o a ll th e terr ito r ies of t h e Un i o n i s a fal lacy
y o u c an n ever m ak e pass w i t h u s A s p a r tn ers t o th e o riginal c om
p act y ou h ave i n fai rn ess n o such r igh t % n o r i n ou r p r esen t m u tual
r elat i on s can y ou cl ai m i t A ll w e ll en ough i f w e ch o o s e t o c on ced e
t o y o u th e p r iv il ege
l V e h ave al ready c on ced ed l argely to y o u r
w ish es W i th n o l i n e or w o rd of th e C o n s titu ti o n b i nd in g u s t o d o
s o % i n u tter repugn an c e t o a l l th e i d ea s an d fe el in gs th at p revail ed
w hen yo u r fath er s b ecam e p arties t o th e U n i o n w e h ave l et yo u go o n
e x tend in g slavery till t h e S lave S tates ar e m o r e th an d ouble th e o r igi
n al n umb e r A nd i f w e n ow ch o ose to m ak e n o m o re c on c ess ion s t o
slavery ex ten si on yo u h av e n o t itl e t o say a w ord ab ou t u nfai rn ess
0 r d ep riva t i o n of rig h t s
T he S outh th en , c a n sh ow n o go od r eason b in d ing o n u s w hy we
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7
sho ul d n o t d o wh at we w an t to d o w hat w e shal l attem p t t o d o i n a
l egal an d h o n o rable way th r ough th e b al lo t b ox
B ut w e can sh ow goo d r eason s fo r n o t wan t ing an y m or e S lave
S tates reason s o f p o l icy an d reason s o f p rin ciple w h ich b i n d u s n ever
t o give over th e struggl e t ill w e h ave secured th e final t rium ph of ou r
c ause t ill we h ave w rested th e F ed eral G over nm en t fr om th e con trol
of th e sl aveh old ing p owe r , an d p ut a s te p t o sl avery exten sion
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I n th e first pl ace sl avery ex ten s io n i s a b ad b argain p ol itically
fo r th e F ree S tates un equal an d u n fai r I t g iv e s t o th e S lav e S tates
a r epresent atio n i n C o n gres s fo r t heir p rop erty wh at th ey cal l p r eper
t y an d cl ai m as such t o c ar ry i nto th e terr i tor ies
wh il e we h av e n o
p roper ty rep resen tatio n T h re e fif th s o f th ei r slave s b ein g incl ud e d i n
the federal n u mb ers g ives th em n ow fif t e e n repr esen tat ives m or e than
t h ey w oul d o therw ise h av e F o r th i s c on cessi o n w e h ave go t pr a c t i
cally n o th in g an d n ever shal l ge t anyth in g i n r eturn T o b e su re w e
m ade th e b argai n w ith th e o rigin al Slave S tates an d w e h ave s in c e co n
s ented t o th e sam e b argai n w it h n in e S tate s m o r e % an d we ar e w ill in g
t o ab id e by th e b argain
B u t b etween ab id in g by an u n equal b argain an d c on sen ti n g t o go o n
i nd efi n itely m ak in g b ad b argain s th ere i s s om eth ing o f a d iffe re n ce
W e m ay feel b o u n d t o th e on e b u t w e feel n o obl igati o n t o th e o th er
S lavery exten s i on i s p ractically j ust th e e n tire surr en der i n perpetui ty
o f th e Federal G ov ern men t t o th e suprem e c o n trol o f a sm al l b o dy o f
s outh er n sl aveh olders n umb er ing at th is t i m e ab o ut th re e hun d re d
an d fifty th ou san d
”
v
I e wan t
say s o n e of th e lead in g o rgan s of th e sl av eh ol d in g i n
t e r e s t th e R ich m on d E n qu i r e r “ we wan t m ore slave t err ito ry fo r
t h e aggran d iz em en t of sl avery , fo r m ak in g i t an elem en t of p ol i tical
con trol an d fo r givin g t o t h e S outh i ts j us t ascen dan cy
When i t
c om es t o th is w e h ave a wo rd o r tw o t o say \V e feel n o d isp os it io n
t o p rom o te t h e a ggran d iz em en t o f slavery t o m ak e i t a n el emen t o f
”
“
p ol itic al c o n trol an d to gi v e t o th e S o uth it s j us t sup rem acy o ve r
u s O n th e wh ol e w e r ather th ink w e shall res ist suc h a m ovem en t
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I n th e n e xt pl ace we obj ec t t o th e exten s io n of sl avery b ecaus e
slavery d egrades free l ab or an d preven ts th e fullest d evel o pm e n t o f
th e r es ource s of th e c oun try We at th e N o r th r espec t l ab o r h on est
free lab or L ab o r i s great i s sac red % o n o r to F r ee L ab o r th e b es t
source o f th e weal th an d greatn e ss o f th e n ati o n % lV e are al l l ab o rers
at th e N or th i n o n e way o r an o ther % all lab o rers an d a ll f r e e lab o rers
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”
ex c ep t th e d ough faces
th ey are slaves o f th e s ou th ern ol igarc hy %
w ith sl aves pay T h ey w or k u nd er t he l ash an d w h en pas t u s e are
n o t even p rovide d fo r a s th e l aw obl iges th e i r task m as te rs t o p rov id e
fo r th ei r wo r n o u t n egro sl aves L o o k at th e m o s t c m i n e n t i n stan ce i n
th e n a t io n N ever bl ac k slave d id h i s m as ter s b id d i ng w i t h m o re abj ec t
s erv il ity m o re perfec t a bn egatio n of m an h o od A n d h ow h ave h i s mas
t ers u se d h im
A t th e l ast m om e nt i n hi s u tm ost ext rem ity wh en
h e c o ul d l o o k n owh er e fo r h elp i n h eave n ab ov e o r i n t h e ear th b e
sav e to t h em al o n e % wh en h e had every r igh t t o exp ect h i s p ro
n eat h
m i s e d rewar d th ey h ave serve d h im a s th e E v il O n e is sai d t o serve
th ey h ave th row n h im o ff th e i r
h i s swor n slaves i n th e i r u t mo st h our
platfo rm w i t h o u t a particl e o f rem o rse o r p i ty an d left h i m t o fl oat
