Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/607

 as any other. Complaints had also been made against certain resolutions emanating from legislatures at the north on the subject of shivery in the district, and sometimes even in regard to its abolition in the states. Abolition societies were another subject of complaint. These societies had done nothing useful; but they had produced mischief by their interference with the smith, he referred to the debate in the Virginia legislature in 1832, when the subject of gradual abolition was freely discussed. But since the agitation of this question, the bonds of the slave had been more firmly riveted. Again, the violence of the press was complained of. But wherever the freedom of the press existed, there always would be foolish and violent paragraphs, as there were foolish and violent speeches in both houses of congress. He thought, however, the north had cause for the same complaint of the south. But of these grievances of the south, one only was within the redress of the government; that was the want of proper regard to the constitutional injunction for the delivery of fugitive slaves.

The north complained of the south, that, when the former, in adopting the constitution, recognized the right of representation of the slaves, it was under a state of sentiment different from that which now existed. It was generally hoped and believed, that the institution would be gradually extinguished; instead of which, it was now to be cherished, and preserved, and extended; and for this purpose, the south was constantly demanding new territory. A southern senator had said that the condition of the slaves was preferable to that of the laboring population of the north. Said Mr. Webster: Who are the north? Five-sixths of the whole property of the north is in the hands of laborers, who cultivate their own farms, educate their children, and provide the means of independence. Those who were not freeholders, earned wages, which, as they were accumulated, were turned into capital.

Another grievance at the north was, that their free colored citizens employed on vessels arriving at southern ports, were taken on shore by the municipal authorities, and imprisoned till the vessel was ready to sail. This was inconvenient in practice; and was deemed unjustifiable, oppressive, and unconstitutional. It was a great grievance. So far as these grievances had their foundation in matters of law, they could and ought to be redressed; and so far as they rested in matters of opinion, in mutual crimination and recrimination, we could only endeavor to allay the agitation, and cultivate a better feeling between the south and the north.

Mr. Webster expressed great pain at hearing secession spoken of as a possible event. Said he: Secession! Peaceable secession! Sir, your eyes and mine are never destined to see that miracle. Who is so foolish — I beg every body's pardon — as to expect to see any such thing? There could be no such thing as peaceable secession — a concurrent agreement of the members of this great republic to separate? Where is the line to be drawn? What states are to secede? Where is the flag of the republic to remain? What is to become of the army? — of the navy? — of the public lands? How is each of the states to defend itself? To break up this great government! to