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Mr. Calhoun's Speech

Mr. Calhoun's Speech image
Parent Issue
Day
13
Month
March
Year
1847
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

On the first page we have published at ength certnin Resolutions on Slavery oflerod by Mr. Calhoun, and bis remarks thereon. We invite for them the aitentive perusal of the reader. They are not the production of a youthful, inexperienced, frolhy demagogue, seeking for notoriety by bringing forward something new and slartling : but they are the reiults of iho wisdom, experience, and research of an old and able statesrnan, vvho has brought to the consideration of his subject superior powersof mind, long and intcntly exeretied for the security end enlargement of Slavery. He has been truly called the High Pnest of Slavery. Coming from this sourco the statesments he mak es of the relative standing of the Slave and the Fice States, and the future pro.specls of the cause of Freedom, cannot fail to arrest the attention of the thinking antislavery man.There is another point worthy of no :icc. Mr. Calhoun evidently feels tbat tiis favorite institution by the aggressive movement of the Wilmot Proviso, was likely to be hcnimcd in for the future, and instead of swaying the country at ils will, wns to be compelled to take a defensive attitude. He fears the resuU of the discussen of the Wilmot Proviso among ihe gray-headed Senators ; and henee he brings in these resolutions for the express purpose of getting the Senators commitcd upon ihem. He stands ready to fight the battles of Slavery aguinst the rising spirit of FreeJom in the North, but he wishes lohave in his own power the clioice of the grouud on which it should be fought. Henee his great anxiety that a vote should be had upon the re&olulions before the 3,000,000 bill should bo decided in ihe Senate. The téstimony of Mr. Calhoun to the onward progress of the antislavery feeling through.all the Free States, is highly cneouraging to those who have labored and toiled for its advmucenient through many ye.irs. Indeed, there is every reason to believe that the nature of our warfare will shortly bechangcd ; and instead of contending against lawless mobs, and petitioning humbly for free speech and free hearing in Congres?, as we formerly did, we shall commence an aggressive campaign upon Slavery wliich shall be most effectual for its overthrow. Slavery has spread itself through all the institutions of our country. Every where it has itsoutposís and its advanced guards to keep the people in subjection : and when they rise in thcir might ngainst it, a thousand pointsof attack will be found vulnerable, and will be quickly carried. We had intendod to say something on the merits of the resolutions proposed : but as Mr. Calhoun evidently relies upon them as the great bulwark by which Slavery is to be shiolded from aU attacks, a discussion of them may be looked for at this or the coming session of Congress. - A full and free discussion of them in the Senate, asked fur and urged as it is by the South, could not but be highly serviceab!e to the antislavery cause.One ihing more. Look at the relativo power of the Free and Slave States, as presenled by Mr. Calhoun, and you wil find that we have great encouragemen to labor fór the polilical advar.cement o our caus. Granting the slaveholders an equality in the Senate, which is all they can expect, the Frce States can and al ways will have, an nbsolule majority in the House, and in the Electoral Col lege. This majoriiy must and ca. be made most effectual for the over ihrow of Slavery. The Free Stales must become as zealoue and united in overihrowing Slavery, as the Slave Staten are in defending it. One great sourco of power to the South is the possession o: the Presidency, with its vast favorsandits far reaching prerogatives, to be used anc dispensed by the Executive at its will in carrying out any schemes of good or evil. This mighty agency must be wrested from ihe Slaveholders, and placed in Northern - in antislavery hands. VVhen the Free States have an antislavery President anc House, fully backed up by an active anc expanding antislavery sentiment through all the Free States, the xational power of the Slaveholders will cease to exist. The institution will sink away into a few impoverished oud worn out States, anti graduolly breóme extinguishetl by advancing light and eivilization.Is the qivesiion asked,hovv this result s to be brought about? The steps are few and simple, alihough they may not be fully taken lili some time henee. The first is, lo bring the North to lhe determination to vote for no Slaveholder : the aecond is like unto it - to vote for none but antislavery men. Through all the North, the sentiment must be proelaimed and acted upon - The Repeal of the Slave Laws, and No Slaveiioldkr foji Office. A small portion of the people, nctiogon lhese principies at all times, and bringing their influonce to bearupon he action of parties as it can be made to jear, wül ultimaiely cliange their proslavry aciion, for an attitude decidedly antislavery. We have r.o time for further rrnarks, but wiH shorüy recur to this subject agoin. JJf" The Legislatureis to adjourn on Monday next.

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Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News