d own t o th e gul f o f p ol i t ical n othi ngn ess t o th e gul f o f obl ivion b u t
fo r t h e ev erl as ting i n famy th a t w ill at tach t o th e w o rs t an d w ick edest
ad m i n istrati on i n ou r n ati o n s an n al s T her e i s p oet ical j ustic e i n h is
fate S uc h b e t h e fate o f a ll wh o sel l t h em sel ves a s t o ol s t o d o i n
fam o us w or k B ut we w ish t o p u t an e n d t o such l oa t h som e spec tacle s
o f wh ite sl avery T h e t r ium ph of our cause w ill b e th e extin ct io n o f
th e p ern icious r ace o f dough fac es O n c e rescu e the G eneral G over n
m en t from th e con t rol of th e slaveh old ing p ow er an d th e ir occup ati o n
i s go n e T hey w ill h ave t o tur n t o s om e other i t i s t o b e h op ed t o
s om e m o r e h o n o rabl e w o rk a co n summ at io n d evo utly to b e w ished
B ut i t i s o f black sl avery I am m a i nly c on cer ned t o spe ak Free
w h i t e l ab o r si de by sid e w i t h sl ave l ab or i s pu t i n a p ositio n o f s ocial
d egradation T h e exten sio n of slavery in to o u r terri tor ies w ill j us t
sh ut o u t t h e h a rdy i n tell igen t en ergeti c freemen o f the N o rth fro m
th ose v ast an d fer til e r egion s lV e w ish th em t o h av e th e chan ce o f
go ing there w ith ou t b ein g pu t i n a p osi tio n o f d isgrac e an d d i s a d va n
t age I t i s th e i r righ t an d m o reove r i t is fo r th e h igh est go o d o f t h e
S t a t es th at a re t o sp r ing u p th ere % i t i s fo r th e weal th an d w el fare
t h e strengt h a n d glo ry o f th e wh ole c ou n try th at th ey sh oul d b e abl e
t h us t o go th er e Fo r sl av ery i n al l places w h ere fre e w h ite l ab o r i s
p oss ibl e is e c on om ic ally a bad an d t h ri ftl ess i n stitu t ion L o ok at V i r
gi n ia S he l ies si d e by sid e w i th P ennsylvan i a E qual i f n o t sup er ior t o
th e l a tte r i n n atural advan tages agric ul tural m i n eral m anufacturing
tim e w as wh e n sh e h ad th e la rgest p opulatio n an d the m os t w ealth
B u t n ow P en n sylvan i a h a s d ouble th e p opulation an d I presum e
m ore t h an d oubl e th e w eal th o f V i rgin ia
W h at earthly reason can b e
assigned fo r th is d i ff er ence ex cep t th at sl ave ry ex ists i n on e S t at e an d
n o t i n th e oth e r Slave ry h a s kep t V i rgin i a compar at ivel y p o o r
T he re are th ose wh o say sh e w o ul d starv e to d eath bu t fo r th e breed
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9
ing an d sale o f sl aves to th e l ow e r S outh th e sal e o f sl aves oft e n th e
fr ui t o f th e l o in s of th ose wh o s el l th em I n 1790 V i rgin i a h ad h al f
a m ill io n of peopl e w h ile O h i o h a d less th an fi ft y th ousan d % i n 18 5 0
V i rgin i a ha d less th an a m illio n an d a hal f al l told an d O h i o n early
two m ill ion s of i n tell igen t freemen I n o th er w o r d s six ty years ago
V irginia h a d m o re th an t e n t im es as m any in h ab itan ts as O hi o % n ow
O h i o has h al f a m il l io n th e m o s t
T he bligh ti ng e ff ec ts o f slavery o n p opul ati on it s n um b ers an d ch a
r a c te r an d o n th e w eal th of a S tat e i s re aso n en o u gh w hy w e d o n o t
w ish it s exten sion E xten d i t in to ou r terr itor ies an d y o u shu t o ut
free lab o re rs esp ec ially o ur agricul tural l ab o rers th e n obl e ye om an ry
wh o w oul d fill t h em w i th p eopl e an d w e al th as they h ave fill ed O h i o
an d o ther S t ates T h i s i s n eith er fai r n o r w i se % an d as lo vers o f fai r
n ess as l ove rs of ou r wh ole co un try l o okin g t o i t s phy sical an d i ts
m oral weal th an d greatn ess i t s h on o r an d gl o ry we m ean by G o d s
b l essin g t o r esis t an d defeat th e plan s of th ose w h o w oul d sur ren der
t o the cu rs e of slavery th os e fai r regi on s o n c e solemnly con secrate d t o
freedom
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A gain : we obj ec t to th e exten sion of sl avery because i t i s the ex
t e n sion o f a n in sti tut i o n that h as sh ow n i tsel f h o stil e t o freed om o f
speech t h e free d om o f th e p ress freed o m t o b ear arm s fre ed o m t o
assem ble freedo m t o p e titi on freed o m of su ff rage freed o m t o l aw fully
co m e a n d g o i n a w ord to n early a ll th e cl earest an d d eares t r igh ts
p ubl ic an d private c iv il an d p ol i t ic al o f p ers on s an d of p r op er ty recog
n i z e d by th e C on stitut i o n a s i n vi ol abl e ri gh t s of all th e ci tiz en s o f th e
Un i te d S tates % h ostile t o th e pl ain es t p r i n cipl es o f l aw an d j ust ic e %
r eady t o pe rver t an d wh en th at can n o t b e d o n e o r s o e asily d o n e t o
tram pl e up o n al l establ is h e d rul es an d fo rm s o f l egisl a tio n an d o f law %
t o in augurate th e im m oral an d dem oral iz in g reign o f vi ol en ce an d
b rut e fo rce % t o u s e all m ean s an d to st ick at n oth i n g % to h ol d n oth in g
sacred th at stan d s i n its w ay
T h i s i s th e p lai n t ruth an d pu t i n th e
fewest th e si m pl est t h e s oftest the l e as t exagger ate d te rm s i n w h ich
t h e t ruth coul d b e adequat ely expressed
T h e full d em o n strat ion o f i t l ies i n th e h ist ory o f sl ave ry aggress i o n
l ies even i n th e h istory o f t h e p ast two y ears of th e las t f e w m o n th s
