按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
fugitives； the slave is spoken of as a 〃person held to service or
labor。〃 In that prohibiting the abolition of the African slave
trade for twenty years； that trade is spoken of as 〃the migration
or importation of such persons as any of the States now existing
shall think proper to admit；〃 etc。 These are the only provisions
alluding to slavery。 Thus the thing is hid away in the
Constitution； just as an afflicted man hides away a wen or cancer
which he dares not cut out at once； lest he bleed to death；with
the promise； nevertheless； that the cutting may begin at a
certain time。 Less than this our fathers could not do； and more
they would not do。 Necessity drove them so far； and farther they
would not go。 But this is not all。 The earliest Congress under
the Constitution took the same view of slavery。 They hedged and
hemmed it in to the narrowest limits of necessity。
In 1794 they prohibited an outgoing slave tradethat is； the
taking of slaves from the United States to sell。 In 1798 they
prohibited the bringing of slaves from Africa into the
Mississippi Territory； this Territory then comprising what are
now the States of Mississippi and Alabama。 This was ten years
before they had the authority to do the same thing as to the
States existing at the adoption of the Constitution。 In 1800
they prohibited American citizens from trading in slaves between
foreign countries； as； for instance； from Africa to Brazil。 In
1803 they passed a law in aid of one or two slave…State laws in
restraint of the internal slave trade。 In 1807； in apparent hot
haste； they passed the law； nearly a year in advance；to take
effect the first day of 1808； the very first day the Constitution
would permit； prohibiting the African slave trade by heavy
pecuniary and corporal penalties。 In 1820； finding these
provisions ineffectual； they declared the slave trade piracy； and
annexed to it the extreme penalty of death。 While all this was
passing in the General Government； five or six of the original
slave States had adopted systems of gradual emancipation； by
which the institution was rapidly becoming extinct within their
limits。 Thus we see that the plain； unmistakable spirit of that
age toward slavery was hostility to the principle and toleration
only by necessity。
But now it is to be transformed into a 〃sacred right。〃 Nebraska
brings it forth； places it on the highroad to extension and
perpetuity； and with a pat on its back says to it； 〃Go； and God
speed you。〃 Henceforth it is to be the chief jewel of the nation
the very figure…head of the ship of state。 Little by little； but
steadily as man's march to the grave； we have been giving up the
old for the new faith。 Near eighty years ago we began by
declaring that all men are created equal； but now from that
beginning we have run down to the other declaration； that for
some men to enslave others is a 〃sacred right of self…
government。〃 These principles cannot stand together。 They are as
opposite as God and Mammon； and who ever holds to the one must
despise the other。 When Pettit； in connection with his support
of the Nebraska Bill； called the Declaration of Independence 〃a
self…evident lie；〃 he only did what consistency and candor
require all other Nebraska men to do。 Of the forty…odd Nebraska
senators who sat present and heard him； no one rebuked him。 Nor
am I apprised that any Nebraska newspaper； or any Nebraska
orator； in the whole nation has ever yet rebuked him。 If this
had been said among Marion's men； Southerners though they were；
what would have become of the man who said it？ If this had been
said to the men who captured Andre； the man who said it would
probably have been hung sooner than Andre was。 If it had been
said in old Independence Hall seventy…eight years ago； the very
doorkeeper would have throttled the man and thrust him into the
street。 Let no one be deceived。 The spirit of seventy…six and
the spirit of Nebraska are utter antagonisms； and the former is
being rapidly displaced by the latter。
Fellow…countrymen； Americans； South as well as North； shall we
make no effort to arrest this？ Already the liberal party
throughout the world express the apprehension that 〃the one
retrograde institution in America is undermining the principles
of progress； and fatally violating the noblest political system
the world ever saw。〃 This is not the taunt of enemies； but the
warning of friends。 Is it quite safe to disregard itto despise
it？ Is there no danger to liberty itself in discarding the
earliest practice and first precept of our ancient faith？ In our
greedy chase to make profit of the negro； let us beware lest we
〃cancel and tear in pieces〃 even the white man's charter of
freedom。
Our republican robe is soiled and trailed in the dust。 Let us
repurify it。 Let us turn and wash it white in the spirit； if not
the blood； of the Revolution。 Let us turn slavery from its
claims of 〃moral right；； back upon its existing legal rights and
its arguments of 〃necessity。〃 Let us return it to the position
our fathers gave it； and there let it rest in peace。 Let us
readopt the Declaration of Independence； and with it the
practices and policy which harmonize with it。 Let North and
South； let all Americanslet all lovers of liberty everywhere
join in the great and good work。 If we do this； we shall not
only have saved the Union； but we shall have so saved it as to
make and to keep it forever worthy of the saving。 We shall have
so saved it that the succeeding millions of free happy people the
world over shall rise up and call us blessed to the latest
generations。
At Springfield； twelve days ago； where I had spoken substantially
as I have here； Judge Douglas replied to me； and as he is to
reply to me here； I shall attempt to anticipate him by noticing
some of the points he made there。 He commenced by stating I had
assumed all the way through that the principle of the Nebraska
Bill would have the effect of extending slavery。 He denied that
this was intended or that this effect would follow。
I will not reopen the argument upon this point。 That such was
the intention the world believed at the start； and will continue
to believe。 This was the countenance of the thing； and both
friends and enemies instantly recognized it as such。 That
countenance cannot now be changed by argument。 You can as easily
argue the color out of the negro's skin。 Like the bloody hand；〃
you may wash it and wash it； the red witness of guilt still
sticks and stares horribly at you。
Next he says that Congressional intervention never prevented
slavery anywhere； that it did not prevent it in the Northwestern
Territory； nor in Illinois； that； in fact； Illinois came into the
Union as a slave State； that the principle of the Nebraska Bill
expelled it from Illinois； from several old States； from
everywhere。
Now this is mere quibbling all the way through。 If the Ordinance