Chapter 53

WITNESSES. Abbot, Jordan Abdie, P. Adams, Mr. African Observer Alexandria Gazette Allan, Rev. William T. Alston, J.A., Heirs of Alton Telegraph Alvis, J. Anderson, Benjamin Andrews, Professor Anthony, Julius C. Antram, Joshua Appleton, John James Arkansas Advocate Armstrong, William Artop, James Ashford, J.P. Augusta Chronicle Avery, George A. Aylethorpe, Thomas Bahi, P. Baker, William Baldwin, J.G. Baldwin, Jonathan F. Ballinger, A.S. Baltimore Sun Baptist Deacon Bardwell, Rev. William Barker, Jacob Barnard, Alonzo Barnes, George W. Barr, James " Mrs. " Rev. Hugh Barrer, B.G. Barton, David W. " Richard W. Bateman, William Baton Rouge, Agricultural Society of Bayli, P. Beall, Samuel Beasley, A.G.A. " John C. " Robert Beene, Jesse Bell, Abraham " Samuel Bennett, D.B. Besson, Jacob Bezon, Mr. Bingham, Joel S. Birdseye, Ezekiel Birney, James G. Bishop, J. Blackwell, Samuel Bland, R.J. Bliss Mayhew and Co " Philemon, Bolton, J.L. and W.H. Boudinot, Tobias Bouldin, T.T. Bourgoing, J.F. Bourne, George Bradley, Henry Bragg, Thomas Brasseale, W.H. Brewster, Jarvis Brothers, Menard Brove, A. Brown, J.A. " John " Rev. Abel " William Bruce Mr. Buchanan, Dr. Buckels, William D. Burvant, Madame Burwell Bush, Moses E. Buster, Mr. Butt, Moses Byrn, Samuel H. Calvert, Robert Carney, R.P. Carolina, History of Carter, Mrs. Elizabeth Caulkins, Nehemiah Channing, Dr. Chapin, Rev. William A. Chapman, B.F. " Gardon Charleston Courier " Mercury " Patriot Cherry, John W. Child, David L. " Mrs. Choules, Rev. John O. Citizens of Onslow Clark, W.G. Clarke John Clay, Henry, " Thomas Clenderson, Benjamin Clergyman Coates Lindley Cobb, W.D. Colborn, J.L. Cole, Nathan Coleman, H. Colonization Society Columbian Inquirer Comegys, Governor Congress, Member of Connecticut, Medical Society of Constant, Dr. Cooke, Owen Cook, Giles " H.L. Cooper, Thomas Cornelius, Rev. Elias Corner, Charles " L.E. Cotton plantere Cowles, Mrs. Mary " Rev. Sylvester Craige, Charles Crane, William Crutchfield, Thomas Cuggy, T. Curtis, Mr. " Rev. John H. Cuyler, J. Daniel and Goodman Darien Telegraph Davidson, Rev. Patrick Davis, John Davis, Benjamin Dean, Jethro " Thomas Demming, Dr. Denser, T.S. Derbigny, Judge Dew, Philip A. " President Dickey, Rev. James H. " William Dickinson, Mr. Dillahunty, John H. Doddridge, Philip Dorrah, James Downman, Mrs. Lucy M. Douglas, Rev. J.W. Drake and Thomson Drayton, Colonel Drown, William Dudley, Rev. John Duggan, John Dunn, John L. Dunham, Jacob Durell, Judge Durett, Francis Dustin, W. Dyer, William Eastman, Rev. D.B. Eaton, General William Edmunds, Nicholas Edwards, F.L.C. " President " Junior " Ellison, Samuel Ellis, Orren Ellsworth, Elijah Emancipation Society of N.C. English, Walter R. Evans, R.A. Everett, William Faulkner, Mr. Fayetteville Observer Fernandez and Whiting Finley, James C. " R.S. Fishers, E.H. and I. Fitzhugh, William H. Ford, John Foster, Francis Fox, John B. Foy, Enoch Francisville Chronicle Franklin Republican Frederick, John Friends, Yearly Meeting of Fuller, Isaac C. Fullerton, G.S. Furman, B. Gadsden, Thomas N. Gaines, Rev. Ludwell, G. Gales, Joseph Garcia, Henrico Y. Garland, Maurice H. Gates, Seth M. Gayle, John Georgetown Union Georgia Constitutionalist " Journal Georgian Gholson, Mr. Giddings, Mr. Gilbert, E.W. Gildersterre, William C. Glidden, Mr. Goode, Mr. Gourden and Co. Grace, Byrd M. Graham, Rev. John " Rev. Dr. Grand