an d of th e las t few w e ek s
T h e passage of th e % an s as N e braska B il l w a s th e first i n th e recen t
ser ie s of aggr ess i on s I t was th e v i olat io n o f a com p rom is e of m or e
t h an th ir ty year s stan d i n g env i ron e d w it h al l t h e sac red n ess of a
solem n co m pac t T h e S outh had gai n e d u n d er i t al l sh e c o ul d gai n
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10
t he n she b roke i t I t mat t ers n o t to say i t w a s b ro ug h t fo rwar d by a
n o r ther n s enato r % e was a n d is als o a s o uthe r n sl aveh ol der ac t
i ng i n the i n t erest o f slav ery e x tens ion T he S o uth sto o d by hi m %
e xecu t ive i n fl uence st oo d by h im an d e n oug h of de m ocrat ic n o rth er n
d oughfaces s to o d by h i m t o accom plish th e ac t I t was accom pl is h ed
by a s udde n spr inging o f the m easure i n :1 C ongre ss elected w it h n o
s uc h issue i n v iew b u t w i t h ev e ry reaso n a n d r igh t to b e lieve that n o
ques ti o n touc h ing sl a ve ry w oul d b e a llowed t o c ome up I t was
acc o m pl ishe d i n c o n temp tuous d isregard o f thousan ds of r e m o n s tr a n
w ith n o t a
0 05 a n d p ro t ests p our e d i n to C ongress fro m t he N o rth
s ingl e petit io n i n i t s favo r fro m any par t o f t h e U n i on an d i n i n solen t
der isi o n of th e w ell k n own feel i ngs of th e i m m en se m aj or ity of th e
n a tio n I t was accom pl ish e d by d esp otism a n d a t rick by tram pling
o n t h e establ ishe d i m mem or ial r ules o f legisl at io n u nde r wh ich the
m in or ity r ightfull y s ough t t o d elay the quest io n u n t il the great sen se
of th e n at io n c oul d b e te st e d by an o th e r C on gre ss c h o sen w i th r efer
en ce t o t he i ss u e I t was acc o m pl ished T h e th ing was wr o ng % an d
t he way i n w h ich i t w a s d o n e was wr on g
B u t i t wa s a grea t m istak e o n th e p ar t of th e S o uth to let th e th ing
“
b e d o ne a t all I t was wh at Talleyran d w ould c al l wors e th an a
c r i m e % i t was a blu n d e r
G reat as was th e c r im e th e bl un d er was
g re ater I t aro used a t th e N o rth a fe el ing t hat wil l n ever rest un t i l
a s top is p u t t o th e aggress io n s of the sl av e h oldi ng powe r T he d ay
for c om pro m i se s i s p as t T he F ree S tates w ill fo r eve r h o n o r th e
n am es o f % un t o f B ell of % o us to n wh o r e siste d t h e m easure 0 if
t h e w hole S outh h a d st o o d up l i k e t he m agains t th is v iol a ti o n o f h on o r
an d go o d faith
Wh at a golden chai n o f un ity w oul d th i s day h ave
”
“
b ou n d t he N o r th and S outh w h ic h n o fan at ic ism n o r th er n o r
s outh er n c oul d b rea k o r d i m B ut c onfid enc e i n so uther n h o n o r an d
go o d fai th wh ere t h e i ntere sts of slavery ar e co nc ern ed i s gon e T he
i rr e tr ievabl e blunder has b ee n c o m m itted I say i rretr ievabl e % b ut I
o ugh t n o t p erh aps t o say i t is y e t absol u tely i rretr ievabl e I t i s n o t
yet t o o l ate for t h e S o ut h t o un i t e w ith th e N or th i n repai r in g th e
w rong B u t I h av e n o h e p e fo r s uc h a th ing
T h is fatal act th e r epeal of th e M issour i C ompr o m ise was th e
p rel ude to al l t ha t has s in ce ensued T h e atro c ities c om m itted i n
I t w o ul d tak e v ol um es Y o u kn ow th em
% an sas I can n o t rec o un t
T h ey are b efo re y ou i n a u th e n t i c fo rm : the i n vas io n o f th e territo ry
by armed r u fii a n s fro m M issour i the seizure of t h e p olls th e
v iolenc e the t h re ats of death th e stro ng arm ed h an d by w h ic h th e
m aj o r ity of legal v oters w ere ov erb orn e th e el ectio n carrie d by n ear
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11
t housan d M isso ur ia n v o tes — the o rga n i z at io n o f th e u surp ed leg is
l a t ive p owe r the tyran n ic al an d cruel la w s r epugn an t t o th e C o n s ti
t u ti o n of th e Un ited S tate s a n d v io lating ev ery h um an r igh t l aw s
u np arallele d fo r w ic ked n ess i n th e an nals o f th e wo rld the b est m e n
o f th e co un try th ro w n i n t o p riso n fo r p re te nd e d o fl e n c e s o r h u n ted
o ut of t he 1an d — th e aven ue s t o th e terr ito ry s e i z ed an d peaceable i m
m igran ts stoppe d a n d pl u nd ere d an d c om pelled to tur n b ack t he
wh ol e c oun try devastated by arme d m araude rs h o uses an d town s
sack ed a n d b u r n e d m en h u n ted an d h arri e d an d b oun d an d m urder
w o m e n p l un dere d a n d ab use d an d a ll t h ese e n or m ities d irec ted
e d
o r c on n ived at by th e P res id en t of th e U n i ted S tates i
T he studen t of h istory i n future ages w ill read n o bl acker p age than
that w h i c h co n tain s th e r eco r d of th e scen es i n % an sas T hey c a n n o t
i ndeed b e ad e q uately p o rtrayed % b ut e n ough w ill go d ow n t o fu tur e
t im es t o m o ve th e in d ign at i o n o f a ll j u st m en If i ndeed th e wor d s
that h av e b ee n s ai d an d th e deeds that h ave b ee n d o n e th er e i n the
i n terest o f sl avery e xten si o n c oul d b e ste n ograph e d an d h el iograph e d
e xactly as t h ey were sai d an d do n e t o t h e eye o f futur e gen era tio ns
