Page:The Collected Works of Theodore Parker volume 6.djvu/200

Rh inevitably. But even if we don^t get Cuba, Slavery must be extended to other parts of the Union. This may be and judicially by the Supreme Court—one of the powerful agents to destroy local self-government and legalize centralization; or legislatively by Congress. Already Slavery is established in California. An attempt, you Imow, was made to establish it in Illinois. Senator Toombs, the other day, boasted to John P. Hale, that it would "not be long before the slave-holder would sit down at the foot of Bunker Hill monument with his slaves." You and I may live to see it—at least to. see the attempt made. A writer in a prominent Southern journal, the Charleston Courier (of March 16, 1854), declares "that domestic Slavery is a constitutional institution, and cannot be prohibited in a territory by either territorial or congressional legislation. It is recognised by the Constitution as an existing and lawful institution . . and by the recognition and establishment of Slavery eo nomine in the district of Colimibia, under the constitutional provision for the acquisition of and exclusive legislation over such a capitoline district; and by that clause also which declares that the citizens of each State shall be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States." "The citizens of any State . . cannot be constitutionally denied the equal right . . of sojourning or settling . . with their man servants and maid servants . . in any portion of the widespread Canaan which the Lord their God hath given them, there to dwell unmolested in person ." Admirable exposition of the Constitution! The free black man must be shut up in gaol if he goes from Boston in a ship to Charleston, but the slave-holder may bring his slaves to Massachusetts and dwell there unmolested with his property in men. South Carolina has a white population of 274,567 persons, considerably less than half the population of this city. But, if South Carolina says to the State of New York, with three million men in it, let us bring our slaves to New York, what will the "Hards," and the "Softs," and the "Silver Greys" answer? Gentlemen, we shall hear what we shall hear. I fear not an office-holder of any note would oppose the measure. It might be carried with the present Supreme Court, or Congress, I make no doubt.