Gulf Advertiser Graham, Jehab Gray, Abraham Greene, R.A. Green, James R. Gregory, Ossian Gridley, H. Grimké, Sarah M. Grosvenor. Rev. Cyrus P. Guex, D.F. Gunnell, John J.H. Guthrie, A.A. Guyler, J. Halley, Preston Hall, Samuel Han, E. Hand, John H. Hansborough, William Hanson, Peter Harding, N.H. Harman, Samuel Harrison, General W.H. Hart, F.A. " Rev. Mr. Harvey, J. Hawley, David " Rev. Francis Hayne, General R.Y. Henderson, John " Judge Hendren, H. Herring, D. " Dr. Hitchcock, Judge Hite, S.N. Hodges, B.W. " Rev. Coleman S. Holcombe, John P. Holmes, George Home, Frederick Honerton, Philip Hopkins, Rev. Henry T. Horsey, Outerbridge Hough, Rev. Joseph Houstoun, Edward Hudnall, Thomas Hughes, Benjamin Hunt, John " Rev. Thomas P. Hussey, George P.C. Huston, Felix Hutchings, A.J. Ide, Joseph Indiana, Legislature of Jackson, Stephen M. " Telegraph James, Joseph Jarnett, James T. De Jarvett, James T. Jefferson, Thomas Jenkins, John Jett, Marshall Johnson, Bryant " Cornelius " Isaac " Josiah S. Jolley, J.L. Jones, Alexander " Anson " Hill " James " R.H. " W. Jefferson Jourdan, Green B. Judd, D. " Mrs. Nancy Keeton, G.W. Kennedy, John Kentucky, Synod of Kephart, George Kernin, Charles Keyes, Willard Kimball and Thome " George Kimborough, James King, Charles " John H. " Nehemiah Knapp, Henry E. " Isaac Kyle, Frederick " James Lacy, Theodore A. Ladd, William Lains, O.W. Lambeth, William L. Lambre, Mr. Lancette, R. Langhorne, Scruggs and Cook Larrimer, Thomas Latimer, W.K. Lawless, Judge Lawyer, Zadok Ledwith, Thomas Leftwich, William Lemes, Ferdinand Leverich and Co. Lewis, Kirkman Lexington Intelligencer " Observer Little, Mrs. Sophia Loflano, Hazlet Long, Joseph Loomis, Henry H. Loring, R. " Thomas Louisville Reporter Lowry, Mrs. Nancy Luminais, A. Lyman, Judge " Rev. H. Macoin, J. Macon Messenger " Telegraph Macy, F.C. " Reuben G. " Richard " T.D.M. Magee, William Males, Henry Maltby, Stephen E. Manning, P.T. Marietta College, student of Marks, James Marriott, Charles Marshall, John T. Martineau, Harriet Maryland Journal Maryville Intelligencer Mason, Samuel Mathieson, Rev. James May, Rev. Samuel J. McCue, Moses McDonnell, James McGehee, Edward J. McGregor, Henry M. McMurrain, John Mead Whitman Medical College of South Carolina Memphis Gazette " Inquirer Menefee, R.H. Menzies, Judge Mercer, Mr. Metcalf, Asa B. Middleton, Mr. Miles, Lemuel Milledgeville Journal " Recorder Miller, C. Minister from Texas, A. Jones Minor, W.I. Missouri Republican Mitchell, Dr. Robert Mitchell, Isaac M'Neilly Mobile Advertiser " Examiner " Register Mongin, R.P.T. Montesquieu Montgomery, W.H. Moore, Mr. Va. Moorhead, John H. Morris, E.W. Moulton, Rev. Horace Moyne Dr. F. Julius Le Muggridge, Matthew Muir J.G. Murat A. Murphy S.B. Napier T. and L. Natchez Courier " Daily Free Trade National Intelligencer Nelson Dr. David " John M. Nesbitt Wilson Newbern Sentinel " Spectator New Hampshire, legislature of Newman Mrs. B. New Orleans Argus " Bee " Bulletin " Courier " Kidnapping at " Mercantile Advertiser " Post New York American " Sun Neyle S. Nicholas Judge Nicoll Robert Niles Hezekiah Noe James Norfolk Beacon " Herald N.C. Literary and Commercial-Standard N.C. Journal Nourse Rev. James Nye Horace O'Byrne O'Connell Daniel Oliver Colonel O'Neill Peter Onslow, Citizens of Orme Moses O'Rorke John Overstreet, Richard Overstreet, William Owen, Captain N.F. Owen, John W. Owens, J.G.