n o l anguage i s c ap ab l e of exp ress ing th e l oath in g an d ab h o rre n ce i n
wh ic h th e p e rp etrato rs an d ab etto rs o f th o se h o rr ible atro c i ties would
b e h el d by all go o d men fro m o n e s id e o f t he gl ob e t o th e o the r
B u t wh i le fro m the plain s o f % an sas c o m es th e sto ry o f th ose
t h o usan d fo ld h orro rs w e h av e fr o m th e C ap i to l an o ther p regn an t
p ro of of th e sa m e v iole n t a n d b r u tal S p i r it o f sl ave ry e x ten sio n
In
th e S e n ate h o use th e C ha m b er o f t he m ost august b ody o f th e n atio n
a m e m b e r of that b ody b usy at h is d esk un s usp icio us o f i n ten d ed
h arm u np repared c on fi n e d by h i s seat i s str ick e n d o w n by a m em b er
o f th e o ther % o use by a bl udge o n strok e u po n h i s un pro tecte d h ead
an d r e ndere d sen sel ess by n u mer o us rep e a te d bl ows i n fl ic ted w ith
savage v iol en ce an d c o ntin ued u n til th e assa il an t w as a t l engt h to rn
fro m his v ic tim T he n ature o f th e weap o n th e m an ne r of th e attack
t h e v iol e nc e an d th e pers is tency o f th e assaul t all th e c ir c um stan c e s
o f th e c ase m ark th e act n o t o nly as cowardly an d brutal b ut e qually
m ur der o us i n its c h a r a c te r i f n o t i n i ts i n ten t ion as i t w as del ib er ately
p lan n ed
B ut it i s n o t m erely th a t t h e pers o n o f M r S U M N E R w a s b rutal ly
o utrage d h is l ife en da n ge red an d h is gr eat fa c ul t ies i f l ife b e
i t i s t o b e feared i m paired fo r th e rest o f h is d ays % i t i s n o t
S pared
m erely tha t th e d ign ity o f th e s overeign s ta te o f M assachusetts h as
b een o utrage d i n the pe rso n o f her s en ato r an d h er r igh t t o h er
s e n ato r s vo ice a n d vo te t ake n fro m her a t th is great cr isis % i t i s th at
f our
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12
th e m aj esty o f th e natio n h as bee n o utraged a great c on stitu ti on al
p rin cipl e t ram pl ed o n a p r i ncipl e as im p or tan t at l east an d m o r e
sac red than th e p rincipl e i nvol ved i n th e two p en ny tax o n tea an d
M a s s a c hu
s i x pen ny tax o n stam p s th a t awok e th e sp i ri t of 17 76
setts is m y n ativ e S tate S en a to r S um n er i s my fri e n d of twe n ty
y ears B u t I d o n o t S peak thus s tron gly o n th at acc oun t I f h e
h im self had p erpetrate d a l ik e o utrage o n a sen ator fr om S ou t h
C ar ol in a I sh o u l d ch arac ter i z e h i s ac t i n th e sam e stron g term s as I
h ave th e ac t of M r B ro ok s
T h e ac t was as u tterly w ith ou t excuse as i t was cowardly an d ruf
M r S um n e r s r eply
fia n ly T h e pre tex t all ege d was fl im sy an d fal se
t o a ser ies of w an ton irr itating an d i n m any in s tan ces u n pa r li a m e n t a
p
ersonal
attack
s
fr
om
h
i
s
fell
ow
sen
at
or
s
w
as
p
erf
e
ctly
parl
ia
r
y
m en tary S om e m ay d oub t wh eth er i t wer e w i se o r i n go o d t aste I
am s o rry h e d id n o t r eply to th e i n sul ts h e r ec eived i n t h e t on e an d
term s o f ser en e go od n ature d con temp t % bu t h e sai d n o th in g th a t h e
I d o n o t b el ieve th ere i s a m an
h a d n o t a parl iam en tary righ t to say
of sen se i n th e coun try of c o m pet en t ac q u ai n t an c e w i th th e r ule s o f
parl iam en tary deb ate that th ink s o th erw is e
B u t even i f i t w e re
o th erwise the ac t o f M r B ro ok s was n on e th e l ess a d el iberate da s
% i s n am e w ill go d ow n t o p ost er i ty as a
t a r d ly assas sin l ik e act
syn onym fo r wh atever i s c owardly an d b rutal an d m u rder ous i n th e
”
m an n e r o f tak ing sati sfac t i o n fo r alleged i n sul t Y e t th e S outh
uph ol d h im C o m pl im ents an d h o n o rs p resen ts of can es an d t ok en s
o f favo r add resses a n d r esolu tion s fr o m p ubl ic m eetings h ave bee n
sh owe re d up o n h i m an d th r ough out th e S o u th w i th a s ol i tary e x c e p
t ion I b el ieve t h e w h ole p ress h as j us ti fi ed o r appl au ded h i s c ou rs e
an d so m e of th em have i nvoke d th e p erp etr at io n of s im ilar outrages
u p on M r S ewar d an d o the r em i n en t m em b ers o f C on gress ob n ox i o us
t o th e sl aveh ol d in g p ow e r % an d this i s th e las t pr o of I sh all allege o f
th e truth o f w ha t I h ave sai d resp ecting t h e h ostil i ty o f th e sp ir i t of
sl avery e x ten sio n t o fre ed o m of sp eech an d to o ur cl eares t a n d dear est
righ ts an d o f i ts d em oral i z i n g an d brutal i z ing ten den ci es
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,
S i n ce t h e abo v e w a s s po k e n , t h e r e s olu t i o n t o expel Mr B r oo k s fr o m t h e
% ou s e of R ep r e s e n t a ti v e s , r epo r t ed b y t h e % o mm i t t ee ch a r g ed w i t h t h e i n ve s
t i g a t i o n o f t h e a ff a i r , ha s bee n lo s t f o r w a n t o f t h e % o ns ti t u ti o n al m ajo r i t y of
tw o t h i rd s
T h e f a i r fam e of t h e n a t i o n s t a n d s t h e r e f o r e t a rn i s hed be f o r e th e
w o r ld
T h e o n l y co ns ola t i o n i s , t ha t a la r g e m ajo r i t y v o t ed f o r t h e r e s olu ti o n
t o expel
M r B r oo k s t h e r eupo n r e s i g n ed h i s s ea t a n d s ol i c i t ed a r e e l ec t i o n
fr o m h i s co n s t i t ue n ts o n t h e s ol e g r ou n d of h i s he r o i c expl o i t i n a ss aul ti n g
