Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 17.djvu/145

 Life, Services arid Character of Jefferson Davis, 137

of 1787 was ordained the institution still existed in every one of the thirteen States, save Massachusetts only. True, its decay had begun where it was no longer profitable, but every State united in its recog- nition in the Federal compact, and the very fabric of our represen- tative government was built upon it, as three fifths of the slaves were counted in the basis of representation in the Congress of the United States, and property in it was protected by rigid provisions regarding the rendition of fugitive slaves escaping from one State to another.

Thus embodied in the Constitution ; thus interwoven with the very integuments of our political system ; thus sustained by the oath to support the Constitution, executed by every public servant and by the decisions of the supreme tribunals, slavery was ratified by the unanimous voice of the nation, and was consecrated as an American institution and as a vested right by the most solemn pledge and sanc- tion that man can give.

Deny to Jefferson Davis entry to the Temple of Fame because he defended it ? Cast out of it first the fathers of the republic. Brand with the mark of condemnation the whole people from whom he in- herited the obligation, and by whom was imposed upon him the oath to support their deed. America must prostrate herself in sack-cloth and ashes, repent her history and revile her creators' and her being ere she can call recreant the man of .1861 who defended the heritage and promise of a nation.

LINCOLN AND SLAVERY — '^CHARITY TO ALL."

There is a statue in Washington city of him who uttered the words, *' Charity to all, malice to none,'* and he is represented in the act of breaking the manacles of a slave.

Suppose there were carved on its pedestal the words : " Do the Southern people really entertain fears that a Republican administra- tion would directly or indirectly interfere with the slaves or with them about their slaves ? '*

was in the days of Washington.'*
 * ' The South would be in no more danger in this respect than it

This was his utterance December 22, i860, after South Carolina had seceded.

Carve again :

institution of slavery in the States where it now exists. I believe I
 * 'I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the