Parrish, John Parrott, Dr. Patterson, Willie Paulding, James K. Peacock, Jesse Perry, Thomas C. Petersburg Constellation Philanthropist Pickard, J.S. Pinckney, H.L. Pinkney, William Planter's Intelligencer Planters of South Carolina Poe, William Porter, Mr. Portsmouth Times Powell, Eleazar Presbyterian elder President of the United States Pringle, Thomas Pritchard, William H. Probate sale Purdon, James

Ragland, Samuel Raleigh Register Ralston, Samuel Randall, J.B. Randolph, John Riadolph, Thomas Mann Rankin, Rev. John Rascoe, William D. Rawlins, Samuel Raworth, Egbert A. Redden J.V. Red River Whig Reed, Rev. Andrew Reed, William H. Reese, Enoch Reins, Richard Reeves, W.P. Renshaw Rev. C.S. Rhodes, Durant H. Rice, H.W. Rice, Rev. David Richardson, G.C. Richards, James K. Richards, Moses R. Richards, Stephen M. Richmond Compiler Richmond Inquirer Richmond Whig Ricks, Micajah Riley, W. Ripley, George B. Roach, Philip Robbins, Welcome H. Robarts, William Roberts, J.H. Robin, C.C. Robinson, N.M.C. Robinson, William Roebuck, George Rogers, N.P. Rogers, Thomas Ross, Abner Rowland, John A. Ruffin, Judge Russel, Benjamin Russel, W. Rymes, Littlejohn

Sadd, Rev. Joseph M. Salvo, Conrad Sapington, Lemuel Saunders, James Savage, Rev. Thomas Savannah Georgian Savannah Republican Savory, William Scales, Rev. William Schmidt, Louis Scott, Rev. Orange Scott, William Scrivener, J. Seabrook, Whitmarsh B. Secretary of the navy Selfer Senator of the United States Sevier, Ambrose H. Sewall, Stephen Shafter, M.M. Sheith, M.J. Shield and Walker Shields, Polly C. Shropshire, David Simmons, B.C. Simpson, John Sizer, R.W. Skinner, W. Slaveholders Smith, Bishop of Kentucky Smith, Gerrit Smith, Professor Smith, Rev. Phineas Smyth, Alexander Snow, Henry H. Snowden, J. Snowden, Rev. Samuel South Carolina, legislature of South Carolina, Medical College of South Carolina, Slaveholder of Southern Argus Southern Christian Herald Southerner Southmayd, Rev. Daniel S. Spillman, Mr. Stansell, William Staughton, Rev. Dr. Staunton Spectator Steams and Co. Stevenson, Andrew Stewart, Samuel Stillmam, Dr. Stith, W. and A. Stone, Asa A. Stone, Silas Stone, William L. Strickland, William Stroud, George M. Stuart, Charles Summers, Mr. Swain, B. Synod of South Carolina and Georgia