S e na t o r S us a n a
% e h a s bee n u n a n i m ou s l y r e e lec t ed , h a s r e t u r n ed a n d t a k e n
h i s s ea t a g a i n A ll t h i s o n l y g oe s t o g i v e added ju s ti fica t i o n t o w h a t I ha v e
’
r
B
sa i d M r oo k s r e e lec t i o n , u n de r t h e c i r c u m s t a n ce s , I do n o t sc r u ple t o cal l
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13
B
i t i s sai d i n j us ti fi c atio n o r excuse that n o rther n O pp osi tio n t o
slavery e xtensio n (c on ven i en tly s tyled ab ol it i on ism % h as i tsel f t o
th an k fo r these atroc ities
N o doub t i f th e N o r th h ad w i th o ut
m u rm ur o r r es is tance p erm it te d th e S ou th t o have i ts way these
b r utal an d w ick ed scen es w oul d n ever h ave o ccurred A ll w o ul d
h ave gon e o n i n s wee t peace B ut wh at i s th i s i n pr i n c iple
% h at
b u t t o c on secr at e t h e burgl ar s o r h igh waym an s trade w h o s ay s with
a p ist o l at y ou r b reast m a k e n o r esistan c e an d n o c ry o r de ath i s
”
3
y our i nstan t fate
S o i ndeed the h orro rs o f o ur R evol utio n ary % a r
woul d h ave been av o id ed h ad o ur fore f a thers o ff ered n o resi st ance t o
B r itish u surp atio n % h at i s th i s but t o j ustify th e m u rder i f yo u d o
n o t sub m i t t o th e r obb ery
I am n o t s o m u c h surp r ised a t th is pl e a
c o m in g fro m th e S outh I t i s a w ay of feel i n g that n aturally an d
always sp rings up i n th e r elatio n s betwee n a s u p er io r an d a d egrad e d
race b etwee n th e l o rd an d th e sl ave T h e in stin ct o f sel f preservat io n
pr om p ts th e m t o o verb ear all opp ositi o n t o th ei r ow n w ill t o pun ish
terr ibly al l r esistan c e t o tol erate n eith er m ur mu r o r r em o nstran c e
B u t t h at suc h a pl e a sh oul d ever b e p u t fo r th by anyb ody a t th e
N o r th i n j usti fi cat io n o r i n e x cuse fo r at ro c ities th e r ec i tal o f wh ic h
m ak e s th e bl o o d curd l e w i th h o rr or % th at th e i m m e n se m a j or i ty of
th e p e opl e o f th e N o r th sh oul d b e repro ach e d fo r th os e atroc ities by
anyb o dy am o n g us % th is I c on fess e xcit es my su rpr i se an d som e
o th er feel i n gs h ar d t o b e r ep ressed b u t scarcely p oss ibl e t o b e ade
I
fo
r
on
e
am
w
ill
i
n g t o shar e w ith y ou
S
ir
u a t e ly e x pr essed
q
w ith yo u Gen tl em en a ll th e obl o q uy o f resi stin g th e furth er exten si o n
o f sl avery al l th e r esp on sib il ity wh ich i n th e great j udgm en t o f God
m ay atta c h t o us fo r th e cr ime s wh ich th at r es istan ce m ay p ro vok e
”
“
L i e d ow n d e g th at I m ay p ass ov er thy b ody sai d the feudal
B aro n m eetin g th e % e w at th e fearful pass overh an gi n g th e p recip i ce
”
wh e re tw o p erson s coul d fi n d n o fo oting
l i e d own d og
\V e can
n o t l ie d own th ere i s m o re a t s tak e th an o ur p oo r l ives Go d sh iel d
t h e righ t
ut
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O
c e m or e w e obj ec t t o th e exten sio n o f sl ave ry on m or al groun ds
I t i s n o t n ecessary t o go i n to any d iscussi o n of th e ab s tract r igh tful
L ogical d eduction s fro m m e ta phy s i
n c s s o r wr ongful n es s o f slavery
n
.
.
i n dece n c y a n d a n i nsul t o n t h e pa r t of h i s co n st i t ue n t s t o t h e % ou se a n d t h e
N at i on
B u t t h e % o n s t i t u t i o n p r o v i de s n o m ea ns b y w h i c h % o n g r e ss a n d th e
n a t i o n c a n be p r o t ec t ed fr o m suc h a n i nsul t b y s uch a n elec t o r al d i s t r i c t I t
w e r e w el l i t d i d
M r B r oo k s h a s r ece i v ed t h e fo rm al app r oba t i o n of h i s c o n
s ti t u e n t s , bu t t h i s w i l l n o t i n t h e l e a s t exe m p t h i s co n duc t a n d t h e i rs fr o m t h e
c o n t e m p t a n d r ep r ob at i o n of a ll ju st a n d ho n o r abl e m e n t h ro u g h out th e c i v i l i z e d
an
,
.
.
.
d
w o rl
.
.
14
c al p r i n c i ple s o f ab s ol ute righ t w h en c ar r ie d r ecklessly o ut i n pr a c t i
cal appl ica ti o n t o g re at s o c i a l q u estion s ar e ofte n ve ry ab su r d a n d
m isc hi evo us an d o n n o qu estio n m ore m i s c h iev ous t h an o n th is o f
slavery t eth e r th e a bs tra c t q uesti o n o f righ t o r w rong i n regar d
t o i t b e o r b e n o t d e ter m in abl e by a ny abs ol u te d em on stratio n i t i s
n o t n e c ess a ry fo r u s to d e cid e i t i n o rd e r t o j ustify ou r m oral r e pu g
n an ce t o i ts ex ten s i on I t i s q uite en o ugh t o say th at i t i s a n i n s t i tu
t i o n n o t gro un ded i n n atu ral j ustic e i n any gen eral theory of h u m an
r igh ts th a t wh ereve r i t e x is ts i t can b e j usti fi ed i f a t al l only a s a n
ab n o rm a l a n d excepti o n al s tate o f soc iety an d that i t inevitably en tails
a l arge tr a i n o f soc ial an d m oral ev ils I t i s n o t n ecessary t o den o u n ce
i ts ex is te n c e o r its p rovi s ional con t inuan c e i n t h e S tates wher e i t n o w
i s as a s i n a n d cr i m e I t i s th ere as an i n st itution for w h ose est ab
li s h m e n t th e presen t p eop le of th e S outh a re n t r esp on sibl e
A large
m ass o f p erso n s of a d i if e r e n t and a n i n ferio r rac e ign oran t an d de
graded are am o n g them wh o m th e laws a n d custom s of m any gen e ra
t ion s h ave s u bj ec ted t o a certai n exten t t o th e d isposal an d co n t ro l
o f the s u per io r rac e S o n u m ero us i s th i s cl ass i n m any of t he S tates
espec ial ly tha t i t m ay b e n o o th er rel at i o n i s p ossibl e o r s afe c o m
p at ibl e w i th social o rd er or th e w el fa re of b o th classes A ny sal utary
m od i fi cat io n o f th e exist ing r elati o n , m us t b e th e w ork of ti m e I m
m ed iate eman c ipatio n woul d b e a c urse t o th e S o uth an d n o m er c y t o
th e slaves S o I th ink an d s o I h ave elsewher e s aid I am n o t go ing
to pass any swe ep ing co n de mn atio n up o n th e S o uth er n S lave h older
A s th i ngs n o w are i t m ay b e q ui te righ t fo r h i m t o h ol d Sl aves I t
i s i n d e ed h is d uty to h ol d th e m as h uman beings c on sul ting thei r wel
fare a n d n o t mer ely h is ow n adv a ntage t o ab stain fro m abus in g h i s
p owe r an d t o p r even t an d m itigate as far as h e can th e h ardsh ip s an d
e vil s i nev it a bly i n ciden t t o suc h a r el a tio n B ut t hus h o ld in g t h em
i t m ay b e n o t o nly h is righ t b ut h is d uty to exerc ise th at c on tr o l an d
d i S po s a l o f the i r p ers on s an d l ab o r wh i c h th e la w s ves t i n h im
A ll th is m ay b e true an d i t m ay also b e tr ue t h at th e r e ar e m an y
red ee m i ng p o in ts ab o u t th e in sti tutio n i n i ts ac tual work in g at th e
S o uth m any b righ t aspects m any ben e fi ts t o th e sl av e as w el l as to
h is m aster B ut a t the sam e t im e i t i s n on e th e l ess t ru e t hat th e
ev ils are s uc h an d s o gre at a s sh o ul d fo rever preven t i ts exten s io n i n to
l an d s w h ere it d oes n o t n o w e x is t
T h e t rue n o rm al s tate of s ociety i s that i n w h ich th e p opulati o n i s
h o moge n eo us w h er e a ll ar e i ntell igen t en ough an d m o r a lly el eva ted
e n ough t o b e safely t ruste d w ith th e d i sp osal of th ei r pe rson s an d
l ab o r S uc h a stat e of soc iety w h er ever i t is p os sible we are s ure i s
,
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15
so c ially an d m o rally (as w el l as eco no m ically %th e b est I t s q uares
b est w i th o u r i deas o f n atural j ustic e w ith o u r ideas o f th e m ost d esi
r abl e civil i z atio n th e c iv ili z ati o n spr ingin g fr o m the ful lest d evelop
m en t o f th e ge n iu s an d S p ir i t o f th e C h risti an R el ig io n
I t i s m ost
favo rable t o th e c om fo r t an d h appiness th e p eace an d o rder th e v irtu e
an d p uri ty o f al l th e m emb er s of a c o m m onweal th S l avery o n th e
o ther h an d is rep u gn an t t o th e tru e id e a o f a n o rm al so cial state I t
i s n o t b ased i n n atur a l j ustice I t i s ex c ep tion al i n any gen eral th eo ry
o f h um a n r igh ts I t im pl ie s a s tate o f soc iety i n wh ic h th e re m us t b e
a l arge cl ass o f h u m an beings t o o igno ran t a n d d egrade d t o b e s afe ly
trust e d w ith th e dispo s a l o f th em selves % fo r o th erwise th e i n st itu t io n
has n o m o r a l basi s at all % n o basis but th e m ere im m oral right of th e
s tronges t a righ t wh i ch w e at th e N o rth sh all n eve r c o n sen t t o c o n
secrate by th e n eedless exten s i on of slavery i n to terri to r ie s where i t
d oes n o t n o w e xi st T ak e slavery int o our ter r ito ries an d yo u m ust
h ave th ere large m asses o f hum an being s of an inferi o r race n o t o nly
ign oran t an d d egrad ed b ut yo u m ust k e ep the m ign o ran t an d degraded
y o u m u st k eep th e m to o ign o ran t an d d egraded fo r self d isp osal an d
sel f con t rol S l avery n e c essitate s th e e te rn al perp e tuation of h um a n
ign o r an c e a n d d egrad ati on N ow we say i t i s w ron g t o go about n eed
l e ssly fo r any e nd of sel fi sh adv a n tage t o c reate suc h a soc ial state
Sl a ve ry t o o i n ev it a bly e n tail s a great tr ai n o f social an d m oral ev ils
n o t m erely h ar dsh ip s an d cruel t ies fro m th e ab use of p ower b ut
p ecul iar so urc es of v ice an d c orrup tio n wh ic h eat in to th e very cor e
o f th e so c ial stat e
T o co n sen t th en to t h e e xten sio n o f sl avery i s i n ou r v ie w w ron g
L e t the S o uth k e ep the ir in stitution wh e re i t is i f th ey ch o os e I t i s
po ssibly th e b est th ing th ey c an d o eithe r n o w o r fo r a l ong t im e t o c om e %
b u t i t i s a bad stat e o f th ings at t he be s t an d w e h e p e t h ey m ay i n
t im e fi n d a w ay t o be r i d o f i t an d b e d isp osed t o adopt i t B ut t o
ex ten d i t that i s an o th er th in g T h e wh ole m oral sense o f th e N o rth
i s a gain s t i t
Th ese ar e th e r eason s reason s th at w e d ee m so un d an d s u ffi c i e n t
w hy w e go fo r th e r escuing th e Fede ral G overn m en t fro m b eing any
l onge r th e in strum en t fo r th e exten sio n o f slavery an d fo r putt in g a n
en d t o th e a ggressio n s o f th e S o u th S o m uch fo r what w e wan t an d
w hy we wa n t it
'
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A n d n ow w h a t w il l c om e o f i t if w e fail o f s uccess i n our gr eat
m ov em en t %
T h is w ill co m e o f i t
T h e F e deral G ove rn m en t w ill con tin u e to b e
.