Tart, John Tate, Calvin H. Taylor, James H. " John " Lawton, and Co. Texan minister, Anson Jones Thatcher, Colonel Thome and Kimball Thome, James A. Thompson, Henry P. Thomson, Mr. " , Sandford Todd, R.S. Toler, William Tolin, Cornelius D. Townsend, Ely " , Samuel Tucker, Judge Turnbull, Robert Turner, John " , John D. " , L. Tarton, S.B. Tuscaloosa Flag of the Union Upsher, Judge Ustick, William A. Vance, John Van Buren, Martin Varillat, H. Vicksburg Register Virginia Minister Virginian Walker, John Walton, George " , John W. Walsh, Sarah Washington Globe Waugh, Dr. Jeremiah S. Weld, Angelina Grimké Wells, Thomas J. West Eli Western Luminary " Medical Journal " " Reformer " Review Westgate, George W. Whitbread, Samuel Whitefield, George " , Needham Whitehead, C.C. " , W.W. White, Hiram Wightman, Rev. William M. Wilberforce, W. Wilkins, C.W. Wilkinson, Alfred Williams, George W. Willis, Robert Willis, William Wilmington Advertiser Wilson, Rev. Joseph G. Winchester Virginian Wirt, William Wisner, F. Witherspoon, Dr. Woodward, Jeremiah Woolman, John Wotton, John Wright, Mr. Yampert, T.J. De Yearly meeting of Friends Woman dying " flogged because her child died " maniac " no respect for Women at childbirth " " the same labor with men " " work " miscarry under the whip " not breeding " pregnant whipped " severe whippers of slaves " slaves Workhouse at Charleston Working hours " of slaves Worn-out slaves "Worse and worse" Worship of God prohibited Wounds by gunshot Wright Isaac Yokes for slaves

THE

ANTI-SLAVERY EXAMINER.

No. 10.

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SPEECH

of

HON. THOMAS MORRIS,

OF OHIO,

IN REPLY TO THE SPEECH OF

THE

HON. HENRY CLAY.

IN SENATE, FEBRUARY 9, 1839.

NEW YORK:

PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY,

NO. 143 NASSAU STREET:

1839.

* * * * *

This No. contains 2-1/2 sheets.--Postage, under 100 miles, 4 cts. over 100, 7 cts.

_Please Read and circulate._

SPEECH

* * * * *

MR. PRESIDENT--I rise to present for the consideration of the Senate, numerous petitions signed by, not only citizens of my own State, but citizens of several other States, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana. These petitioners, amounting in number to several thousand, have thought proper to make me their organ, in communicating to Congress their opinions and wishes on subjects which, to them, appear of the highest importance. These petitions, sir, are on the subject of slavery, the slave trade as carried on within and from this District, the slave trade between the different States of this Confederacy, between this country and Texas, and against the admission of that country into the Union, and also against that of any other State, whose constitution and laws recognise or permit slavery. I take this opportunity to present all these petitions together, having detained some of them for a considerable time in my hands, in order that as small a portion of the attention of the Senate might be taken up on their account as would be consistent with a strict regard to the rights of the petitioners. And I now present them under the most peculiar circumstances that have ever probably transpired in this or any other country. I present them on the heel of the petitions which have been presented by the Senator from Kentucky [Mr. Clay] signed by the inhabitants of this District, praying that Congress would not receive petitions on the subject of slavery in the District, from any body of men or citizens, but themselves. This is something new; it is one of the devices of the slave power, and most extraordinary in itself. These petitions I am bound in duty to present--a duty which I cheerfully perform, for I consider it not only a duty but an honor. The respectable names which these petitions bear, and being against a practice which I as deeply deprecate and deplore as they can possibly do, yet I well know the fate of these petitions; and I also know the time, place, and disadvantage under which I present them. In availing myself of this opportunity to explain my own views on this agitating topic, and to explain and justify the character and proceedings of these petitioners, it must be obvious to all that I am surrounded with no ordinary discouragements. The strong prejudice which is evinced by the petitioners of the District, the unwillingness of the Senate to hear, the power which is arrayed against me on this occasion, as well as in opposition to those whose rights I am anxious to maintain; opposed by the very lions of debate in this body, who are cheered on by an applauding gallery and surrounding interests, is enough to produce dismay in one far more able and eloquent than the _lone_ and humble individual who now addresses you.