16
w h a t i t h as for s o m a ny y e a rs b een th e t ool o f th e slaveh ol d in g
p owe r T h e g r e a t w r o ng d o ne by the r e p e a l o f t he M iss o u ri C om p r o
m i se w ill g o u n r e d r e ss e d a n d i rrepa r a ble % a n s a s w ill b e l o st t o
F r e e d o m T h e tri u m ph o f s u c c essfu l w i c k e d n e ss w ill b e c o m pl e te
T h e gr e a t c rim es t h e fr au d s t h e bl o o dy a t roc i t ies per p e t r a t e d th ere
T h e d em o r a l i z ing r e ig n
w ill g o n o t o n ly u n r e d r e ss e d b u t sustain e d
o f b r u te v i o l e n c e in a u g u r a t e d a t th e C a p itol an d u ph e l d a n d gl o ri fi e d
by th e S o u th w ill b e e s t a bl ish ed and c o nsec r a te d I n sh o r t o u r fa il
u r e w ill b e t h e trium ph o f th e p o l i c y o f sl a very e x ten s io n en t a i ling
u p o n u s al l t h e ev il s p ol iti ca l ec o nom i c a l s o c i a l a n d m o ral th a t I
h ave p o r t r a yed
T h e subj ugati o n of % an s a s w il l b e o n ly t h e b eg in n i ng of a l ong
ser ies o f aggression s T he l e pe a l o f t h e M iss o uri C o m pro m i se has
O pen ed t o slave ry a t e rr ito ry l a rger t h an a ll th e old T h i rte e n S t ate s
t og e t h e r T h e plan s o f t h e slav e h ol d ing p owe r em br a c e th e a c qu isi
t i o n o f i t all N e b r a sk a O reg o n o n e h a lf o f C a l ifo r n i a T h ey e m
b rac e t o o th e c arv ing pe rh a ps of fo u r o r fi ve S tates o u t o f T e x a s t o
sw el l t h e slav ery m a j o rity i n t h e S enate T h ey embrac e th e absorp t io n
o f th e r est o f M ex ic o an d of C e n t r a l A m eri c a th e a c q u is i t i o n by
fair m ean s o r fo ul o f C u b a a n d fi n a lly a ll ian ce w ith B r a z il fo r th e
r e O p en ing of th e A fr i c an Sl a ve T rade an d s o t h e establ ish m en t o f
t h e em p ire of sl avery from i t s p r es e n t n o rth er n m ost l in e t o th e
sou th e rn most p o i n t of t h e A m e ri c a n C o n tin en t Th ese a re i ts pl an s
gigant ic i nd eed b ut w el l c o nsidered f i rmly r esol ved T hey a re n o t
i dle v is io n s o f alarm ed n o r th er n i magin a t i o n I f I h ad t i me I c o ul d
b ring y o u am ple p r o o f fr o m t h e le a d ing o rg a n s o f slav e r y p r o pa gan d
i sm M o re th a n t w o y ears a g o th e p r oj e c t o f g e t tin g p ossessi o n o f
C ub a to secure the co m m a n d o f th e G ulf o f M e x ic o a n d o f a l l i a n c e
w ith B r a z il t o r eviv e t h e A fr i c an S l a v e T r a d e w a s O pe nly a vowed
s a id t h e C h a rles to n S t a n d a r d i s t h e S la ve
T h e t e a m : of S la ve r y
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d i fs
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lve s %
hli s h m
mz
l w i z hi
n
th i s
Un i o n
,
th e C harlest o n Ill e r c u r y
an d t h e R ich m on d E x a m i n e r d e c l a red th emsel ve s d ist i n ctly t o th e
s am e e fi e c t S O m u c h i n t h e w a y o f south e rn pl an s of sl avery e x te n
s io n
A n d as t o aggres si o n s o n th e F ree S tate s l e t u s n o t fondly h ug th e
d el u sive n o tio n that we h ave h a d th e l a st of th em I n 18 5 0 w e at t h e
N o r t h co n s e nted t o t h e p a ssage o f a la w by w h i c h th e d uty o f c a rry
in g i n t o e ffec t the C on s t i t u t i o n a l provi si o n for th e del ivery of fu git ive
sl av e s w as i mp osed u p o n t h e F eder al G overn m en t
th o u gh t i n
deed i t was p ressed by t h e S ou th l ess fo r its m ateri a l adv antage t han
or
we w
re
e sta
o ur se
A
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18
fi nal tri umph o f th e S outh “ h a t a spe c tacl e w ill o u r n ati o n th en
p resen t t o th e asto n ish ed wo rld \V ha t a spe c tacl e o f rat ion al free
d om of a great ch ri s ti a n c ivil i z a tio n % If s u c h i s t o be t h e issue % if
th e p ol icy of slavery ex ten si o n is t o b e m ain t a in e d an d t o t r i u m ph
an d al l th e w rongs a n d evil s i n evi tably b oun d up w i th i t en t a iled upo n
u s an d upo n ou r c h ild ren % i f th e C on sti tutio n i n i ts l egi t imate c on
s truc ti on i n i ts w h ol e S pi ri t an d i n ten ti o n i s t o b e o verb orn e an d
n o thing left bu t i t s letter an d fo rm an d t h a t an in s trum en t o f v i o l en c e
an d w r ong fo r th e p r ostra ti on o f o u r d e a res t rights an d th e p rev e n
t i o n of the n o bles t pr ogress th e true wel fa re an d gl o ry o f th e n a ti o n %
I fo r o n e say frankl y I h av e n o i ntere s t i n th e m ain ten an c e o f th e C o n
L e t th e C on st itut io n
s ti tu t i o n a n d i n th e prese rva ti o n o f th e U n ion
go i n i ts for m an d l e tter wh e n i ts sp ir i t an d essen c e ar e gon e L e t
t h e U n io n go wh en i t b ecom es o nly a Un i on fo r wr on g an d evil
'
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B u t w e w ish t o s a ve th e C on st i tution
w i sh t o b r ing b ack th e
gover n m en t t o i ts ol d t rue c on st i tu t ion a l groun d \V e w i sh i n th i s
w ay t o sav e the U n i o n an d t o m a k e i t w orth th e sav ing T h e great
h ear t of t h e N o r th c l ings t o the Un i on i f i t can by any possib il i t y b e
k ep t w or th p rese rv ing T h is i s th e sec re t of h e r s o m any con cess ion s
t h us far t o sl av ery a ggress i on B ut n ow w e h ave a d i fi e r e n t n o t io n o f
th e true w ay o f sav ing t h e U n i on fro m t h at wh i c h has h ith e rto p re
vailed at th e N or th T o y iel d t o every d em an d of th e slaveh old i n g
p ow er is n o l on ger reg a rded a s th e way t o sav e th e Un ion T he t ru e
way t o sav e th e U n i on a s w e n o w u nderstan d i t i s to p u t a st op t o
slavery agitat i on by puttin g a s t e p to sl avery e xten sion % by m a in ta i n
i n g t h e C on st i t u ti on i n i ts c l ear l egi t imate i n ter p re tati o n as t h e par a
m o u n t l a w o f th e n a t io n T h is w ill sav e t he Un i on an d m ak e i t w o rt h
sav in g % an d i n th is w a y w e m e a n t o t ry to save i t
B ut i t i s sai d th at o u r t rium ph i n th e p resen t cr isis w il l be t h e s ign a l
fo r t h e d issol uti o n of th e Un i o n f o r th a t t h e S o uth w il l n ev e r s u b
m i t even t o t h e electi o n o f M r F rem on t fo r P resi d en t A m o r e
ab su rd u ttera n c e w as n eve r m ad e an d I a m surp ri sed (m o re surp ri se d
even th an grieved % th a t i t sh o ul d h ave c o m e fro m o n e w h o h a s bee n
P r es id en t of th e U n i t e d S ta t es a n d i s n o w a c a n d id ate fo r t h a t grea t
o ffi ce I t m ay h ave b een m ad e as a b id fo r S ou th ern v o tes % b ut i t
w ill l os e h i m m or e v otes at th e N o r th tha n h e w ill g a i n a t th e S outh
B ut it i s u n tr u e B e n o t al arme d
n o r are w e b oun d t o gr ieve fo r th a t
T h e S outh h as h eard t he p r e ph e t i c th re a t m ad e i n t heir b e half i n bl an k
sil en ce w i th n o r esp o n se I t is n o t true T im e was when th e th re a t
of s ecessio n w as a p oten t b r a g T h en th e S outh used i t T h at t im e
.
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19
h as p assed away n eve r t o r e turn I t h as l os t al l its ter ro r for th e
N or th an d th e S outh k n ows i t h a s an d ceases t o u s e i t I t was n ever
I th ink anyth ing b u t a b rag
S ecessio n is a luxury the S outh can n o t
a ff o rd t o i ndul ge i n T h e Un io n i s th e very buttress o f south er n
sl avery T h e S ou th n eed s th e Un io n m ore th an w e d o S h e k n ows th at
w e n ow k n ow i t % an d wh atever th reats a few h o t h ead e d b raggarts m ay
h av e uttered t h e w ise m e n of th e S outh are t o o sagac iou s t o d ream o f
secessi o n fo r a lon g t im e t o c om e a t leas t T hey w an t th e U n io n fo r
th ei r p res en t secur i ty % a n d for th e extension o f sl avery N o d oub t th er e
ar e far seein g m e n a t th e S o uth wh ose v iews emb race th e p ol icy o f
u sin g th e U n io n as t h e mean s o f r eal i z ing the gigan tic pl an s I h ave
sketch ed % a n d then w h e n th ey m ay b e stro n g en ough t o stan d w ith o u t
th e U n io n t o l et th e Un i o n g o i f the F ree S tates r efus e t o be thei r
subserv i en t t o ol s % otherwis e o f c ourse n ever B ut th e r eal i z atio n o f
these plan s i s a l ong w a y i n th e future A n d m ean t im e th ey h ave n o
th ough t o f dissolv ing th e U n io n M r F ill m o re says t he S out h wil l
n o t subm i t t o y our success i n th e com in g el ec tion I th ink sh e w ill
Y o u pr e po se n o t h ing u n c o n
sub m i t to th at an d to a gre at deal m or e
s t i t u t i o n a l n o th in g th at con fl icts w i th h e r consti tut ional righ ts
You
p r e p os e t o l eave h er i n ful l p o ssess io n o f every c o n stitut i on al r igh t
sh e h as S he i s w el l aware of th e n ec essity o f pu tt ing up w it h h al f a
l oaf w hen sh e cann o t get th e wh ole I h ave n o d oub t th at i n o n e way
o r th e other w ith a go o d grace o r w i th a bad grac e sh e wil l subm it
Let u s the n to t h e great w ork b efo re u s By al l t h at i s sac re d an d
dear t o th e h ear t o f t h e p a tr i o t by ou r l ove fo r ou r c oun try h er w el
far e an d h er gl o ry % by our l ov e for t h e caus e of c ivil i z at i o n an d
h um an p rogress le t u s to th e w o rk A n d m ay th at G o d w h ose P r ov i
den ce i s t h e G en ius of % um an % istory bl ess th e r igh te o us c ause
an d c rown o ur e ff orts w ith success I t is a caus e that so on e r o r later
if n o t n ow w il l surely trium ph T h e great m o ral sense o f th e n ation
the m oral sen s e of th e c ivil i z e d w orl d i s w ith u s T h is is an el em en t
o f p rod igiou s p owe r m o ral p o we r th e gre ates t i n th e l o n g run th e
m o s t un c on querabl e of al l p ower % e h av e i t our opp on en t s lack i t
an d k n ow an d feel th e lack o f i t I n sh ort God an d t h e Gr eat A ges
a r e o n ou r s id e an d t h e fi nal tr i u m p h o f our c a us e i s sure
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20
O
N
T % E
T E
O F
AT
T % R E
.
%
IS
UN
IO
N
.
’
I h ave said ab ov e th at M r F illm ore s p roph et ic th rea t has foun d n o
resp on s e a t th e S o uth T hi s w as t ru e at th e t im e I sai d s o B ut
si n ce the fi rs t e d i t io n o f m y r em ark s w as pub l ish e d th e p ol icy of
e ch oin g th e cry o f d isun i o n has b ee n t aken u p at t he S outh a n d by
h aran gue rs a t th e N o r th I t i s taken u p fo r p ol i t ical e ff ect w i th ou t
any faith i n i ts t r u th as I th ink I t m ay p ossibly h ave som eth in g o f
t h e i n ten d e d e ff ec t upo n ill i nformed t im id sel fi sh a n d m ean sp i ri te d
p ers on s B u t i t i s n on e th e l ess th e m ost fo ol ish o f al l fo ol is h p red ic
t ion s % an d tho se w h o m ak e i t d eserv e t o b e b randed a s t raito rs
T h e n ot io n o f th e d issol uti o n of th e U n i o n as a con se q uen ce o f t h e
elec ti o n o f M r F re m o n t o r o f any th ing t h at w ill en sue u nder h is
adm in istratio n o f t h e g overn m en t i s sup rem ely ab surd A w a r li k e
a tt e m p t a t s e c e ss i o n w o u ld r u i n th e S o u t h
a n d a p e a c ef u l s e ce ss i o n
if i t c o u ld be a c c o m p li sh e d w o u ld be n o le ss r u i n o u s
e ve n
The
i t w o u ld % a n d w o u ld n o t if i t
S o u th c a n n o t d i s so lve th e Un i o n
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-
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co u ld
.
B u t even i f i t were o th erwise i s th er e a m an a t th e N o rth s o b as e
as t o su c cum b t o su ch a th re at t o b e deterred by i t fr om v otin g fo r
th e m a n of h is ch o ice % L et u s stan d fo r t h e righ t w h atever c om es
T h e resp on sib il i ty fo r th e c on se q uen ces b el ongs t o th o se wh o u tte r th e
th reat B e t t e r n o Un i o n th a n th e s u bju g a ti o n of t h e Fr e e S t a te s t o
be m e r e t o o ls f o r t h e e x te n s i o n of s la ve r y a n d th e p e rpetu a l d om in atio n
o f an o ligarchy l ik e th at r ep resen te d by P resto n S B ro oks
,
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N
e w
YO
R%
,
O
ctober
4, 18 5 6
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