What, sir, can there be to induce me to appear on this public arena, opposed by such powerful odds? Nothing, sir, nothing but a strong sense of duty, and a deep conviction that the cause I advocate is just; that the petitioners whom I represent are honest, upright, intelligent and respectable citizens; men who love their country, who are anxious to promote its best interests, and who are actuated by the purest patriotism, as well as the deepest philanthropy and benevolence. In representing such men, and in such a cause, though by the most feeble means, one would suppose that, on the floor of the Senate of the United States, order, and a decent respect to the opinions of others, would prevail. From the causes which I have mentioned, I can hardly hope for this. I expect to proceed through scenes which ill become this hall; but nothing shall deter me from a full and faithful discharge of my duty on this important occasion. Permit me, sir, to remind gentlemen that I have been now six years a member of this body. I have seldom, perhaps too seldom, in the opinion of many of my constituents, pressed myself upon the notice of the Senate, and taken up their time in useless and windy debate. I question very much if I have occupied the time of the Senate during the six years as some gentlemen have during six weeks, or even six days. I hope, therefore, that I shall not be thought obtrusive, or charged with taking up time with abolition petitions. I hope, Mr. President, to hear no more about agitating this slave question here. Who has began the agitation now? The Senator from Kentucky [Mr. Clay.] Who has responded to that agitation, and congratulated the Senate and the country on its results? The Senator from South Carolina, Mr. [Calhoun.] And pray, sir, under what circumstances is this agitation begun? Let it be remembered, let us collect the facts from the records on your table, that when I, as a member of this body, but a few days since offered a resolution as the foundation of proceedings on these petitions, gentlemen, as if operated on by an electric shock, sprung from their seats and objected to its introduction. And when you, sir, decided that it was the right of every member to introduce such motion or resolution as he pleased, being responsible to his constituents and this body for the abuse of this right, gentlemen seemed to wonder that the Senate had no power to prevent the action of one of its members in cases like this, and the poor privilege of having the resolution printed, by order of the Senate, was denied.

Let the Senator from South Carolina before me remember that, at the last session, when he offered resolutions on the subject of slavery, they were not only received without objection, but printed, voted on, and decided; and let the Senator from Kentucky reflect, that the petition which he offered against our right, was also received and ordered to be printed without a single dissenting voice; and I call on the Senate and the country to remember, that the resolutions which I have offered on the same subject have not only been refused the printing, but have been laid on the table without being debated, or referred. Posterity, which shall read the proceedings of this time, may well wonder what power could induce the Senate of the United States to proceed in such a strange and contradictory manner. Permit me to tell the country now what this power behind the throne, greater than the throne itself, is. It is the power of SLAVERY. It is a power, according to the calculation of the Senator from Kentucky, which owns twelve hundred millions of dollars in human beings as property; and if money is power, this power is not to be conceived or calculated; a power which claims human property more than double the amount which the whole money of the world could purchase. What can stand before this power? Truth, everlasting truth, will yet overthrow it. This power is aiming to govern the country, its constitutions and laws; but it is not certain of success, tremendous as it is, without foreign or other aid. Let it be borne in mind that the Bank power, some years since, during what has been called the panic session, had influence sufficient in this body, and upon this floor, to prevent the reception of petitions against the action of the Senate on their resolutions of censure against the President. The country took instant alarm, and the political complexion of this body was changed as soon as possible. The same power, though double in means and in strength, is now doing the same thing. This is the array of power that even now is attempting such an unwarrantable course in this country; and the people are also now moving against the slave, as they formerly did against the Bank power. It, too, begins to tremble for its safety. What is to be done? Why, petitions are received and ordered to be printed, against the right of petitions which are not received, and the whole power of debate is thrown into the scale with the slaveholding power. But all will not do; these two powers must now be united: an amalgamation of the black power of the South with the white power of the North must take place, as either, separately, cannot succeed in the destruction of the liberty of speech and the press, and the right of petition. Let me tell gentlemen, that both united will never succeed; as I said on a former day, God forbid that they should ever rule this country! I have seen this billing and cooing between these different interests for some time past; I informed my private friends of the political party with which I have heretofore acted, during the first week of this session, that these powers were forming a union to overthrow the present administration; and I warned them of the folly and mischief they were doing in their abuse of those who were opposed to slavery. All doubts are now terminated. The display made by the Senator from Kentucky, [Mr. Clay,] and his denunciations of these petitioners as abolitionists, and the hearty response and cordial embrace which his efforts met from the Senator from South Carolina, [Mr. Calhoun,] clearly shows that new moves have taken place on the political chessboard, and new coalitions are formed, new compromises and new bargains, settling and disposing of the rights of the country for the advantage of political aspirants.